Endurance Part Three (ch. 4-6)

Paulet Island

It had been three weeks since the crew had last killed a seal, and food and blubber were running dangerously low. Many of the crew members were upset with Shackleton's past refusal to bring in all of the kills made. Some of the men even began joking about cannibalism even though deep down they all thought of it as a viable option. As I read this portion of the story, I could not help but question whether Shackleton made a good decision as a leader. In the morning of March 23, Shackleton spotted land. It was one of the Danger Islets, and it was only 42 miles away, and only 20 miles past that was their destination of Paulet Island.

"...two cracks developed in their floe, only about 90 feet from the boats." This statement foreshadows a later event in the next chapter when the floe finally splits. At five the next morning, the nightwatchman ran shouting "crack!" The men scurried about the floe securing their tents and most importantly the food and the boats. A little over an hour after the first split happened, another crack appeared within 100 feet of the tents. When the men had finished their breakfast, a leopard seal jumped through the ice and was quickly killed. This brought plenty of meat and blubber which helped ease the fear of starvation. That night, another crack formed, and the team scrambled around again trying to save their belongings. On April 3, they identified that the two islands closest to them were Elephant and Clarance Islands. Two days later, Worsley acquired their position, and he realized that they were heading straight for the open sea. They drifted rather quickly and randomly for the next couple of days. the pack ice began to open and close. Shackleton ordered the men to pack up everything. Later, the floe cracked yet again. The pack ice opened again, and that is when Shackleton gave the order to launch the boats. "Even as they drew away from Patience Camp, the ice began to close."