These perpetual soakings, however, seemed to have had little lasting effect, or perhaps it was not apparent owing to the excitement of the prospect of an early release.
A north-westerly wind on December 7 and 8 retarded our progress somewhat, but I had reason to believe that it would help to open the ice and form leads through which we might escape to open water.

So I ordered a practice launching of the boats and stowage of food and stores in them.

This was very satisfactory.

We cut a slipway from our floe into a lead which ran alongside, and the boats took the water "like a bird," as one sailor remarked.

Our hopes were high in anticipation of an early release.