CHAPTER IV 



SETTLING IN 



Sunday, January 8. — A day of disaster. I stupidly gave 

 permission for the third motor to be got out this morning. 

 This was done first thing and the motor placed on firm ice. 

 Later Campbell told me one of the men had dropped a leg 

 through crossing a sludgy patch some 200 yards from the ship. 

 I didn't consider it very serious, as I imagined the man had 

 only gone through the surface crust. About 7 A.M. I started 

 for the shore with a single man load, leaving Campbell looking 

 about for the best crossing for the motor. I sent Meares and 

 the dogs over with a can of petrol on arrival. After some twenty 

 minutes he returned to tell me the motor had gone through. 

 Soon after Campbell and Day arrived to confirm the dismal tid- 

 ings. It appears that getting frightened of the state of affairs 

 Campbell got out a line and attached it to the motor — then 

 manning the line well he attempted to rush the machine across 

 the weak place. A man on the rope, Wilkinson, suddenly went 

 through to the shoulders, but was immediately hauled out. Dur- 

 ing the operation the ice under the motor was seen to give, and 

 suddenly it and the motor disappeared. The men kept hold 

 of the rope, but it cut through the ice towards them with an 

 ever increasing strain, obliging one after another to let go. 

 Half a minute later nothing remained but a big hole. Perhaps 

 it was lucky there was no accident to the men, but it's a sad 

 incident for us in any case. It's a big blcjw to know that one 

 of the two best motors, on which so much time and trouble 

 have been spent, now lies at the bottom of the sea. The actual 

 spot where the motor disappeared was crossed by its fellow 

 motor with a very heavy load as well as by myself with heavy 

 ponies only yesterday. 



Meares took Campbell back and returned with the report 

 that the ice in the vicinity of the accident was hourly getting 

 more dangerous. 



