i 9 o4i TliE RUDDER REPLACED 281 



seen since we first entered the Ross Sea. As we came through 

 this pack the leadsman suddenly got a sounding of five fathoms, 

 but though we sounded repeatedly before and after, nowhere 

 else could we get anything but deep water. It appeared as though 

 there must be a submarine ridge or hill at this particular spot. 



1 Late in the afternoon we dropped our anchor in thirteen 

 fathoms off the beach we had formerly visited ; a few officers 

 went on shore to take magnetic observations and to secure 

 bird specimens, but the majority, with the men, set to work at 

 once to shift the rudder. In spite of the facilities which are 

 afforded by our rudder-well, the task is not an easy one, as the 

 rudder itself and all the fittings connected with it are very 

 ponderous. By ten to-night, however, when the light grew 

 dim, the damaged rudder had been hoisted on deck and the 

 spare one prepared for lowering it into its place. Whilst we 

 were at work the tide setting out of the bay brought down on 

 us a heavy pack ; our anchor held well, but the " Terra Nova " 

 evidently did not like the look of things, and has weighed her 

 anchor and put out to sea.' 



' February 25. — By 6 a.m. we were at work again. The 

 weather fortunately remained quite calm and bright. At 9.30 

 the spare rudder was in place, and, after a hasty breakfast, at 

 10.15 we weighed our anchor and pushed out to sea. A snow- 

 storm swept down upon us immediately after, and we lost 

 sight of the " Terra Nova," but pushing out in the direction in 

 which she had last been seen we had the satisfaction of finding 

 ourselves close to her when the storm passed, and soon after 

 we were steaming north-west in company. An almost in- 

 credible amount of work has been done in the " Discovery " 

 since we left winter quarters ; it has been one long fight to 

 bring her into sea trim, and difficulty after difficulty has arisen 

 in the most exasperating manner ; but now, I think, thanks to 

 the determined energy of our people, we may say that all 

 things are in order again, and that our ship is prepared to face 

 most emergencies. The only thing I am doubtful about is the 

 steering power of our spare rudder, as it has scarcely half the 

 area of the old one.' 



