The noon latitude had been 57ｰ 26ｴ S., and I had not expected to find pack-ice nearly so far north, though the whalers had reported pack-ice right up to South Thule.
The situation became dangerous that night.

We pushed into the pack in the hope of reaching open water beyond, and found ourselves after dark in a pool which was growing smaller and smaller.

The ice was grinding around the ship in the heavy swell, and I watched with some anxiety for any indication of a change of wind to the east, since a breeze from that quarter would have driven us towards the land.

Worsley and I were on deck all night, dodging the pack.

At 3 a.m.we ran south, taking advantage of some openings that had appeared, but met heavy rafted pack- ice, evidently old; some of it had been subjected to severe pressure.
Then we steamed north-west and saw open water to the north-east.