ok two inches
in diameter. This caused some embarrassment, as the hook was part of
the cable attachment under the fo'c'sle-head. It is remarkable, however,
that after this was adjusted the ship did not lose her position up to
the time of departure from Adelie Land.

Though we were so close under the shelter of a lofty wall, the waves
around us were at least four feet in height and when the wind increased
to sixty-five and seventy miles per hour, their crests were cut off and
the surface was hidden by a sheet of racing spindrift.

Everything was securely lashed in readiness for going to sea, in case
the cable should part. Final arrangements were then made to discharge
the cargo quickly as soon as the wind moderated.

Two days had elapsed before the wind showed any signs of abatement. It
was 8 P.M. on January 10 when the first boat ventured off with a small
cargo, but it was not till the following morning that a serious start
was made. In good weather, every trip between the ship and the boat
harbour, a distance of a mile, meant that five or six tons had been
landed. It was usual for the loaded launch to tow both whale-boats
heavily laden and, in addition, a raft of hut timbers or wireless masts.
Some of the sailors, while engaged in building rafts alongside the ship,
were capsized into the water and after that the occupation was not a
popular one.

Ashore, Wild had rigged a derrick, using for its construction two of
the wireless royal masts. It was thus possible to cope with the heavier
packages at the landing-place. Of the last-named the air-tractor sledge
was by far the most troublesome. With plenty of manual labour, under
Wild's skilful direction, this heavy machine was hoisted from the
motor-launch, and then carefully swung on to the solid ice-foot.

Captain Davis superintended the discharging operations on the ship,
effected by the crew and some of the land party under the direction of
the ship's officers. Wild supervised conveyance ashore, and the landing,
classification, and safe storage of the various boat-loads. Gillies and
Bickerton took alternate shifts in driving the motor-launch. The launch
proved invaluable, and we were very glad that it had been included in
the equipment, for it did a remarkable amount of work in a minimum of
time.

In view of the difficulty of embarking the boats, if another hurricane
should arise, tents were erected ashore, so that a party could remain
there with the boats moored