The 'James Caird' and my tent were on one side of the opening and the remaining two boats and the rest of the camp on the other side.

With two or three men to help me I struck my tent; then all hands manned the painter and rushed the 'James Caird' across the opening crack.

We held to the rope while, one by one, the men left on our side of the floe jumped the channel or scrambled over by means of the boat.

Finally I was left alone.

The night had swallowed all the others and the rapid movement of the ice forced me to let go the painter.