1902] DANGER IN THE PACK 103 



memory. Above us the sun shone in a cloudless sky, its rays 

 were reflected from a myriad points of the glistening pack ; 

 behind us lay the lofty snow-clad mountains, the brown sun- 

 kissed cliffs of the cape and the placid glassy waters of the 

 bay ; the air about us was almost breathlessly still ; crisp, 

 clear and sun-lit, it seemed an atmosphere in which all Nature 

 should rejoice ; the silence was broken only by the deep pant- 

 ing of our engines and the slow, measured hush of the grind- 

 ing floes ; yet, beneath all ran this mighty, relentless tide, 

 bearing us on to possible destruction. It seemed desperately 

 unreal that danger could exist in the midst of so fair a scene, 

 and as one paced to and fro on the few feet of throbbing 

 plank that constituted our bridge, it was difficult to persuade 

 oneself that we were so completely impotent. It is curious 

 here to note that, except myself, only those who were actually 

 on watch were on deck. The hour was early, and the majority 

 were resting after their labours of the previous night, and so, 

 asleep in their bunks below, they were happily unconscious of 

 the uncomfortable possibilities before them ; and that they 

 were not told bears testimony to the fact that a fuss was rarely 

 made in the ' Discovery ' unless there was some good reason. 

 Our release from this danger was so gradual that it would have 

 been difficult to say when it happened ; perhaps on these 

 occasions one is always a little slow to realise that things are 

 getting better. It came from the gradual weakening of the 

 tide, and most unexpectedly, because we had not looked for 

 change in this for some hours to come. But gradually the 

 tidal stream slackened, the close-locked floes fell slightly apart, 

 and under her full head of steam the ' Discovery ' began to 

 forge ahead towards the open sea and safety. By 8.20 we had 

 won through, and could breathe a sigh of relief. For me the 

 lesson had been a sharp and, I have no doubt, a salutary one ; 

 we were here to fight the elements with their icy weapons, and 

 once and for all this taught me not to undervalue the enemy. 



During the forenoon we were able to stand within seven 

 or eight miles of the high bold coastline to the south of Cape 

 Adare, but later we were obliged to turn outwards to avoid the 



