ine Cove and knew the best
route to take, kindly volunteered to accompany Hurley. The party was
eventually increased by the addition of Harrisson, who was to keep a
look-out for matters of biological interest. They started off at noon on
December 13.

Although the greater part of the stores for the Macquarie Island party
were to arrive by the Toroa there were a few tons on board the 'Aurora'.
These and the dogs were landed as quickly as possible. How glad the poor
animals were to be once more on solid earth! It was out of the question
to let them loose, so they were tethered at intervals along a heavy
cable, anchored at both ends amongst the tussock-grass. Ninnis took up
his abode in the sealers' hut so that he might the better look after
their wants, which centred chiefly on sea elephant meat, and that in
large quantities. Webb joined Ninnis, as he intended to take full sets
of magnetic observations at several stations in the vicinity.

Bickerton and Gillies got the motor-launch into good working order,
and by means of it the rest of us conveyed ashore several tons of coal
briquettes, the benzine, kerosene, instruments and the wireless masts,
by noon on December 13.

Everything but the requirements of the wireless station was landed
on the spit, as near the north-east corner as the surf would allow.
Fortunately, reefs ran out from the shore at intervals, and calmer water
could be found in their lee. All gear for the wireless station was taken
to a spot about half a mile to the north-west at the foot of Wireless
Hill, where the "flying fox" was situated. Just at that spot there was
a landing-place at the head of a charming little boat harbour, formed by
numerous kelp-covered rocky reefs rising at intervals above the level of
high water. These broke the swell, so that in most weathers calm water
was assured at the landing-place.

This boat harbour was a fascinating spot. The western side was peopled
by a rookery of blue-eyed cormorants; scattered nests of white gulls
relieved the sombre appearance of the reefs on the opposite side: whilst
gentoo penguins in numbers were busy hatching their eggs on the sloping
ground beyond. Skua-gulls and giant petrels were perched here and there
amongst the rocks, watching for an opportunity of marauding the nests of
the non-predacious birds. Sea elephants raised their massive, dripping
heads in shoal and channel. The dark reefs, running out into the
pellucid water, supported a vast