–from the diary of Thomas Orde Lees—
“9 March. Our little party has been put in a state of high excitement and hope by the appearance of a very distinct swell in the water pools around us. Captain Worsley was the first to notice it. He was just about to step down on some young ice covering a pool when a crack suddenly appeared at his feet about 4in wide. To his surprise it began to see-saw with regular reciprocation in a way that he had never seen before and he tumbled to the fact that it was indeed a swell. This is the best sign we have had so far and indicates that there is probably open sea within 20 miles of us.”
