Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/141

and Abbott, I went with letters to leave at Hut Point, where the Depôt Party would call on their way back. The surface was good and we got back to the ship about 3 a.m., and then proceeded to water ship at Glacier Tongue. While watering ship an accident occurred which might have been serious. The ship was secured alongside, and Abbott was just stepping ashore when a large piece of ice broke away with him on it and fell between the ship and the ice edge. Luckily he was not hurt, and was soon pulled on board again, none the worse, except for a ducking.

By 8 o'clock in the evening of the 9th we were all ready, and proceeded north with a fair S.E. wind, but thick snow.

During the afternoon of February 12th the wind freshened into a gale with heavy snow, and not wanting to close Cape Adare in such thick weather we hove to under main lower topsail with Cape Adare bearing N.W., distant 20 miles.

During the night the wind increased, and continued blowing a very heavy gale until the evening of the 15th. In spite of the very heavy sea the ship was fairly dry, but being so light we took a lot of ice water, washing away the bulwarks we had repaired since the previous gale.

The coal question was becoming serious; if this went on much longer it looked as if we should not be able to land, as Pennell had to keep enough coal to get back to New Zealand.

On the evening of the 15th the wind eased a little, and by 10 a.m. on the 16th we raised steam and shaped