CHARTER IV 
CuT OFF FROM ALL THE WORLD. 
Ix the evening the Southern Cross left us at our 
pioneer settlement on Cape Adare, which I had 
christened Camp Ridley,* with instructions to proceed 
to New Zealand, and to return to us as soon a5 
possible in the New Year. Amongst other 
instructions, I laid great stress upon one, namely 
that Captain Jensen should not, even on his return 
voyage to us, shape a course to the west of longitude 
170°, and I was pleased to find that by this means 
he was able to proceed with but very little hindrance 
from ice. 
We were cut off from all the world, 2,500 miles 
south of Australia, and all ten of us realised our 
isolation as the vessel steamed away with wishes 
and greetings to those we had left behind us. 
What would happen to the Southern Cross and to 
ourselves in the coming year? Would it be possible 
for human beings to exist there? The conditions 
we should live under, and the natural forces we 
were destined to fight, would they be too strong for 
human energy and endurance? Should the Southern 
Cross be crushed, how long then, in all probability, 
would we remain in Victoria Land? АП this 
* Commanders mother’s maiden name, 
