34 CHALLENGER 



the windlass was frozen solid, and on the morning of i6th Nov- 

 ember the sea was 'smoking' prior to freezing over; it seemed 

 high time to be away. A fire had to be lit under the windlass 

 before the cable could be worked, but once that was freed the ship 

 was soon heading for the open sea in a fresh gale and a snow- 

 storm. There were not many who were sorry to be homeward 

 bound for Portsmouth from this inhospitable coast, where nine 

 members of the ship's company were preparing to see the long 

 winter through. 



