He
fitted the mast of the 'Stancomb Wills' fore and aft inside the 'James
Caird' as a hog-back and thus strengthened the keel with the object of
preventing our boat "hogging"--that is, buckling in heavy seas. He
had not sufficient wood to provide a deck, but by using the sledge-
runners and box-lids he made a framework extending from the forecastle
aft to a well. It was a patched-up affair, but it provided a base for
a canvas covering. We had a bolt of canvas frozen stiff, and this
material had to be cut and then thawed out over the blubber-stove, foot
by foot, in order that it might be sewn into the form of a cover. When
it had been nailed and screwed into position it certainly gave an
appearance of safety to the boat, though I had an uneasy feeling that
it bore a strong likeness to stage scenery, which may look like a
granite wall and is in fact nothing better than canvas and lath. As
events proved, the covering served its purpose well. We certainly
could not have lived through the voyage without it.
Another fierce gale was blowing on April 22, interfering with our
preparations for the voyage. The cooker from No. 5 tent came adrift in
a gust, and, although it was chased to the water's edge, it disappeared
for good. Blackborrow's feet were giving him much pain, and McIlroy
and Macklin thought it would be necessary for them to operate soon.
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