arted. We
were blown out to sea while heaving in thirty fathoms of chain which
remained.

"4 P.M. We have been steaming backwards and forwards until the wind died
away. The launch has just come off and taken another load of stores to
the boat harbour.

"7 P.M. The weather is moderating with rising barometer. Nearly
everything required by the Relief Party is now ashore. Two or three
trips will take the remainder.

"We shall steam about for a few hours, and make the anchorage early
to-morrow morning."

Next morning a kedge-anchor (about five hundred-weights) was lowered
with the remainder of the chain. For a time this held the ship, but a
gust of wind from the southeast caused it to drag. It was, therefore,
hauled up and, on coming to the surface, was seen to have lost a fluke.

All equipment, coal and food were now on shore for the use of the
Relief Party. I had given them everything that could be spared from
the provisions set apart for the use of the ship's company. Next day
I purposed to cruise along the coast to the east, if the weather were
clear.

January 29 was fine, so we steamed off at 6.30 A.M. As no flag was seen
on the wireless mast, we knew that Dr. Mawson had not returned. A course
was kept two or three miles from the ice-cliffs beyond the fringe of
rocky islets.

At 4 A.M. on the 30th we were alongside the Mertz Glacier and reached
the head of the bay at the confluence of glacier with land-ice. Mount
Murchison was only dimly visible, but the weather was clear along the
glacier-tongue. Signals were fired and a big kite flown at a height
of about five hundred feet to attract attention on shore in case the
missing party were near.

"1.30 P.M. We are now about half a mile from the head of the inlet. From
the appearance of the country (heavily crevassed) approach to the sea by
a sledging-party would be extremely difficult. There is no floe-ice at
the foot of the cliff.

"10.30 P.M. We are approaching the end of the glacier-tongue around
which there is a collection of pack. There is some drift ahead and it
is difficult to see far. We have passed the eastern limit of coast to be
searched.

"10.35 P.M. The glacier-tongue is trending to the east and a line of
heavy pack extends to the north, with many large bergs. No sign of flag
or signal on the end of the barrier.

"January 31. We left the glacier-tongue at 8 A.M. and steered back to
Winter Quarters.

"At noon we could see Madigan Nunatak, a roc