McCarthy said that he could contrive some sort of covering for the 'James Caird' if he might use the lids of the cases and the four sledge-runners that we had lashed inside the boat for use in the event of a landing on Graham Land at Wilhelmina Bay.

This bay, at one time the goal of our desire, had been left behind in the course of our drift, but we had retained the runners.

The carpenter proposed to complete the covering with some of our canvas; and he set about making his plans at once.
Noon had passed and the gale was more severe than ever.

We could not proceed with our preparations that day.

The tents were suffering in the wind and the sea was rising.