LANDING COAL 



water swirled downwards from the ice- foot. There was a 

 sharp -pointed rock, which, when the swell receded, was 

 almost above water, and the greatest difficulty was ex- 

 perienced in preventing the boat from crashing down on 

 the top of this. The rest of the staff in the boat and on 

 shore hauled up the cases and bags of coal at every avail- 

 able opportunity. The coal was weighed at the top of 

 the ice-foot, and the bags emptied on to a heap which 

 formed the main supply for the winter months. We had 

 now three depots of coal in different places round the 

 winter quarters. In the afternoon the floating ice at this 

 place became impassable, but fortunately it had worked 

 its way out of Black Door Bay, where, in spite of the 

 heavy swell running against the ice-foot, we were able 

 to continue adding to the heap of coal until nearly eight 

 tons had been landed. It was a dull and weary job 

 except when unpleasantly enlivened by the imminent 

 danger of the boat being caught between heavy pieces 

 of floating ice and the solid ice-foot. These masses of 

 ice rose and fell on the swell, the water swirling round 

 them as they became submerged, and pouring off their 

 top and sides as they rose to the surface. It required all 

 Harboard's watchfulness and speediness of action to 

 prevent damage to the boat. It is almost needless to 

 observe that all hands were as grimy as coal-heavers', 

 especially the boat's crew who were working in the half- 

 frozen slushy coal-dust and sea spray. The Professor, 

 Mawson, Cotton, and Michell still formed part of the 

 crew. They had, by midnight, been over twelve hours in 

 the boat, excepting for about ten minutes' spell for lunch, 

 and after discharging each time had a long pull back to 

 the ship. When each boat-load was landed, the coal 

 and stores had to be hauled up on a sledge over a very 

 steep gradient to a place of safety, and after this was 



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