Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 2.djvu/577
and extending fifteen to twenty miles eastward from the extremity of the Drygalski Barrier. On the outskirts thin pancake and small, but very heavy, bay ice floes; the heavy floes becoming more numerous and the new ice heavier the farther the pack is entered, till heavy pack with interspaces all filled with snow slush forms an impenetrable barrier; in places this year's pancake, consolidated and up to one foot thick, in thick slush, forms equally impenetrable barrier owing to its viscous nature.'
In the forenoon of the 3rd the ship was again headed for Cape Evans. From several miles north of Beaufort March 3, 1912, 76° 2′ S., 167° 26′ E. Island to nearly Cape Royds the ship was passing through pancake ice, refrozen into large solid sheets of very varying heaviness but often sufficient to reduce her speed fifty per cent. The wait at Cape Evans was very short; she was only delayed an hour embarking those members going home who had not been able to get on board before, together with Keohane, and then proceeded to Hut Point, where the ice had now broken away to within a quarter of a mile of the hut.
Atkinson and Keohane were landed and a few stores March 4, 1912. Off Hut Point. taken to the hut. The ship then ran for the Glacier Tongue to complete with water, and shortly after 10 p.m. (the 4th) proceeded again for Terra Nova Bay.
Although only twenty hours had elapsed between the time she passed Cape Royds going south, and repassed it going north, the ice had materially thickened, and