CHAPTER IV 
LOSS OF THE ENDURANCE 
The ice did not trouble us again seriously until the end of 
September, though during the whole month the floes were 
seldom entirely without movement. The roar of pressure would 
come to us across the otherwise silent ice-fields^ and bring with 
it a threat and a warning. Watching from the crow's-nest, 
we could see sometimes the formation of pressure-ridges. The 
sunshine glittered on newly riven ice-surfaces as the masses of 
shattered floe rose and fell away from the line of pressure. The 
area of disturbance would advance towards us, recede, and 
advance again. The routine of work and play on the Endurance 
proceeded steadily. Our plans and preparations for any con- 
tingency that might arise during the approaching summer had 
been made, but there seemed always plenty to do in and about 
our prisoned ship. Runs with the dogs and vigorous games of 
hockey and football on the rough snow-covered floe kept all 
hands in good fettle. The record of one or two of these 
September days will indicate the nature of our life and our 
surroundings : 
September 4:, — Temperature, -14*1'^ Fahr. Light easterly 
breeze, blue sky, and stratus clouds. During forenoon notice 
a distinct terra-cotta or biscuit colour in the stratus clouds to 
the north. This travelled from east to west and could con- 
ceivably have come from some of the Graham Land volcanoes, 
now about 300 miles distant to the north-west. The upper 
current of air probably would come from that direction. Heavy 
rime. Pack unbroken and unchanged as far as visible. No 
land for 22 miles. No animal life observed." 
" September 7. — Temperature, - 10*8° Fahr. Moderate 
easterly to southerly winds, overcast and misty, with light snow 
till midnight, when weather cleared. Blue sky and fine clear 
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