ESCAPE FROM THE ICE 
grew heavy with the ice as the unseen seas surged past us and 
our little craft tossed to the motion of the waters. Just at dusk 
I had told the men on the Stancomh Wills that if their boat broke 
away during the night and they were unable to pull against 
the wind, they could run for the east side of Clarence Island 
and await our coming there. Even though we could not land 
on Elephant Island, it would not do to have the third boat 
adrift. 
It was a stern night. The men, except the watch, crouched 
and huddled in the bottom of the boat, getting what little 
warmth they could from the soaking sleeping-bags and each 
other's bodies. Harder and harder blew the wind and fiercer 
and fiercer grew the sea. The boat plunged heavily through 
the squalls and came up to the wind, the sail shaking in the 
stifEest gusts. Every now and then, as the night wore on, the 
moon would shine dowu through a rift in the driving clouds, 
and in the momentary light I could see the ghostly faces of 
men, sitting up to trim the boat as she heeled over to the wind. 
When the moon was hidden its presence was revealed still by 
the light reflected on the streaming glaciers of the island. The 
temperature had fallen very low, and it seemed that the general 
discomfort of our situation could scarcely have been increased ; 
but the land looming ahead was a beacon of safety, and I 
think we were all buoyed up by the hope that the comingTday 
would see the end of our immediate troubles. At least we 
would get firm land under our feet While the painter of the 
Stancomh Wills tightened and drooped under my hand, my 
thoughts were busy with plans for the future. 
Towards midnight the wind shifted to the south-west, and 
this change enabled us to bear up closer to the island. A little 
later the Dudley Docker ran down to the James Caird, and 
Worsley shouted a suggestion that he should go ahead and 
search for a landing-place. His boat had the heels of the 
James Caird, with the Stancomh Wills in tow. I told him he 
could try, but he must not lose sight of the James Caird, Just 
as he left me a heavy snow-squall came down, and in the dark- 
ness the boats parted. I saw the Dudley Docker no more. 
This separation caused me some anxiety during the remaining 
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