of finding a note left in some depot which could tell whether they had
fulfilled their task or turned back before reaching the Pole. On general
grounds it was of great importance not to leave the record of the
Expedition incomplete, with one of its most striking chapters a blank.

"The other alternative was to go West and North to relieve Campbell and
his party, always supposing they had survived the winter. If they had
come through the winter every day of advancing summer would improve their
chances of living on in Terra Nova Bay. At the same time there was good
prospect of their ultimately being relieved by the ship, if indeed she
had not taken them off in the autumn. As for ourselves, it seemed most
improbable that we could journey up the coast owing to the abnormal state
of the ice. Instead of being frozen for the winter, the whole Sound to
the north and west of Inaccessible Island was open water during July; the
ice was driven out by the exceptionally strong and frequent winds, and
there was little chance of a firm road forming for the spring. Under
these conditions officers and men unanimously supported the decision to
go South."

An important fact is noted by Atkinson which is worth including for the
guidance of future expeditions. Six new sledges came down per "Terra
Nova" from Messrs. Hagen of Christiania, with tapered runners--the
breadth of the runner in front being 4 inches, diminishing to 2 1/2 on
the after part of the sledge. Compared with our original 12-foot pattern
the new sledges contrasted to great advantage over the old. The idea
seems to be that the broad iron portion should run over and smooth the
track for the after tapered portion.

The sun returned after its four months' absence on August 23 and found
the little party in excellent health and cheerful spirits. The mules and