he empty ones ascending. The barrels on the beach were
thus speedily filled and taken off by a boat's crew. At 11 P.M. darkness
came, and it was decided to complete the work on the following day.

As we rowed to the ship, the water was serenely placid. From the dark
environing hills came the weird cries of strange birds. There was a hint
of wildness, soon to be forgotten in the chorus of a 'Varsity song and
the hearty shouts of the rowers.

About 2 A.M. the officer on watch came down to report to Captain Davis
a slight change in the direction of the breeze. At 3 A.M. I was again
awakened by hearing Captain Davis hasten on deck, and by a gentle
bumping of the ship, undoubtedly against rock. It appeared that the
officer on watch had left the bridge for a few minutes, while the wind
freshened and was blowing at the time nearly broadside-on from the
north. This caused the ship to sag to leeward, stretching the bow and
stern cables, until she came in contact with the kelp-covered, steep,
rocky bank on the south side. The narrow limits of the anchorage were
responsible for this dangerous situation.

All hands were immediately called on deck and set to work hauling on
the stern cable. In a few minutes the propeller and rudder were out of
danger. The engines were then started slowly ahead, and, as we came up
to the bower anchor, the cable was taken in. The wind was blowing across
the narrow entrance to the Cove, so that it was advisable to get quickly
under way. The kedge anchor was abandoned, and we steamed straight out
to sea with the bower hanging below the bows. The wind increased, and
there was no other course open but to continue the southward voyage.

The day so inauspiciously begun turned out beautifully sunny. There was
additional verve in our Christmas celebration, as Macquarie Island and
the Bishop and Clerk, in turn, sank below the northern horizon.

During the stay at the island little attention had been given to
scientific matters. All our energies had been concentrated on speedily
landing the party which was to carry out such special work, so as to
allow us to get away south as soon as possible. Enough had been seen to
indicate the wide scientific possibilities of the place.

For some days we were favoured by exceptional weather; a moderate
breeze from the north-east and a long, lazy swell combining to make our
progress rapid.

The sum of the experiences of earlier expeditions had shown that
the prevailing