Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 1.djvu/574

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376
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION
[August

we had run out of all the chemicals which had been used for the same purpose.

I have now definitely told off the ponies for the Southern Journey, and the new masters will take charge on September 1. They will continually exercise the animals so as to get to know them as well as possible. The arrangement has many obvious advantages. The following is the order:

Bowers .. Victor. Evans (P.O.) .. Snatcher.
Wilson .. Nobby. Crean .. Bones.
Atkinson .. Jehu. Keohane .. Jimmy Pigg.
Wright .. Chinaman. Oates .. Christopher.
Cherry-Garrard .. Michael. Myself & Oates .. Snippets.

The first balloon of the season was sent up yesterday by Bowers and Simpson. It rose on a southerly wind, but remained in it for 100 feet or less, then for 300 or 400 feet it went straight up, and after that directly south over Razor Back Island. Everything seemed to go well, the thread, on being held, tightened and then fell slack as it should do. It was followed for two miles or more running in a straight line for Razor Back, but within a few hundred yards of the Island it came to an end. The searchers went round the Island to try and recover the clue, but without result. Almost identically the same thing happened after the last ascent made, and we are much puzzled to find the cause.

The continued proximity of the south moving air currents above is very interesting.

The Crozier Party are not right yet; their feet are