But it is wonderful what a dozen men can do
with picks and shovels. We could cut a road through a pressure-ridge
about 14 ft. high in ten minutes and leave a smooth, or comparatively
smooth, path for the sledges and teams.
CHAPTER V
OCEAN CAMP
In spite of the wet, deep snow and the halts occasioned by thus having
to cut our road through the pressure-ridges, we managed to march the
best part of a mile towards our goal, though the relays and the
deviations again made the actual distance travelled nearer six miles.
As I could see that the men were all exhausted I gave the order to
pitch the tents under the lee of the two boats, which afforded some
slight protection from the wet snow now threatening to cover
everything. While so engaged one of the sailors discovered a small
pool of water, caused by the snow having thawed on a sail which was
lying in one of the boats. There was not much--just a sip each; but,
as one man wrote in his diary, "One has seen and tasted cleaner, but
seldom more opportunely found water."
Next day broke cold and still with the same wet snow, and in the
clearing light I could see that with the present loose surface, and
considering how little result we had to show for all our strenuous
efforts of the past four days, it would be impossible to proceed for
any great distance.
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