A little later the 'Dudley
Docker' ran down to the 'James Caird', and Worsley shouted a suggestion
that he should go ahead and search for a landing-place. His boat had
the heels of the 'James Caird', with the 'Stancomb Wills' in tow. I
told him he could try, but he must not lose sight of the 'James Caird'.
Just as he left me a heavy snow-squall came down, and in the darkness
the boats parted. I saw the 'Dudley Docker' no more. This separation
caused me some anxiety during the remaining hours of the night. A
cross-sea was running and I could not feel sure that all was well with
the missing boat. The waves could not be seen in the darkness, though
the direction and force of the wind could be felt, and under such
conditions, in an open boat, disaster might overtake the most
experienced navigator. I flashed our compass-lamp on the sail in the
hope that the signal would be visible on board the 'Dudley Docker', but
could see no reply. We strained our eyes to windward in the darkness
in the hope of catching a return signal and repeated our flashes at
intervals.
My anxiety, as a matter of fact, was groundless. I will quote
Worsley's own account of what happened to the 'Dudley Docker':
"About midnight we lost sight of the 'James Caird' with the 'Stancomb
Wills' in tow, but not long after saw the light of the 'James Caird's'
compass-lamp, which Sir Ernest was flashing on their sail as a guide to
us.
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