We turned out at 2 a.m. on the Friday morning and had our hoosh ready
an hour later. The full moon was shining in a practically cloudless
sky, its rays reflected gloriously from the pinnacles and crevassed ice
of the adjacent glaciers. The huge peaks of the mountains stood in
bold relief against the sky and threw dark shadows on the waters of the
sound. There was no need for delay, and we made a start as soon as we
had eaten our meal. McNeish walked about 200 yds with us; he could do
no more. Then we said good-bye and he turned back to the camp. The
first task was to get round the edge of the snouted glacier, which had
points like fingers projecting towards the sea. The waves were
reaching the points of these fingers, and we had to rush from one
recess to another when the waters receded. We soon reached the east
side of the glacier and noticed its great activity at this point.
Changes had occurred within the preceding twenty-four hours. Some huge
pieces had broken off, and the masses of mud and stone that were being
driven before the advancing ice showed movement. The glacier was like a
gigantic plough driving irresistibly towards the sea.
Lying on the beach beyond the glacier was wreckage that told of many
ill-fated ships. We noticed stanchions of teakwood, liberally carved,
that must have came from ships of the older type; iron-bound timbers
with the iron almost rusted through; battered barrels and all the usual
debris of the ocean.
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