WINTER MONTHS 
breakdown gang had completed its work by lunch-time. The 
gale was then decreasing and the three-days-old moon showed 
as a red crescent on the northern horizon. The temperature 
during the bhzzard had ranged from - 21° to - 33-5° Fahr. 
It is usual for the temperature to rise during a bhzzard, and 
the failure to produce any Fbhn effect of this nature suggested 
an absence of high land for at least 200 miles to the south and 
south-west. The weather did not clear until the 16th. We 
saw then that the appearance of the surrounding pack had been 
altered completely by the bhzzard. The " island " floe con- 
taining the Endurance still stood fast, but cracks and masses 
of ice thrown up by pressure could be seen in all directions. 
An area of open water was visible on the horizon to the north, 
with a water indication in the northern sky. 
The ice-pressure, which was indicated by distant rumbhngs 
and the appearance of formidable ridges, was increasingly a 
cause of anxiety. The areas of disturbance were gradually 
approaching the ship. During July 21 we could hear the 
grinding and crashing of the working floes to the south-west 
and west and could see cracks opening, working, and closing 
ahead. " The ice is rafting up to a height of 10 or 15 ft. in 
places, the opposing floes are moving against one another at 
the rate of about 200 yds. per hour. The noise resembles the 
roar of heavy, distant surf. Standing on the stirring ice one 
can imagine it is disturbed by the breathing and tossing of a 
mighty giant below." Early on the afternoon of the 22nd a 
2-ft. crack, running south-west and north-east for a distance of 
about two miles, approached to within 35 yds. of the port 
quarter. I had ah the sledges brought aboard and set a special 
watch in case it became necessary to get the dogs off the floe in 
a hurry. This crack was the result of heavy pressure 300 yds. 
away on the port bow, where huge blocks of ice were piled up 
in wild and threatening confusion. The pressure at that point 
was enormous. Blocks weighing many tons were raised 15 ft. 
above the level of the floe. I arranged to divide the night 
watches with Worsley and Wild, and none of us had much rest. 
The ship was shaken by heavy bumps, and we were on the 
alert to see that no dogs had fallen into cracks. The morning 
55 
