BAY OF ISLES 325 



her bumping; but even so, such was the violence of the surf which was breaking right 

 over her, that she did bump somewhat. Apart, however, from shifting her back a httle, 

 and tearing off some of the patches, this appears to have done no harm. As usual it 

 snowed heavily all the time. The whale-catcher did not arrive that day, for apart from 

 its being thick, and therefore dangerous for her to attempt to come near us in this 

 unknown bay, it would have been useless to try to tow us round in existing weather 

 conditions. The weather did not moderate for two more days, but then, much to my 

 relief, and doubtless that of the remainder of the party, we saw the whale-catcher heave 

 in sight. This was on December 12. 



The tide again was not high enough and also was now past springs. We employed 

 ourselves in getting the tow rope round the 'Alert' and removing the stones, and with 

 four stout planks, borrowed from the whale-catcher and secured under the bilge, it was 

 thought she could be safely towed off at high w^ater, even if not quite afloat. Eight empty 

 drums also were lashed inside to the engine to help keep her afloat. It was not con- 

 sidered necessary to take all hands in the ' Alert ', but three of us, O'Connor, Alsford and 

 myself, went in her to bail and pump. We towed the pram astern. 



At about 2 p.m. I gave the signal, and with only a moderate amount of scraping noise 

 she slid into the water and was hauled alongside the whale-catcher. We waited some 

 time, and found that we could easily keep the water under with the pump. We then 

 proceeded at reduced speed. We had no rudder, but she kept dead straight. 



After a few minutes the pump got choked and we had to bail with buckets and tins ; 

 we were glad to find that by this means we could just manage to cope with the influx. 

 Meanwhile the whale-catcher, seeing that everything was going well, increased speed, 

 until by the time we reached Cape Wilson she was going full speed : we were still doing 

 well. There was a fairly heavy swell but little wind, and the 'Alert' began to tug and 

 pluck at the towrope. I was glad, therefore, that we had placed the rope right round 

 everything. After an uneventful journey of about two hours we arrived in Prince Olaf, 

 and since the ' Alert ' would not float without pumping, she was hauled up on the slip 

 at once. 



Repairs to the 'Alert' were put in hand with the staff at the whaling station, and on 

 December 19 we took the opportunity to return to Grytviken in a whale-catcher to 

 spend Christmas and attend to our correspondence. 



After a pleasant five days, we returned to Prince Olaf Harbour. Not being certain 

 how long it would be before we could proceed with our work, I provided myself with 

 drawing material and finding that time would suffice, drew the fair chart of Prince Olaf 

 Harbour. Shortly afterwards this chart was sent home in care of the Captain of the 

 'Southern King'. 



On January 11 hull repairs were completed, and the 'Alert', having previously had 

 some coats of paint, was launched. The remainder of the work, lockers and adjustments 

 of the engines, was then proceeded with, and with exhaustive trials and re-adjustments, 

 occupied us until January 21. 



On Januar}' 23 we returned to the Bay of Isles, but decided to camp in a cove in 



