Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/542
19th the ship was again being pressed by the ice, only more heavily than on the previous day, so that it was necessary for her to steam to her anchor.
At 8 p.m. the order was given to weigh and stand off, and the night was spent by the ship in doing magnetic work, as fortunately the middle of Robertson Bay was clear of ice.
At 3.30 a.m. the moraine was again approached, and the watch that had been landed to work on shore were Feb. 20, 1911. re-embarked. An adieu to Campbell's little party was hooted on the syren and the Terra Nova steamed to the N.N.W., in a calm, but with a rapidly falling barometer, to try and get round the pack that always extends north of North Cape.
Her orders were to explore to the west of North Cape as far as the coal supply allowed.
Six a.m. found her clear of the pack off the entrance to the bay. All hands set to to clear up the decks, batten down and prepare for bad weather, and it was well on in the forenoon before they were able to get any rest. By noon a strong wind was blowing from E.S.E. and freshening, and the sea was beginning to get up, so fires were banked and she was snugged down to lower topsails.
Blink appearing on the port hand, course was altered to north to keep away from it, when snow obscured everything.
At noon on the 21st course was altered to W., and shortly after the ship ran very close to an iceberg which Feb. 21, 1911, 68° 41′ S., 168° 29′ E. showed us that the range of vision, estimated at half a mile for ice, was considerably less than had been thought. During the afternoon she crossed Ross's track, the most westerly track in this sea up