SOUTH 
the east in the evening, and under its influence the pack began 
to wQrk off shore. Before midnight the close ice that had 
barred our way had opened and left a lane along the foot of 
the barrier. I decided to wait for the morning, not wishing to 
risk getting caught between the barrier and the pack in the 
event of the wind changing. A sounding gave 1357 fathoms, 
with a bottom of glacial mud. The noon observation showed 
the position to be lat. 74° 09' S., long. 27'' 16' W. We cast off 
at 6 a.m. on the loth in hazy weather with a north-easterly 
breeze, and proceeded along the barrier in open water. The 
course was south-east for sixteen miles, then south-south-east. 
We now had sohd pack to windward, and at 3 p.m. we passed 
a bight probably ten miles deep and running to the north- 
east. A similar bight appeared at 6 p.m. These deep cuts 
strengthened the impression we had already formed that for 
several days we had been rounding a great mass of ice, at least 
fifty miles across, stretching out from the coast and possibly 
destined to float away at some tmie in the future. The sound- 
ings — roughly, 200 fatlioms at the landward side and 1300 
fathoms at the seaward side— suggested that this mighty 
projection was afloat. Seals were pleutiful. We saw large 
numbers on the pack and several on low parts of the barrier, 
where the slope \^'as easy. The ship passed through laxge 
schools of seals swimming from the barrier to the pack off 
shore. The animals were splashing and blowing around the 
Enclurance, and Hurley made a record of this ; unusual sight 
with the kinematograpli-camera. 
The barrier now stretched to the south-west again. Sail 
was set to a fresh ea,sterly breeze, but at 7 p.m. it had to 
be furled, the Endurance being held up by pack-ice against 
the barrier for an hour. We took advantage of the pause to 
sound and got 268 fathoms with glacial mud and pebbles. 
Then a small lane appeared ahead. We pushed through at 
full speed, and by 8.30 p.m. the Endurance was moving south- 
ward wdth sails set in a fine expanse of open water. We con- 
tinued to skirt the barrier in clear weather. I was watching 
for possible landing-places, though as a matter of fact I had 
no intention of landing north of Vahsel Bay, in Luitpold Land, 
26 
