short-handed, and after pulling in harness for 1500 miles, it was not
considered likely that the Southern party would fail--unless overtaken by
scurvy.

What actually happened was this. Stores were landed by those at the base
station on the re-arrival of the "Terra Nova," and Atkinson, who was the
senior member of those not now returning in her to civilisation, took
over the dogs according to Scott's directions. He proceeded to Hut Point
with Dimitri and the two dog teams on 13th February, and was kept in camp
by bad weather until 19th, when Crean reached the Hut and brought in the
news of my breakdown and collapse at Corner Camp. A blizzard precluded a
start for the purpose of relieving me, but this expedition was undertaken
immediately the weather abated. It was only during a temporary clear that
Lashly and I were rescued.

Considering my condition, Atkinson judged that if help could be obtained
from Cape Evans, his duty was to stay with me and save my life if
possible, and to depute Cherry-Garrard or Wright to take the dog-teams
out to One Ton Camp with Dimitri.

Scott would have preferred Wright to remain at Cape Evans, because he had
now relieved Simpson as physicist--Simpson being recalled by the Indian
Government.

So it was decided that Cherry-Garrard should take out the teams, which he
did, with twenty-four days' food for his own unit and two weeks' surplus
stores for the Southern party, with all kinds of special delicacies.

The real object of this trip was to hasten the Southern party's return
rather than to succour them.