THE POLE ATTAINED--SCOTT'S LAST MARCHES


The details of Scott's final march to the Pole, and the heartrending
account of his homeward journey, of Evans's sad death, of Oates's noble
sacrifice, and of the martyr like end of Wilson, Bowers, and Scott
himself have been published throughout the length and breadth of the
civilised world. In "Scott's Last Expedition"--Vol. I. the great
explorer's journals are practically reproduced in their entirety. Mr.
Leonard Huxley, who arranged them in 1913, had had to do with Scott's
first work, "The Voyage of the 'Discovery'," and, as Mr. Huxley has said,
these two works needed but little editing. Scott's last fine book was
written as he went along, and those of us who have survived the
Expedition and the Great War, and we are few, are more than proud to
count ourselves among the company he chose.

A synopsis of his march from 87 degrees 35 minutes to the South Pole, and
a recapitulation of the events which marked the homeward march must
certainly find their way into this book, which is after all only the husk
of the real story.

However much the story is retold--and it has been retold by members of
the Expedition as well as by others--the re-telling will never approach
the story as told by Scott himself: for the kernel one must turn to
Volume I, of "Scott's Last Expedition": However, perhaps I can give
something of interest; here is what little Bowers says in extracts from
his diary, given me by his mother:

"_January_ 4.--Packed up sledge with four weeks and three days' food
for five men, five sleeping-bags, etc. I had my farewell breakfast