Bad start, good finish! Joyce and I went aloft to the crow's-nest, but could see no opening in the Barrier to eastward where a ship might enter and get farther south." Mackintosh proceeded into McMurdo Sound.

Heavy pack delayed the ship for three days, and it was not until January 16 that she reached a point off Cape Evans, where he landed ten tons of coal and ninety-eight cases of oil.

During succeeding days Captain Mackintosh worked the 'Aurora' southward, and by January 24 he was within nine miles of Hut Point.

There he made the ship fast to sea-ice, then breaking up rapidly, and proceeded to arrange sledging parties.

It was his intention to direct the laying of the depots himself and to leave his first officer, Lieut.