23 4 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY 5 [Fe6. 



of a mighty field of pack-ice dotted with numberless bergs. 

 Here and there towards the shore could be seen leads of open 

 water, but they were nowhere continuous, and it was evident 

 that at the best it would take us some days to reach the 

 far cape. 



1 The temptation to push on was great, and I sent to learn 

 how our coal supply stood ; the reply showed me that we had 

 little over eighty tons remaining, an amount which would 

 allow of sixteen days' steaming at our present consumption. 

 I reflected that at least ten of these should be allowed for the 

 return voyage, and I knew how little we could do with the 

 six that remained if once we became involved in the pack. 

 Reluctantly, therefore, I decided to turn to the north-east and 

 seek a way around this formidable barrier ; we must now look 

 for the first opening in it and reserve our small margin of coal 

 for more promising circumstances. It is grievously disappoint- 

 ing to find the pack so far to the east ; Ross carried the open 

 water almost to Cape North. 



'After being brought up by the pack, we sounded and 

 obtained bottom at 610 fathoms, and then devoted the after- 

 noon to getting a haul with our trawl. Whilst this operation 

 was in progress a stiff breeze sprang up from the west and the 

 glass commenced to fall rapidly. Hampered with our trawl- 

 line we drifted alarmingly close to several small bergs, so that 

 I was not sorry when we got our net on board again ; it pro- 

 duced some new species, but the catch was not so satisfactory 

 as we could have wished. 



' By the time we were ready to proceed the wind had 

 increased to a moderate gale, and the ice-streams began to 

 move with such rapidity that we made all possible speed for 

 the open sea. We could not reach it, however, without forcing 

 our way through a broad belt of the heaviest pack we have 

 seen ; the floes were much hummocked, and rose almost to the 

 level of our deck. However, with a full head of steam we 

 forced a way through, and reached the open water just before 

 dark. We have since made sail, and are now standing to the 

 eastward with a strong ice-blink on our port hand, but a com- 



