From this island a chain of similar
islands extends westward, terminating in Deception Island. The
channels separating these desolate patches of rock and ice are from ten
to fifteen miles wide. But we knew from the Admiralty sailing
directions that there were stores for the use of shipwrecked mariners
on Deception Island, and it was possible that the summer whalers had
not yet deserted its harbour. Also we had learned from our scanty
records that a small church had been erected there for the benefit of
the transient whalers. The existence of this building would mean to us
a supply of timber, from which, if dire necessity urged us, we could
construct a reasonably seaworthy boat. We had discussed this point
during our drift on the floe. Two of our boats were fairly strong, but
the third, the 'James Caird', was light, although a little longer than
the others. All of them were small for the navigation of these
notoriously stormy seas, and they would be heavily loaded, so a voyage
in open water would be a serious undertaking. I fear that the
carpenter's fingers were already itching to convert pews into topsides
and decks. In any case, the worst that could befall us when we had
reached Deception Island would be a wait until the whalers returned
about the middle of November.
Another bit of information gathered from the records of the west side
of the Weddell Sea related to Prince George Island.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213