“September 9.—­This is the first day for a long time that we have registered a minimum temperature above zero for the twenty-four hours.  It is pleasant to think that from noon to noon throughout the night the temperature never fell below +4° (28° frost), and with the increase of daylight it makes one feel that summer really is approaching.

“September 13.—­All around the northern horizon there is the appearance of an open water-sky, but around the ship the prospect is dreary.  The sun rose at 6.20 a.m. and set at 5.25 p.m.  Ship’s time eleven hours five minutes of sunlight and seventeen hours light.  Three hours twilight morning and evening.  The carpenter is dismantling the taffrail (to facilitate the landing and, if necessary, the boarding of the jury-rudder) and will construct a temporary, removable rail.

“September 16.—­There has been much mirage all around the horizon, and to the eastward through south to south-west heavy frost-smoke has been rising.  Over the northern horizon a low bank of white fog hangs as though over the sea.  I do not like these continued low temperatures.  I am beginning to have doubts as to our release until the sun starts to rot the ice.

“September 17.—­This is the anniversary of our departure from London.  There are only four of the original eleven on board—­Larkman, Ninnis, Mauger, and I. Much has happened since Friday, September 18, 1914, and I can recall the scene as we passed down the Thames with submarines and cruisers, in commission and bent on business, crossing our course.  I can also remember the regret at leaving it all and the consequent ‘fedupness.’

“September 21.—­The sun is making rapid progress south, and we have had to-day over seventeen hours’ light and twelve hours’ sunlight.  Oh for a release!  The monotony and worry of our helpless position is deadly.  I suppose Shackleton and his party will have started depot-laying now and will be full of hopes for the future.  I wonder whether the ‘Endurance’ wintered in the ice or went north.  I cannot help thinking that if she wintered in the Weddell Sea she will be worse off than the ‘Aurora’.  What a lot we have to look for in the next six months—­news of Shackleton and the ‘Endurance’, the party at Cape Evans, and the war.

“September 22.—­Lat. 69° 12´ S.; long. 165° 00´ E. Sturge Island (Balleny Group) is bearing north (true) ninety miles distant.  Light north-west airs with clear, fine weather.  Sighted Sturge Island in the morning, bearing due north of us and appearing like a faint low shadow on the horizon.  It is good to get a good landmark for fixing positions again, and it is good to see that we are making northerly progress, however small.  Since breaking away from Cape Evans we have drifted roughly seven hundred and five miles around islands and past formidable obstacles, a wonderful drift!  It is good to think that it has not been in vain, and that the knowledge of the set and drill of the pack will be a valuable addition to the sum of human knowledge.  The distance from Cape Evans to our present position is seven hundred and five miles (geographical).