The little steamer made a quick run down in comparatively fine weather, and I found as we neared Elephant Island that the ice was open.

A southerly gale had sent it northward temporarily, and the 'Yelcho' had her chance to slip through.

We approached the island in a thick fog.

I did not dare to wait for this to clear, and at 10 a.m.on August 30 we passed some stranded bergs.

Then we saw the sea breaking on a reef, and I knew that we were just outside the island.