436 THE PROBLEM OF THE ANTARCTIC ZONE 



was to 56 degrees 48 minutes, but they had been fortunate in finding 

 fossil remains of unknown animals, and the fossil leaves of several 

 kinds of pine trees and ferns. 



The "Antarctica" was, like her two parties, ice bound. She 

 had steamed away to the west, and then, a chance offering itself, 

 had stood to the south until she was in the latitude of Paulet Island. 

 She turned to the east, heading in the direction of the station on 

 Snow Hill Island, when the ice caught her. For days she remained 

 in the pack, those on board chafing at the delay and trying every 

 device to get her free. But the ice was too strong, and at last they 

 were forced to admit that they were caught for the winter. This 

 was bad enough, but there was worse to follow. A movement began 

 in the pack, and a pressure-ridge started directly for the ship. It 

 was upon them almost before they realized it, and the crash with 

 which she heeled over told its own tale. The ice had torn a length 

 of her keel away, and had made a hole in her which it was impossible 

 to repair. 



Everything that could be got out was thrown on to the ice, and 

 the ship's company formed themselves into sledge parties to convey 

 as much as they could to the nearest land. This was Paulet Island, 

 where they arrived after an arduous march and at once set to work 

 to construct a shelter for the winter, which was now upon them. 

 There they stayed, within a few miles of the station, and of the 

 other party at Hope Bay, but all in ignorance of the proximity of 

 one another, and quite unable to communicate. 



With the first sign of approaching spring the men at the 

 original station made arrangements to resume their expeditions and 

 complete the survey of the islands in their immediate vicinity. The 

 first trip was in the direction of Hope Bay, and the party had been 

 out some days when, in the dim light, one of them thought he 

 saw a dark patch on the ice in the distance. He drew his com- 

 panion's altention to it, but neither cared to trust their eyes. As 1 

 they approached nearer, the dark patch resolve^ itself into the 



