SOUTH 
On these fine, clear, sunny days wonderful mirage effects 
could be observed, just as occur over the desert. Huge bergs 
were apparently resting on nothing, with a distinct gap between 
their bases and the horizon ; others were curiously distorted 
into all sorts of weird and fantastic shapes, appearing to be 
many times their proper height. Added to this, the pure 
glistening white of the snow and ice made a picture which it is 
impossible adequately to describe. 
Later on, the freshening south-westerly wind brought mild, 
overcast weather, probably due to the opening up of the pack 
in that direction. 
I had already made arrangements for a quick move in case 
of a sudden break-up of the ice. Emergency orders were 
issued ; each man had his post allotted and his duty detailed ; 
and the whole was so organized that in less than five minutes 
from the sounding of the alarm on my whistle, tents were struck, 
gear and provisions packed, and the whole party was ready 
to move off. I now took a final survey of the men to note 
their condition, both mental and physical. For our time at 
Ocean Camp had not been one of unalloyed bliss. The loss 
of the ship meant more to us than we could ever put into 
words. After we had settled at Ocean Camp she still remained 
nipped by the ice, only her stern showing and her bows over- 
ridden and buried by the relentless pack. The tangled mass 
of ropes, rigging, and spars made the scene even more desolate 
and depressuig, 
It was with a feeling almost of relief that the end came. 
November 21, 1916. — This evening, as we were lying in our 
tents we heard the Boss call out, ' She's going, boys ! ' We 
were out in a second and up on the look-out station and other 
points of vantage, and, sure enough, there was our poor ship 
a mile and a half away struggling in her death-agony. She 
went down bows first, her stern raised in the air. She then 
gave one quick dive and the ice closed over her for ever. It 
gave one a sickening sensation to see it, for, mastless and 
useless as she was, she seemed to be a link with the outer world. 
Without her our destitution seems more emphasized, our deso- 
lation more complete. The loss of the ship sent a slight wave 
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