The loose brash between the masses of ice was being churned
to mudlike consistency, and no boat could have lived in the channels
that opened and closed around us. Our own floe was suffering in the
general disturbance, and after breakfast I ordered the tents to be
struck and everything prepared for an immediate start when the boats
could be launched."
I had decided to take the 'James Caird' myself, with Wild and eleven
men. This was the largest of our boats, and in addition to her human
complement she carried the major portion of the stores. Worsley had
charge of the 'Dudley Docker' with nine men, and Hudson and Crean were
the senior men on the 'Stancomb Wills'.
Soon after breakfast the ice closed again. We were standing by, with
our preparations as complete as they could be made, when at 11 a.m. our
floe suddenly split right across under the boats. We rushed our gear
on to the larger of the two pieces and watched with strained attention
for the next development. The crack had cut through the site of my
tent. I stood on the edge of the new fracture, and, looking across the
widening channel of water, could see the spot where for many months my
head and shoulders had rested when I was in my sleeping-bag. The
depression formed by my body and legs was on our side of the crack.
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