The preparation of a hot breakfast was out of the question.

The breeze was strong and the sea was running high in the loose pack around us.

We had a cold meal, and I gave orders that all hands might eat as much as they pleased, this concession being due partly to a realization that we would have to jettison some of our stores when we reached open sea in order to lighten the boats.

I hoped, moreover, that a full meal of cold rations would compensate to some extent for the lack of warm food and shelter.
Unfortunately, some of the men were unable to take advantage of the extra food owing to seasickness.

Poor fellows, it was bad enough to be huddled in the deeply laden, spray-swept boats, frost-bitten and half- frozen, without having the pangs of seasickness added to the list of their woes.