The last two were left at Hut Point whilst Atkinson and the other three
worked round the Southern end of McMurdo Sound on the sea-ice and up the
coast to Butter Point. It was a dangerous proceeding, but Atkinson was
undaunted by the perils of the sea ice breaking up, and he carried out a
tip-and-run sort of journey with great pluck and endurance, establishing
a depot of a fortnight's foodstuffs at Butter Point. On April. 20 the ice
was seen to break up and drift seawards from Butter Point, thus finally
putting a stop to any further search or relief work.

A somewhat hazardous return journey landed Atkinson's team at Hut Point,
and his whole party was re-collected at the Cape Evans Base by May 1 with
the dogs.

Here Lashly was looking after the seven mules presented by the Indian
Government, which the ship had brought down to enable Scott to explore
further the extent of the Victoria Land Coast, S.E. of the Beardmore.
Everything at Cape Evans in the scientific line was carried on as in the
preceding winter, and although the staff was reduced the records and
observations were continued as heretofore.

The Second Winter Party consisted of:

_Officers_--Atkinson, Wright, Debenham, Nelson, Cherry-Garrard, Gran.
_Men_--Archer, Williamson, Crean, Lashly, Keohane, Dimitri, Hooper.

Mr. Archer, our capable chief cook and steward, replaced Clissold, and
Williamson exchanged with Forde. The winter work of the Hut was
reorganised by Atkinson, so that every one was detailed to do that for
which he was best suited. Considering what the party had faced already,