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The men always managed to reply cheerfully. One of the people on the 'Stancomb Wills' shouted, "We are doing all right, but I would like some dry mitts." The jest brought a smile to cracked lips. He might as well have asked for the moon. The only dry things aboard the boats were swollen mouths and burning tongues. Thirst is one of the troubles that confront the traveller in polar regions.
I portioned out the available ground for the tents, the galley, and other purposes, as every foot was of value. When night arrived the 'Stancomb Wills' was still away, so I had a blubber-flare lit at the head of the channel. About 8 p.m. we heard a hail in the distance.
Wild was to proceed westwards along the coast and was to take with him four of the fittest men, Marston, Crean, Vincent, and McCarthy. If he did not return before dark we were to light a flare, which would serve him as a guide to the entrance of the channel. The 'Stancomb Wills' pushed off at 11 a.m. and quickly passed out of sight around the island.
The 'Dudley Docker' had to tow the 'Stancomb Wills', and the delay cost us two hours of valuable daylight. When I had the three boats together again we continued down the lane, and soon saw a wider stretch of water to the west; it appeared to offer us release from the grip of the pack.
This was fortunate as events proved, for the 'James Caird' and 'Stancomb Wills' went to leeward of the big bight the 'Dudley Docker' entered and from which she had to turn out with the sea astern. We thus avoided the risk of having the 'Stancomb Wills' swamped in the following sea. The weather was very thick in the morning.
The boats, held as close to the wind as possible, moved slowly, and when darkness set in our goal was still some miles away. A heavy sea was running. We soon lost sight of the 'Stancomb Wills', astern of the 'James Caird' at the length of the painter, but occasionally the white gleam of broken water revealed her presence.
The 'James Caird' remained moored to the ice, with the 'Dudley Docker' and the 'Stancomb Wills' in line behind her. The darkness had become complete, and we strained our eye to see the fragments of ice that threatened us.
Every member of the crew of the 'Stancomb Wills' was wet to the skin. The water-casks were towed behind the 'Stancomb Wills' on this second journey, and the swell, which was increasing rapidly, drove the boat on to the rocks, where one of the casks was slightly stove in. This accident proved later to be a serious one, since some sea-water had entered the cask and the contents were now brackish.
There was a lull in the bad weather on April 21, and the carpenter started to collect material for the decking of the 'James Caird'. 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.
Our last night on the solid ground of Elephant Island was cold and uncomfortable. We turned out at dawn and had breakfast. Then we launched the 'Stancomb Wills' and loaded her with stores, gear, and ballast, which would be transferred to the 'James Caird' when the heavier boat had been launched.
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