The chief duty of the watchman was to keep the
blubber-stove alight, and each man on duty appeared to find it
necessary to cook himself a meal during his watch, and a supper before
he turned in again.
Wild, Worsley, and Hurley accompanied me on an inspection of our beach
before getting into the tents. I almost wished then that I had
postponed the examination until after sleep, but the sense of caution
that the uncertainties of polar travel implant in one's mind had made
me uneasy. The outlook we found to be anything but cheering. Obvious
signs showed that at spring tides the little beach would be covered by
the water right up to the foot of the cliffs. In a strong north-
easterly gale, such as we might expect to experience at any time, the
waves would pound over the scant barrier of the reef and break against
the sheer sides of the rocky wall behind us. Well-marked terraces
showed the effect of other gales, and right at the back of the beach
was a small bit of wreckage not more than three feet long, rounded by
the constant chafing it had endured. Obviously we must find some
better resting-place. I decided not to share with the men the
knowledge of the uncertainties of our situation until they had enjoyed
the full sweetness of rest untroubled by the thought that at any minute
they might be called to face peril again.
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