We were now on a triangular raft of ice, the three sides measuring, roughly, 90, 100, and 120 yds.

Night came down dull and overcast, and before midnight the wind had freshened from the west.

We could see that the pack was opening under the influence of wind, wave, and current, and I felt that the time for launching the boats was near at hand.

Indeed, it was obvious that even if the conditions were unfavourable for a start during the coming day, we could not safely stay on the floe many hours longer.

The movement of the ice in the swell was increasing, and the floe might split right under our camp.