176 FARTHEST XOKTH 



rose, the current slackened, and wave after wave broke 

 over us. After incredible toil we had at last only a 

 short way to go. I cheered up the good fellows as 

 best I could, reminding them of the smoking hot tea that 

 awaited them after a few more tough pulls, and picturing 

 all the good things in store for them. We really were 

 all pretty well done up now, but we still took a good grip 

 of the oars, soaking wet as we were from the sea con- 

 stantly breaking over us, for of course none of us had 

 thought of such things as oilskins in yesterday's beautiful 

 weather. But we soon saw that with all our pulling and 

 toiling the boat was making no headway whatever. Apart 

 from the wind and the sea we had the current dead 

 against us here ; all our exertions were of no avail. We 

 pulled till our finger-tips felt as if they were bursting ; 

 but the most we could manage was to keep the boat 

 where it was ; if we slackened an instant it drifted back. 

 I tried to encourage my comrades : " Noiv we made 

 a little way! It was just strength that was needed!" 

 But all to no purpose. The wind whistled round 

 our ears, and the spray dashed over us. It was mad- 

 dening to be so near the ship that it seemed as if 

 we could almost reach out to her, and yet feel that 

 it was impossible to get on any farther. We had to 

 cjo in under the land asrain, where we had the current 

 with us, and here we did succeed in makinof a little 

 progress. We rowed hard till we were about abreast of 

 the ship ; then we once more tried to sheer across to 



