I thought that a good meal would be the best possible preparation for the journey that now seemed imminent, and as we would not be able to take all our meat with us when we finally moved, we could regard every pound eaten as a pound rescued.

The call to action came at 1 p.m.The pack opened well and the channels became navigable.

The conditions were not all one could have desired, but it was best not to wait any longer.

The 'Dudley Docker' and the 'Stancomb Wills' were launched quickly.

Stores were thrown in, and the two boats were pulled clear of the immediate floes towards a pool of open water three miles broad, in which floated a lone and mighty berg.