But in our case we must risk trouble to get smoother water for the ponies.

We passed a stream of ice over which the sea was breaking heavily and one realised the danger of being amongst loose floes in such a sea.

But soon we came to a compacter body of floes, and running behind this we were agreeably surprised to find comparatively smooth water.

We ran on for a bit, then stopped and lay to.

Now we are lying in a sort of ice bay--there is a mile or so of pack to windward, and two horns which form the bay embracing us.