A sea-
elephant or a seal would have provided fuel as well as food, but we
could see none in the neighbourhood. During the morning we started a
fire in the cave with wood from the top-sides of the boat, and though
the dense smoke from the damp sticks inflamed our tired eyes, the
warmth and the prospect of hot food were ample compensation. Crean was
cook that day, and I suggested to him that he should wear his goggles,
which he happened to have brought with him. The goggles helped him a
great deal as he bent over the fire and tended the stew. And what a
stew it was! The young albatrosses weighed about fourteen pounds each
fresh killed, and we estimated that they weighed at least six pounds
each when cleaned and dressed for the pot. Four birds went into the
pot for six men, with a Bovril ration for thickening. The flesh was
white and succulent, and the bones, not fully formed, almost melted in
our mouths. That was a memorable meal. When we had eaten our fill, we
dried our tobacco in the embers of the fire and smoked contentedly. We
made an attempt to dry our clothes, which were soaked with salt water,
but did not meet with much success. We could not afford to have a fire
except for cooking purposes until blubber or driftwood had come our way.
The final stage of the journey had still to be attempted.
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