SOUTH 
Tlie first glimmerings of dawn came at 6 a.m., and I waited 
anxiously for the full daylight. The swell was growing, and 
at times our ice was surroimded closely by similar pieces. At 
6.30 a.m. we had hot hoosh, and then stood by waiting for the 
pack to open. Our chance came at 8, when we launched the 
boats, loaded them, and started to make our way through the 
lanes in a northerly direction. The J ames Caird was in the lead, 
with the Stancomh Wills next and the Dudley Docker bringing up 
the rear. In order to make the boats more seaworthy we had left 
some of our shovels, picks, and dried vegetables on the floe, and 
for a long time we could see the abandoned stores forming a dark 
spot on the ice. The boats were still heavily loaded. We got 
out of the lanes and entered a stretch of open water at 11 a.m. 
A strong easterly breeze was blowing, but the fringe of pack 
lying outside protected us from the full force of the swell, just 
as the coral-reef of a tropical island checks the rollers of the 
Pacific. Our way was across the open sea, and soon after noon 
we swung roimd the north end of the pack and laid a course 
to the westward, the James Caird still in the lead. Immediately 
our deeply laden boats began to make heavy weather. They 
shipped sprays, which, freezing as they fell, covered men and 
gear with ice, and soon it was clear that we could not safely 
proceed. I put t\eJames Caird round and ran for the shelter of 
the pack again., the other boats following. Back inside the outer 
line of ice the sea was not breaking. This was at 3 p.m., and 
all hands were tired and cold. A big floeberg resting peacefully 
ahead caught my eye, and half an hour later we had hauled up 
the boats and pitched camp for the night. It was a fine, big, 
blue berg with an attractively soUd appearance, and from our 
camp we could get a good view of the surroimding sea and ice. 
The highest point was about 15 ft. above sea-level. After a 
hot meal all hands, except the watchman, turned in. Every 
one was in need of rest after the troubles of the previous night 
and the unaccustomed strain of the last thirty-six hours at the 
oars. The berg appeared well able to withstand the battering 
of the sea, and too deep and massive to be seriously affected 
by the swell ; but it was not as safe as it looked. About 
midnight the watchman called me and showed me that the 
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