forced up in all directions, and there is a water-sky to the south-
east. It would be a relief to be able to make some effort on our own
behalf; but we can do nothing until the ice releases our ship. If the
floes continue to loosen, we may break out within the next few weeks
and resume the fight. In the meantime the pressure continues, and it
is hard to foresee the outcome. Just before noon to-day (July 26) the
top of the sun appeared by refraction for one minute, seventy-nine days
after our last sunset. A few minutes earlier a small patch of the sun
had been thrown up on one of the black streaks above the horizon. All
hands are cheered by the indication that the end of the winter darkness
is near.... Clark finds that with returning daylight the diatoms are
again appearing. His nets and line are stained a pale yellow, and much
of the newly formed ice has also a faint brown or yellow tinge. The
diatoms cannot multiply without light, and the ice formed since
February can be distinguished in the pressure-ridges by its clear blue
colour. The older masses of ice are of a dark earthy brown, dull
yellow, or reddish brown."

The break-up of our floe came suddenly on Sunday, August 1, just one
year after the 'Endurance' left the South-West India Docks on the
voyage to the Far South. The position was lat. 72° 26´ S., long. 48°
10´ W. The morning brought a moderate south-westerly gale with heavy
snow, and at 8 a.m., after some warning movements of the ice, the floe
cracked 40 yds. off the starboard bow. Two hours later the floe began
to break up all round us under pressure and the ship listed over 10
degrees to starboard. I had the dogs and sledges brought aboard at
once and the gangway hoisted. The animals behaved well. They came
aboard eagerly as though realizing their danger, and were placed in
their quarters on deck without a single fight occurring. The pressure
was cracking the floe rapidly, rafting it close to the slip and forcing