l we did so, as the waves reached to
within a few feet of the nearest box. Meanwhile I began to wonder how
our benzine and lubricating oil were faring. Both had been stacked in
cases among the tussock and rocks, well back from the waters of Aerial
Cove on the western side of Wireless Hill.

Accordingly, Hamilton, Sandell and I went round in that direction the
following morning, while Sawyer made his way up to the wireless station
to see if there were any damages there. We worked along round the
cliff-front through a cave rejoicing in the name of "Catch Me," from the
fact that the waves rushed into it, frequently catching and thoroughly
wetting any unfortunate taken off his guard. A massive rock, evidently
broken from the roof, lay right across its centre, while on either side
of the obstruction were masses of greasy decaying kelp. We were "caught"
and floundered about in the kelp while the water surged around us.
Arriving at the Cove, we found that several cases were missing. One
was discovered buried in kelp, and a little later we came upon a tin
battered almost out of recognition. The loss was not serious, but the
precaution was taken to shift the oil still farther back.

While we were engaged on this task, Sawyer appeared on the front of the
hill above and signalled to us that the aerial had been blown down.
The three-inch rope keeping the aerial taut had broken off close to the
bridle and torn the halyard with it. It meant that some one would have
to climb the mast to pass a rope through the block, and the wind was at
this time too strong for anything to be done.

On February 7, Blake and Hamilton, who had been making preparations for
several days past, set out for Sandy Bay, intending to do some work in
that locality. Their blankets, sleeping-bag, instruments and other gear
made rather heavy swags, but they shouldered them in true Murrumbidgee
style and tramped away.

Sandell, Sawyer and I went up Wireless Hill to fix the aerial. Sandell,
the lightest of the three, was being hoisted up the first section of the
mast with some one-and-a-half-inch rope when the hauling-line gave way.
Fortunately, he had a strap securing him to the mast, otherwise his fall
would have been from twenty feet. This was the only rope we had, so
we had to think of some other means of reaching the top. After a short
discussion, I suggested that decking-spikes should be secured from the
wreck of the Clyde and driven into the mast at interva