The original framework of the tents had been cast adrift on one of the floes in order to save weight.

Most of the men turned in early for a safe and glorious sleep, to be broken only by the call to take a turn on watch.

The chief duty of the watchman was to keep the blubber-stove alight, and each man on duty appeared to find it necessary to cook himself a meal during his watch, and a supper before he turned in again.
Wild, Worsley, and Hurley accompanied me on an inspection of our beach before getting into the tents.

I almost wished then that I had postponed the examination until after sleep, but the sense of caution that the uncertainties of polar travel implant in one's mind had made me uneasy.

The outlook we found to be anything but cheering.