476 A rctic and A ntarctic Exploration [part ii 
him the Barrow dip circle, a specially delicate instrument. 
The party returned on the 10th December, having accom- 
plished an exceedingly fine journey. There were several 
shorter journeys. Dr Wilson was at Cape Crozier again 
to study the habits of the Emperor penguins during twelve 
days, and Armitage explored the Koettlitz glacier, pre- 
viously only seen from Brown Island, and obtained some 
excellent photographs. 
Captain Scott ordered all the parties, when they re- 
turned from sledging and had rested, to join the sawing 
camp about ten miles to the north, where work was being 
proceeded with for cutting the ship out of the ice. But 
it was soon found that the task was an impossible one, 
and it was accordingly relinquished. 
The Morning was got ready for her second voyage, 
with arrangements complete for taking all the Discovery's 
officers and men on board if necessary, which was very 
unlikely. But the Government began to interfere. The 
Terra Nova, Captain MacKay, was bought and sent out 
as well as the Morning, which was quite unnecessary and 
a great waste of public money, for all that was required 
could have been perfectly done by the Morning, The two 
ships arrived at the edge of the ice on the 5th January, 
1904. The Discovery was freed from the ice on the 16th 
February. A large wooden cross, with an inscription, had 
been made, in memory of Vince, and this was erected on 
the summit of Hut Point before their departure. 
On the 17th a furious gale of wind sprang up. A heavy 
anchor was down. Steam was got up, but the wind was 
more powerful and the ship was driven upon a shoal near 
Hut Point at 11 a.m. The gale kept increasing in force, 
the seas broke over the Discovery's starboard quarter and 
she listed heavily to port, the keel constantly pounding 
and grinding on the stones. Late in the afternoon the 
wind abated and the ship began working astern. The 
engines were put full speed astern, and she slid gently into 
deep water. There was no leakage, an eloquent testimony 
to the solid structure of the ship, and what showed every 
sign of becoming a great disaster was happily averted. 
The Discovery then received her coal from the relief 
ships, Colbeck reducing himself to the very narrowest 
limits, keeping just enough to take him back to New 
