I pushed back the canvas of the tent, which I shared with Captain Len Guy and West respectively, as each succeeded the other on release from the alternate "watch," very early, and experienced a severe disappointment.
Mist, everywhere! Nay, more than mist, a thick yellow, mouldy-smelling fog.

And more than this again; the temperature had fallen sensibly: this was probably a forewarning of the austral winter.

The summit of our ice-mountain was lost in vapour, in a fog which would not resolve itself into rain, but would continue to muffle up the horizon.
"Bad luck!" said the boatswain, "for now if we were to pass by land we should not perceive it." "And our drift ?" "More considerable than yesterday, Mr.Jeorling.The captain has sounded, and he makes the speed no less than between three and four miles." "And what do you conclude from this ?" "I conclude that we must be within a narrower sea, since the current is so strong.

I should not be surprised if we had land on both sides of us within ten or fifteen miles." "This, then, would be a wide strait that cuts the antarctic continent ?" "Yes.

Our captain is of that opinion." "And, holding that opinion, is he not going to make an attempt to reach one or other of the coasts of this strait ?" "And how ?" "With the boat." "Risk the boat in the midst of this fog!" exclaimed the boatswain, as he crossed his arms.