One strong gale, followed by a calm would scatter the pack,
I think, and then we could push through. I have been thinking much of
our prospects. The appearance of Clarence Island after our long drift
seems, somehow, to convey an ultimatum. The island is the last outpost
of the south and our final chance of a landing-place. Beyond it lies
the broad Atlantic. Our little boats may be compelled any day now to
sail unsheltered over the open sea with a thousand leagues of ocean
separating them from the land to the north and east. It seems vital
that we shall land on Clarence Island or its neighbour, Elephant
Island. The latter island has attraction for us, although as far as I
know nobody has ever landed there. Its name suggests the presence of
the plump and succulent sea-elephant. We have an increasing desire in
any case to get firm ground under our feet. The floe has been a good
friend to us, but it is reaching the end of its journey, and it is
liable at any time now to break up and fling us into the unplumbed sea."
A little later, after reviewing the whole situation in the light of
our circumstances, I made up my mind that we should try to reach
Deception Island. The relative positions of Clarence, Elephant, and
Deception Islands can be seen on the chart. The two islands first
named lay comparatively near to us and were separated by some eighty
miles of water from Prince George Island, which was about 150 miles
away from our camp on the berg.
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