What to do under these circumstances calls for the most difficult decision.

If one lets fires out it means a dead loss of over 2 tons, when the boiler has to be heated again.  But this 2 tons would only cover a day under banked fires, so that for anything longer than twenty-four hours it is economy to put the fires out.  At each stoppage one is called upon to decide whether it is to be for more or less than twenty-four hours.

Last night we got some five or six hours of good going ahead—­but it has to be remembered that this costs 2 tons of coal in addition to that expended in doing the distance.

If one waits one probably drifts north—­in all other respects conditions ought to be improving, except that the southern edge of the pack will be steadly augmenting.

    Rough Summary of Current in Pack

    Dec.  Current Wind

11-12 S. 48 E. 12’?  N. by W. 3 to 5 13-14 N. 20 W. 2’ N.W. by W. 0-2 14-15 N. 2 E. 5.2’ S.W. 1-2 15-17 apparently little current variable light 20-21 N. 32 E. 9.4 N.W. to W.S.W. 4 to 6 21-22 N. 5 E. 8.5 West 4 to 5

The above seems to show that the drift is generally with the wind.  We have had a predominance of westerly winds in a region where a predominance of easterly might be expected.

Now that we have an easterly, what will be the result?

Sunday, December 25, Christmas Day.—­Dead reckoning 69 deg. 5’ S., 178 deg. 30’ E. The night before last I had bright hopes that this Christmas Day would see us in open water.  The scene is altogether too Christmassy.  Ice surrounds us, low nimbus clouds intermittently discharging light snow flakes obscure the sky, here and there small pools of open water throw shafts of black shadow on to the cloud—­this black predominates in the direction from whence we have come, elsewhere the white haze of ice blink is pervading.

We are captured.  We do practically nothing under sail to push through, and could do little under steam, and at each step forward the possibility of advance seems to lessen.

The wind which has persisted from the west for so long fell light last night, and to-day comes from the N.E. by N., a steady breeze from 2 to 3 in force.  Since one must have hope, ours is pinned to the possible effect of a continuance of easterly wind.  Again the call is for patience and again patience.  Here at least we seem to enjoy full security.  The ice is so thin that it could not hurt by pressure—­there are no bergs within reasonable distance—­indeed the thinness of the ice is one of the most tantalising conditions.  In spite of the unpropitious prospect everyone on board is cheerful and one foresees a merry dinner to-night.

The mess is gaily decorated with our various banners.  There was full attendance at the Service this morning and a lusty singing of hymns.