At each stoppage one is called upon to decide whether it is to be for more or less than twenty-four hours.
Last night we got some five or six hours of good going ahead--but it has to be remembered that this costs 2 tons of coal in addition to that expended in doing the distance.
If one waits one probably drifts north--in all other respects conditions ought to be improving, except that the southern edge of the pack will be steadly augmenting.
Rough Summary of Current in Pack Dec.

Current Wind 11-12 S.48 E.12'?
N.by W.3 to 5 13-14 N.20 W.2' N.W.by W.0-2 14-15 N.2 E.5.2' S.W.

1-2 15-17 apparently little current variable light 20-21 N.32 E.9.4 N.W.to W.S.W.4 to 6 21-22 N.5 E.8.5 West 4 to 5 The above seems to show that the drift is generally with the wind.

We have had a predominance of westerly winds in a region where a predominance of easterly might be expected.
Now that we have an easterly, what will be the result?
_Sunday, December_ 25, _Christmas Day_ .-- Dead reckoning 69 deg.

5' S., 178 deg.