pack began to work off shore. Before midnight the close ice that had
barred our way had opened and left a lane along the foot of the
barrier. I decided to wait for the morning, not wishing to risk getting
caught between the barrier and the pack in the event of the wind
changing. A sounding gave 1357 fathoms, with a bottom of glacial mud.
The noon observation showed the position to be lat. 74° 09´ S., long.
27° 16´ W. We cast off at 6 a.m. on the 15th in hazy weather with a
north-easterly breeze, and proceeded along the barrier in open water.
The course was south-east for sixteen miles, then south-south-east. We
now had solid pack to windward, and at 3 p.m. we passed a bight
probably ten miles deep and running to the north-east. A similar bight
appeared at 6 p.m. These deep cuts strengthened the impression we had
already formed that for several days we had been rounding a great mass
of ice, at least fifty miles across, stretching out from the coast and
possibly destined to float away at some time in the future. The
soundings--roughly, 200 fathoms at the landward side and 1300 fathoms
at the seaward side--suggested that this mighty projection was afloat.
Seals were plentiful. We saw large numbers on the pack and several on
low parts of the barrier, where the slope was easy. The ship passed
through large schools of seals swimming from the barrier to the pack
off shore. The animals were splashing and blowing around the
'Endurance', and Hurley made a record of this unusual sight with the
kinematograph-camera.

The barrier now stretched to the south-west again. Sail was set to a
fresh easterly breeze, but at 7 p.m. it had to be furled, the
'Endurance' being held up by pack-ice against the barrier for an hour.
We took advantage of the pause to sound and got 268 fathoms with
glacial mud and pebbles. Then a small lane appeared ahead. We pushed
through at full speed, and by 8.30 p.m. the 'Endurance' was moving