Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/548

position, with its snout resting on the floe. The men amused themselves by pelting it with little bits of coal and other missiles, of which it appeared to be entirely unconscious. The grooves on their throats were plainly seen, quite clearly enough to count accurately; and sometimes even their moustaches could be distinctly made out, as also the white band on the flipper.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) the whale gun was out of action, and so there was no necessity to try and March 4, 1911, 67° 11′ S., 160° 47′ E. procure a specimen for biological purposes. Whales kept close to the ship till noon on the 4th, when, the pack having eased up, steam was again put on the engines and she was able to make appreciable way.

The ship passed only some ten miles west of Young Island (one of the Balleny Group), but although it was March 5, 1911, 66° 37′ S., 161° 42′ E. a sunny day all the Balleny Islands were covered in clouds, and no useful bearings could be taken.

At last, on March 8, when in 64° 23′ S., 161° 39′ E., she cleared the last of the pack, and in half an hour sooty albatross were round the ship, a sure sign that no pack was north of her.

The next fortnight was a struggle for the ship to keep to windward, the wind obstinately holding to the north side of west and generally blowing hard. Although so light, she was much stiffer than expected.

To the seaman of the present day used to iron ships it is a never-failing source of surprise and delight to see a wooden ship in a heavy sea. How nicely she rides