oted, though a pulsating nebulous area appeared in front of the moon
just before contact.

A message came on the 27th saying that the 'Rachel Cohen' was sailing
for Macquarie Island on May 2, and would bring supplies as well as take
back the men who wished to be relieved, and this was forwarded in turn
to Dr. Mawson.

He replied, saying that the 'Aurora' would pick us up about the middle
of November and convey us to Antarctica, thence returning to Australia;
but if any member wished to return by the 'Rachel Cohen' he could do
so, though notification would have to be given, in order to allow of
substitutes being appointed. All the members of the party elected to
stay, and I asked each man to give an outline of the work he intended to
pursue during the extended period.

During March strong winds were recorded on fourteen days, reaching
gale-force on six occasions. The gale at the beginning of the month was
the strongest we had experienced, the velocity at 5.40 A.M. on the 1st
reaching sixty-four miles per hour. Precipitation occurred on twenty-six
days and the average amount of cloud was 85 per cent. A bright auroral
display took place on the 6th, lasting from 11.20 till 11.45 P.M.
It assumed the usual arch-form stretching from the south-east to
south-west, and streamers and shafts of light could be observed
pulsating upwards towards the zenith.

We now started on what might be called the second stage of our existence
on the island. In the preceding pages I have endeavoured to give some
idea of what happened during what was to have been our full period;
but unforeseen circumstances compelled us to extend our stay for eight
months more, until the 'Aurora' came to relieve us in November. As the
routine was similar in a good many respects to that which we had just
gone through, I shall now refer to only the more salient features of our
life.

The loyalty of my fellows was undoubted, and though any of them could
have returned if he had felt so inclined, I am proud to say that they
all decided to see it through. When one has looked forward hopefully to
better social conditions, more comfortable surroundings and reunion
with friends, it gives him a slight shock to find that the door has been
slammed, so to speak, for another twelve months. Nevertheless, we all
found that a strain of philosophy smoothed out the rough realities, and
in a short time were facing the situation with composure, if not actual
contentment.

We d