tV£ PREPARE FOR THE SLEDGE EXPEDITION ^9 



feel the vibration under me for a long time afterwards 

 while lying in my berth. Finally, I could hear the roar- 

 ing and grating caused by the ice-pressure. I told the 

 watch to listen carefully, and ascertain where the press- 

 ure was, and to notice whether the floe on which we 

 were lying was likely to crack, and whether any part of 

 our equipment was in danger. He thought he could 

 hear the noise of ice-pressure both forw\ard and aft, but 

 it was not easy to distinguish it from the roar of the 

 tempest in the rigging. To-day about 12.30 p.m. the 

 Fi'mii received another violent shock, even stronger tlian 

 that we had experienced during the night. There was 

 another shake a little later; I suppose there has been 

 a pressure aft, but could hear nothing for the storm. 

 It is odd about this pressure: one woukl think that the 

 wind was the primary cause ; but it recurs pretty regu- 

 larly, notwithstanding the fact that the spring -tide has 

 not yet set in ; indeed, when it commenced a few^ days 

 ago it was alniost a neap-tide. In addition to the press- 

 ure of yesterday and last night, w^e had pressure on 

 Thursday morning at half -past nine and again at half- 

 past eleven. It was so strong that Peter, who was at 

 the sounding-hole, jumped up repeatedly, thinking that 

 the ice would burst underneath him. It is very singular, 

 we have been quiet for so long now that we feel almost 

 nervous when the Frani receives those shocks; every- 

 thing seems to tremble as if in a violent earthquake. 

 " Sunday, December 23d. Wind still unchanged, and 



