The record of the early months of the ‘Aurora’s’ long drift in the Ross Sea is not eventful.  The galley condenser was rigged, but the supply of fresh water remained a problem.  The men collected fresh-fallen snow when possible and hoped to get within reach of fresh ice.  Hooke and Ninnis worked hard at the wireless plant with the object of getting into touch with Macquarie Island, and possibly sending news of the ship’s movements to Cape Evans.  They got the wireless motor running and made many adjustments of the instruments and aerials, but their efforts were not successful.  Emperor penguins approached the ship occasionally, and the birds were captured whenever possible for the fresh meat they afforded.  The ‘Aurora’ was quite helpless in the grip of the ice, and after the engine-room bilges had been thawed and pumped out the boilers were blown down.  The pressure had been raised to sixty pounds, but there was no chance of moving the ship, and the supply of coal was limited.  The story of the ‘Aurora’s’ drift during long months can be told briefly by means of extracts from Stenhouse’s log: 

“May 21.—­Early this morning there appeared to be movements in the ice.  The grating and grinding noise makes one feel the unimportance of man in circumstances like ours.  Twilight towards noon showed several narrow, open leads about two cables from ship and in all directions.  Unable to get bearing, but imagine that there is little or no alteration in ship’s position, as ship’s head is same, and Western Mountains appear the same....  Hope all is well at Cape Evans and that the other parties have returned safely.  Wish we could relieve their anxiety.

“May 22.—­Obtained good bearings of Beaufort Island, Cape Ross, and Dunlop Island, which put the ship in a position eighteen miles south 75° east (true) from Cape Ross.  Since the 14th, when reliable bearings were last obtained, we have drifted north-west by north seven miles.

“May 24.—­Blizzard from south-south-east continued until 9 p.m., when it moderated, and at 11.45 p.m. wind shifted to north-west, light, with snow.  Quite a lot of havoc has been caused during this blow, and the ship has made much northing.  In the morning the crack south of the ship opened to about three feet.  At 2 p.m. felt heavy shock and the ship heeled to port about 70°.  Found ice had cracked from port gangway to north-west, and parted from ship from gangway along to stern.  Crack extended from stern to south-east. 7.35 p.m.—­Ice cracked from port fore chains, in line parallel to previous crack.  The ice broke again between the cracks and drifted to north-west for about ten yards.  The ice to southward then commenced to break up, causing heavy strain on ship, and setting apparently north in large broken fields.  Ship badly jammed in. 9.15 p.m.—­Ice closed in again around ship.  Two heavy windsqualls with a short interval between followed by cessation of wind.  We are in a labyrinth of large rectangular floes (some with their points pressing heavily against ship) and high pressure-ridges.