i 9 i i] AN ICE CAVE n$ 
work, so we turned our attention to the hut interior, with 
the result that to-night all the match-boarding is com- 
pleted. The floor linoleum is the only thing that remains 
to be put down ; outside, the roof and ends have to be 
finished. Then there are several days of odd jobs for the 
carpenter, and all will be finished. It is a first-rate build- 
ing in an extraordinarily sheltered spot ; whilst the wind 
was raging at the ship this morning we enjoyed compara- 
tive peace. Campbell says there was an extraordinary 
change as he approached the beach. 
I sent two or three people to dig into the hard snow 
drift behind the camp ; they got into solid ice immediately, 
became interested in the job, and have begun the making 
of a cave which is to be our larder. Already they have 
tunnelled 6 or 8 feet in and have begun side channels. In 
a few days they will have made quite a spacious apartment 
— an ideal place to keep our meat store. We had been 
speculating as to the origin of this solid drift and attached 
great antiquity to it, but the diggers came to a patch of 
earth with skua feathers, which rather knocks our theories 
on the head. 
The wind began to drop at midday, and after lunch 
I went to the ship. I was very glad to learn that she 
can hold steam at two hours' notice on an expenditure of 
13 cwt. The ice anchors had held well during the blow. 
As far as I can see the open water extends to an east 
and west line which is a little short of the Glacier Tongue. 
To-night the wind lias dropped altogether and we 
return to the glorious conditions of a week ago. I trust 
they may last for a few days at least. 
