I had decided to send Wild along the coast in the 'Stancomb Wills' to look for a new camping-ground, and he and I discussed the details of the journey while eating our breakfast of hot seal steak and blubber.

The camp I wished to find was one where the party could live for weeks or even months in safety, without danger from sea or wind in the heaviest winter gale.
Wild was to proceed westwards along the coast and was to take with him four of the fittest men, Marston, Crean, Vincent, and McCarthy.

If he did not return before dark we were to light a flare, which would serve him as a guide to the entrance of the channel.

The 'Stancomb Wills' pushed off at 11 a.m.and quickly passed out of sight around the island.

Then Hurley and I walked along the beach towards the west, climbing through a gap between the cliff and a great detached pillar of basalt.