SOUTH 
the James Caird back to the assistance of the Dudley Docker 
since we were hard pressed to make any progress ourselves in 
the heavier boat. The only thing was to go ahead and hope 
for the best. All hands were wet to the skin again and many 
men were feeling the cold severely. We forged on slowly and 
passed inside a great pillar of rock standing out to sea and 
towering to a height of about 2400 ft. A line of reef stretched 
between the shore and this pillar, and I thought as we ap- 
proached that we would have to face the raging sea outside ; 
but a break in the white surf revealed a gap in the reef and 
we laboured through, with the wind driving clouds of spray on 
our port beam. The Stancomb Wills followed safely. In the 
stinging spray I lost sight of the Dudley Docker altogether. 
It was obvious she would have to go outside the pillar as she 
was making so much leeway, but I could not see what happened 
to her and I dared not pause. It was a bad time. At last, 
about 5 p.m., the James Caird and the Stancomh Wills reached 
comparatively calm water and we saw Wild's beach just ahead 
of us. I looked back vainly for the Dudley Docker, 
Rocks studded the shallow water roimd the spit and the 
sea sm-ged amongst them. I ordered the Stancomh Wills to run 
on to the beach at the place that looked smoothest, and in a few 
moments the first boat was ashore, the men jumping out and 
holding her against the receding wave. Immediately I saw 
she was safe I ran the James Caird in. Some of us scrambled up 
the beach through the fringe of the surf and slipped the painter 
round a rock, so as to hold the boat against the backwash. 
Then we began to get the stores and gear out, working like 
men possessed, for the boats could not be pulled up till they 
had been emptied. The blubber-stove was quickly aUght and 
the cook began to prepare a hot drinlv. We were labouring 
at the boats when I noticed Rickenson turn white and stagger 
in the surf. I pulled him out of reach of the water and sent 
him up to the stove, which had been placed in the shelter of 
some rocks. Mcllroy went to him and found that his heart 
had been temporarily unequal to the strain placed upon it. 
He was in a bad way and needed prompt medical attention. 
There are some men who will do more than their share of work 
150 
