The wind shifted to the south-east as the light improved and drove the boats broadside on towards the jagged edge of the floe.

We had to cut the painter of the 'James Caird' and pole her off, thus losing much valuable rope.

There was no time to cast off.

Then we pushed away from the floe, and all night long we lay in the open, freezing sea, the 'Dudley Docker' now ahead, the 'James Caird' astern of her, and the 'Stancomb Wills' third in the line.

The boats were attached to one another by their painters.