I ordered the 'Stancomb Wills' to run on to the beach at
the place that looked smoothest, and in a few moments the first boat
was ashore, the men jumping out and holding her against the receding
wave. Immediately I saw she was safe I ran the 'James Caird' in. Some
of us scrambled up the beach through the fringe of the surf and slipped
the painter round a rock, so as to hold the boat against the backwash.
Then we began to get the stores and gear out, working like men
possessed, for the boats could not be pulled up till they had been
emptied. The blubber-stove was quickly alight and the cook began to
prepare a hot drink. We were labouring at the boats when I noticed
Rickenson turn white and stagger in the surf. I pulled him out of
reach of the water and sent him up to the stove, which had been placed
in the shelter of some rocks. McIlroy went to him and found that his
heart had been temporarily unequal to the strain placed upon it. He
was in a bad way and needed prompt medical attention. There are some
men who will do more than their share of work and who will attempt more
than they are physically able to accomplish. Rickenson was one of
these eager souls. He was suffering, like many other members of the
Expedition, from bad salt-water boils. Our wrists, arms, and legs were
attacked.
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