in a sheltered harbour.

Everything went well until just before midnight on January 12, when the
wind again swept down. Wild, four of the men and I were forced to remain
ashore. We spent the time constructing a temporary hut of benzine cases,
roofed with planks; the walls of which were made massive to resist the
winds. This structure was henceforth known as the "Benzine Hut".

The barometer dropped to 28.5 inches and the wind remained high. We were
struck with the singular fact that, even in the height of some of these
hurricanes, the sky remained serene and the sun shone brightly. It had
been very different when the ship was amongst the pack a few miles to
the north, for, there, cloudy and foggy conditions had been the rule.
The wind coming to us from the south was dry; obviously an argument for
the continental extension of the land in that direction.

At 2 A.M. on January 15 a pre-arranged whistle was sounded from the
'Aurora', advising those of us ashore that the sea had moderated
sufficiently to continue unloading. Wild sped away in the launch, but
before he had reached the ship the wind renewed its activity. At last,
after 2 P.M. on the same day it ceased, and we were able to carry on
work until midnight, when the wind descended on us once more. This time,
eighteen men remained ashore. After twelve hours there was another lull,
and unloading was then continued with only a few intermissions from 1
P.M. on January 16 until the afternoon of January 19.

Never was landing so hampered by adverse conditions, and yet, thanks to
the assiduous application of all, a great assortment of materials was
safely embarked. Comprised among them were the following: twenty-three
tons of coal briquettes, two complete living-huts, a magnetic
observatory, the whole of the wireless equipment, including masts,
and more than two thousand packages of general supplies containing
sufficient food for two years, utensils, instruments, benzine, kerosene,
lubricating oils an air-tractor and other sledges.

Then came the time for parting. There was a great field before Wild's
party to the west, and it was important that they should be able to
make the most of the remainder of the season. My great regret was that I
could not be with them. I knew that I had men of experience and ability
in Davis and Wild, and felt that the work entrusted to them was in the
best of hands. Through the medium of wireless telegraphy I hoped to keep
in touch with the