Monday, March 6, A.M.—­Roused the hands at 7.30.  Wilson, Bowers, Garrard, and I went out to Castle Rock.  We met Evans just short of his camp and found the loads had been dragged up the hill.  Oates and Keohane had gone back to lead on the ponies.  At the top of the ridge we harnessed men and ponies to the sledges and made rapid progress on a good surface towards the hut.  The weather grew very thick towards the end of the march, with all signs of a blizzard.  We unharnessed the ponies at the top of Ski slope—­Wilson guided them down from rock patch to rock patch; the remainder of us got down a sledge and necessaries over the slope.  It is a ticklish business to get the sledge along the ice foot, which is now all blue ice ending in a drop to the sea.  One has to be certain that the party has good foothold.  All reached the hut in safety.  The ponies have admirably comfortable quarters under the verandah.

After some cocoa we fetched in the rest of the dogs from the Gap and another sledge from the hill.  It had ceased to snow and the wind had gone down slightly.  Turned in with much relief to have all hands and the animals safely housed.

Tuesday, March 7, A.M.—­Yesterday went over to Pram Point with Wilson.  We found that the corner of sea ice in Pram Point Bay had not gone out—­it was crowded with seals.  We killed a young one and carried a good deal of the meat and some of the blubber back with us.

Meanwhile the remainder of the party had made some progress towards making the hut more comfortable.  In the afternoon we all set to in earnest and by supper time had wrought wonders.

We have made a large L-shaped inner apartment with packing-cases, the intervals stopped with felt.  An empty kerosene tin and some firebricks have been made into an excellent little stove, which has been connected to the old stove-pipe.  The solider fare of our meals is either stewed or fried on this stove whilst the tea or cocoa is being prepared on a primus.

The temperature of the hut is low, of course, but in every other respect we are absolutely comfortable.  There is an unlimited quantity of biscuit, and our discovery at Pram Point means an unlimited supply of seal meat.  We have heaps of cocoa, coffee, and tea, and a sufficiency of sugar and salt.  In addition a small store of luxuries, chocolate, raisins, lentils, oatmeal, sardines, and jams, which will serve to vary the fare.  One way and another we shall manage to be very comfortable during our stay here, and already we can regard it as a temporary home.

Thursday, March 9, A.M.—­Yesterday and to-day very busy about the hut and overcoming difficulties fast.  The stove threatened to exhaust our store of firewood.  We have redesigned it so that it takes only a few chips of wood to light it and then continues to give great heat with blubber alone.  To-day there are to be further improvements to regulate the draught and increase the cooking range.  We have further housed in the living quarters with our old Discovery winter awning, and begin already to retain the heat which is generated inside.  We are beginning to eat blubber and find biscuits fried in it to be delicious.