She was an ordinary ship's whaler, fairly strong, but showing signs of the strains she had endured since the crushing of the 'Endurance'.

Where she was holed in leaving the pack was, fortunately, about the water-line and easily patched.
Standing beside her, we glanced at the fringe of the storm-swept, tumultuous sea that formed our path.

Clearly, our voyage would be a big adventure.

I called the carpenter and asked him if he could do anything to make the boat more seaworthy.

He first inquired if he was to go with me, and seemed quite pleased when I said "Yes." He was over fifty years of age and not altogether fit, but he had a good knowledge of sailing-boats and was very quick.