through frostbite, and on the first of the month Scott himself had fallen
and shaken himself badly. Temperatures low, too low for any good surface.
February 4 found the party amongst crevasses, both Scott and Evans
falling into them. Notwithstanding all their troubles they made a fine
pace over the ice-capped plateau and down the Beardmore. Evans's fall on
February 4 crocked him up a good deal, and he suffered from facial
frostbites. His condition all the time now was causing the gravest
anxiety. The summit journey ended on February 7. On the 8th valuable
geological specimens were collected and brought along, and then the
descent of the Great Glacier commenced. The Beardmore temperatures to
begin with were rather high, and Scott seems to have considered this a
disadvantage, for he says it made the party feel slack. Evans was rested
half-way down the Beardmore, Oates looking after him, while the other
made a halt for geological investigation by the Cloudmaker depot.

But poor Evans had sustained a severe concussion through falling and
hitting his head on the 4th, and the party on his account was so delayed
that the surplus foodstuffs rapidly diminished, and the outlook became
serious. Bad weather was again encountered, and on February 17, near the
foot of the Glacier, Seaman Evans died. Wilson expressed the opinion that
Evans must have injured his brain by the fall. It was a great surprise to
all of us to hear of Evans failing so early, as he was known to be a man
of enormous strength, and a tried sledger. He was also a veteran in
Antarctic experience, having made some wonderful journeys under Scott in
the "Discovery" days.

After reaching the Lower Glacier Depot on the 17th the bereaved little
band pushed Northward with fine perseverance, although they must have
known by their gradually shortening marches that little hope of reaching
their winter quarters remained. Their best march on the Barrier was only