The snowstorm had covered the ropes with an icy sheet--this is now peeling off and falling with a clatter to the deck, from which the moist slush is rapidly evaporating.

In a few hours the ship will be dry--much to our satisfaction; it is very wretched when, as last night, there is slippery wet snow underfoot and on every object one touches.
Our run has exceeded our reckoning by much.

I feel confident that our speed during the last two days had been greatly under-estimated and so it has proved.

We ought to be off C.Crozier on New Year's Day.
8 P.M .-- Our calm soon came to an end, the breeze at 3 P.M.

coming strong from the S.S.W., dead in our teeth--a regular southern blizzard.