CHAPTER XIII
THE RETURN OF THE SUN
The Indomitable Bowers—A Theory of Blizzards—Ponies' Tricks—On
Horse Management—The Two Esquimaux Dogs—Balloon Records—On
Scurvy—From Tent Island—On India—Storms and Acclimatisation—On
Physiography—Another Lost Dog Returns—The Debris Cones—On Chinese
Adventures—Inverted Temperature. … 255
CHAPTER XIV
PREPARATIONS: THE SPRING JOURNEY
On Polar Clothing—Prospects of the Motor Sledges—South Polar Times,
II—The Spring Western Journey—The Broken Glacier Tongue—Marching
Against a Blizzard—The Value of Experience—General Activity—Final
Instructions … 276
CHAPTER XV
THE LAST WEEKS AT CAPE EVANS
Clissold's Accident—Various Invalids—Christopher's Capers—A Motor
Mishap—Dog Sickness—Some Personal Sketches—A Pony Accident—A
Football Knee—Value of the Motors—The Balance of Heat and Cold—The
First Motor on the Barrier—Last Days at Cape Evans. … 290
CHAPTER XVI
SOUTHERN JOURNEY: THE BARRIER STAGE
Midnight Lunches—A Motor Breaks Down—The Second Motor Fails—Curious
Features of the Blizzard—Ponies Suffer in a Blizzard—Ponies go
Well—A Head Wind—Bad Conditions Continue—At One Ton Camp—Winter
Minimum Temperature—Daily Rest in the Sun—Steady Plodding—The First
Pony Shot—A Trying March—The Second Pony Shot—Dogs, Ponies, and
Driving—The Southern Mountains Appear—The Third Blizzard—A Fourth
Blizzard—The Fifth and Long Blizzard—Patience and Resolution—Still
Held Up—The End of the Barrier Journey. … 308
CHAPTER XVII
ON THE BEARDMORE GLACIER
Difficulties with Deep Snow—With Full Loads—After-Effects of the Great Storm—A Fearful Struggle—Less Snow and Better Going—The Valley of the Beardmore—Wilson Snow Blind—The Upper Glacier Basin—Return of the First Party—Upper Glacier Depot. … 340
CHAPTER XVIII
THE SUMMIT JOURNEY TO THE POLE
Pressures Under Mount Darwin—A Change for the Better—Running of a
Sledge—Lost Time Made Up—Comfort of Double Tent—Last Supporting
Party Returns—Hard Work on the Summit—Accident to Evans—The Members
of the Party—Mishap to a Watch—A Chill in the Air—A Critical
Time—Forestalled—At the Pole. … 354