Scott of the Antarctic Page #6

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Take the aft end of the sledge.

Understand?

Aye, aye, sir.

'There is no doubt

Evans is a good deal run down.

'I think Wilson, Bowers and I

are as fit as possible,

'but Oates feels the cold and fatigue

more than we do.'

Look out, steady!

There it is, sir. There's the flag.

A shadow.

'Evans keeps saying,

as he would, that he's quite well.

'How can a man be quite well

with hands like that?'

Halt.

Can't be far now.

Birdie, try up that hill.

See if you can see the cairn.

Right, sir.

What's wrong, Evans?

It's loose, sir. It's come loose, sir.

Have it right in a moment.

Hold on. I'll do it.

You get your harness off.

It's only my old hand, sir.

Makes me a bit slow.

I can't see the cairn,

but I can see the Barrier.

How's that?

Try and move your foot.

- Sure you can manage?

- I'll be fine, sir.

That's the man, Taff. Take your time.

We'll be camping soon.

Ready? Heave.

Halt.

What is it, Taff?

I'm all right, sir, quite well.

Taff?

'It is a terrible thing

to lose a companion in this way,

'to leave him here after all the miles

we've sledged together.'

Plateau done, glacier done.

400 miles of Barrier and we're home.

We've got to do more miles a day, Bill.

We ought to find it warmer

down here, anyhow.

Sir.

60 degrees of frost.

Can't last.

'Only five miles again yesterday.

'This will never do.'

Ready?

No, no, no.

Tortoise beat the hare in the end.

Right, Soldier?

Ready, sir.

Heave.

'There is no getting away from the fact

that we are not going strong.

'And I'm afraid Soldier's foot is bad.'

When I get home,

I'm never going to walk another step.

- Ride wherever I go.

- Even in London?

London.

- Know the Empire promenade, Birdie?

- Funny thing, I've never been.

First night home, I'll be there.

You must take me with you, Titus.

But you'll have

to leave your horse outside.

I ought to tell you that

we haven't too much fuel in hand.

If we're still short at Mount Hooper,

we'll try going on cold meals.

We may have no choice.

Funny, used to have

what they call a good leg for a boot.

Wouldn't think it now, would you, Bill?

Bill, what chance have I got?

A good one, Titus.

How far is it to Mount Hooper depot now?

Eight and a half miles.

We'll do it in no time, Soldier.

Purely medicinal.

'What shall we find at Mount Hooper depot?

'If oil is short again...'

There she is.

See, old chap?

Managed it all right.

- Wasn't so bad.

- Get the spades, Birdie.

Here it is.

It's not full.

The seal's not broken.

Odd things happen out here.

It must be evaporation.

Yes, but...

Come on, chaps.

No good arguing the whys and wherefores.

Up tent.

'Among ourselves

we are unendingly cheerful.

'But what each man feels in his heart,

I can only guess.'

Letting up a little, I think.

I hope I don't wake tomorrow, Bill.

I'm just going outside.

I may be away some time.

'A brave man and a gallant gentleman.

'This intense cold convinces me

'that the season has broken

far earlier than I expected.'

We'll be all right at One Ton.

It's full of stuff.

I thought for a moment

it might be old Titus.

Stupid of me.

Sorry.

Only 11 miles now, Bill. Two good marches.

One if the snow holds off.

'Captain Scott is now lying

in this tent with a frozen foot.

'I am afraid he will never walk again.

'If the wind drops,

'Birdie and I are going to try

to reach the next depot and return.

'We have come together

'1,800 miles,

'and are now only 11 miles

from stores in plenty.

'Only 11 miles.'

11 miles.

11 miles.

'Think of me

when you make those footmarks.'

'Every step of the way.'

'My own dearest mother,

'I should so like to have come through

for your dear sake.

'It is splendid to pass, however,

'with such companions as I have.

'And as all five of us

have mothers and wives,

'you will not be alone.

'There will be no shame

'and you will know

I have struggled to the end,

'your ever loving son,

'to the end of this life and the next,

'when God shall wipe away

all tears from our eyes.'

'God knows I am sorry

to be the cause of sorrow

'to anyone in the world.

'But everyone must die.

'All the things I had hoped to do

with you after the expedition

'are as nothing now.

'My only regret is leaving you

to struggle through your life alone.

'All is for the best

to those who love God.

'And, oh, my Ori, we have both

loved him with all our lives.

'All is well.'

'For my own sake,

I do not regret this journey.

'We took risks. We knew we took them.

'Things have come out against us.

'And therefore we have

no cause for complaint.

'Had we lived,

'I should have had a tale to tell

'of the hardihood, endurance

and courage of my companions,

'which would have stirred the heart

of every Englishman.

'It seems a pity,

'but I don't think I can write more.

'These rough notes and our dead bodies

'must tell the tale.

'For God's sake,

'look after our people.'

Halt.

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