292 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. March 



about half a mile from the ship when we cheered, and 

 we could see one or two figures alongside the ship stop 

 and look in our direction ; we gave another cheer, and 

 presently we saw all hands running out to meet us, and 

 shortly afterwards there was shaking of hands and 

 answering questions by the hundreds. When we could 

 get a word in we were very glad to hear that they 

 were .all well, and had spent a very pleasant winter. 

 At five o'clock we were on board. 



' 30th. — At noon left the " Discovery," accompanied 

 by Lieutenant Eawson. The snow was considerably 

 harder than on our journey down, which is due to a 

 westerly gale which has been blowing for the last two 

 days. Crossed the floe in St. Patrick's Harbour, and 

 encamped at the north side of it, as there was a sharp 

 cutting wind, with a good deal oi* drift, and we were 

 being frost-bitten frequently. 



4 Temperature of the air minus 37°. 



< 31st. — A splendid morning, without wind. In- 

 stead of crossing the bay to the south of Shift Eudder 

 Bay, we kept to the land and had very good travelling 

 as far as Cape Beechey. A mile farther on we made 

 straight out for the floes, through half a mile of hum- 

 mocks, when we came to a small floe, but saw a large 

 one farther on, so pushed straight out from the land, 

 and reached a good large floe, snow tolerably hard, 

 and the line of sastrugi running in the direction we 

 were travelling. Temperature of the air minus 44°. 



4 April 1st — A clear morning, but blowing a little 

 from the north-east. When getting under weigh it sud- 

 denly came on to blow much harder. The wind right 



