Ocean Camp, they said, "looked like a village that had been razed to the ground and deserted by its inhabitants." The floor-boards forming the old tent-bottoms had prevented the sun from thawing the snow directly underneath them, and were in consequence raised about two feet above the level of the surrounding floe.
The storehouse next the galley had taken on a list of several degrees to starboard, and pools of water had formed everywhere.

They collected what food they could find and packed a few books in a venesta sledging- case, returning to Patience Camp by about 8 p.m.

I was pleased at their quick return, and as their report seemed to show that the road was favourable, on February 2 I sent back eighteen men under Wild to bring all the remainder of the food and the third boat, the 'Stancomb Wills'.

They started off at 1 a.m., towing the empty boat-sledge on which the 'James Caird' had rested, and reached Ocean Camp about 3.30 a.m.
"We stayed about three hours at the Camp, mounting the boat on the sledge, collecting eatables, clothing, and books.

We left at 6 a.m., arriving back at Patience Camp with the boat at 12.30 p.m., taking exactly three times as long to return with the boat as it did to pull in the empty sledge to fetch it.