CHAPTER VI 
THE MARCH BETWEEN 
With the exception of the night-watchman we turned in at 
11 p.m., and at 3 a.m. on December 23 all hands were roused 
for the purpose of sledging the two boats, the James Caird and 
the Dudley Docker, over the dangerously cracked portion to 
the first of the yomig floes, whilst the surface still held its 
night crust. A thick sea-fog came up from the west, so we 
started off finally at 4.30 a.m., after a drink of hot coffee. 
Practically all hands had to be harnessed to each boat in 
succession, and by dint of much careful manipulation and 
tortuous courses amongst the broken ice we got both safely 
over the danger-zone. 
We then returned to Ocean Camp for the tents and the rest 
of the sledges, and pitched camp by the boats about one and a 
quarter miles ofi. On the way back a big seal was caught which 
provided fresh food for ourselves and for the dogs. On arrival 
at the camp a supper of cold tinned mutton and tea was served, 
and everybody turned in at 2 p.m. It was my intention to 
sleep by day and march by night, so as to take advantage 
of the slightly lower temperatures and consequent harder 
surfaces. 
At 8 p.m. the men were roused, and after a meal of cold 
mutton and tea, the march was resumed. A large open 
lead brought us to a halt at 11 p.m., whereupon we camped 
and turned in mthout a meal. Fortunately just at this time 
the weather was fine and warm. Several men slept out in the 
open at the beginning of the march. One night, however, a 
slight snow-shower came on, succeeded immediately by a 
lowering of the temperature. Worsley, who had hung up his 
trousers and socks on a boat, found them iced-up and stifi ; 
and it was quite a painful process for him to dress quickly that 
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