The wretched state of the weather has prevented the transport of emergency stores to Hut Point.  These stores are for the returning depots and to provision the Discovery hut in case the Terra Nova does not arrive.  The most important stores have been taken to the Glacier Tongue by the ponies to-day.

In the transport department, in spite of all the care I have taken to make the details of my plan clear by lucid explanation, I find that Bowers is the only man on whom I can thoroughly rely to carry out the work without mistake, with its arrays of figures.  For the practical consistent work of pony training Oates is especially capable, and his heart is very much in the business.

’October, 1911.—­I don’t know what to think of Amundsen’s chances.  If he gets to the Pole, it must be before we do, as he is bound to travel fast with dogs and pretty certain to start early.  On this account I decided at a very early date to act exactly as I should have done had he not existed.  Any attempt to race must have wrecked my plan, besides which it doesn’t appear the sort of thing one is out for.

’Possibly you will have heard something before this reaches you.  Oh! and there are all sorts of possibilities.  In any case you can rely on my not doing or saying anything foolish—­only I’m afraid you must be prepared for the chance of finding our venture much belittled.

’After all, it is the work that counts, not the applause that follows.

’Words must always fail me when I talk of Bill Wilson.  I believe he really is the finest character I ever met—­the closer one gets to him the more there is to admire.  Every quality is so solid and dependable; cannot you imagine how that counts down here?  Whatever the matter, one knows Bill will be sound, shrewdly practical, intensely loyal and quite unselfish.  Add to this a wider knowledge of persons and things than is at first guessable, a quiet vein of humour and really consummate tact, and you have some idea of his values.  I think he is the most popular member of the party, and that is saying much.

’Bowers is all and more than I ever expected of him.  He is a positive treasure, absolutely trustworthy and prodigiously energetic.  He is about the hardest man amongst us, and that is saying a good deal—­nothing seems to hurt his tough little body and certainly no hardship daunts his spirit.  I shall have a hundred little tales to tell you of his indefatigable zeal, his unselfishness, and his inextinguishable good humour.  He surprises always, for his intelligence is of quite a high order and his memory for details most exceptional.  You can imagine him, as he is, an indispensable assistant to me in every detail concerning the management and organisation of our sledging work and a delightful companion on the march.

’One of the greatest successes is Wright.  He is very thorough and absolutely ready for anything.  Like Bowers he has taken to sledging like a duck to water, and although he hasn’t had such severe testing, I believe he would stand it pretty nearly as well.  Nothing ever seems to worry him, and I can’t imagine he ever complained of anything in his life.