Winter quarters was the order. In a remarkably brief space of time the tossing, turbulent sea had become a solid mass of pack ice.
And in the midst of this her timbers grinding and wrenching with the strain lay the Albatross.
But soon the ice pack became motionless as the fearful cold contributed to make it solid.
Thus fixed in her icy bed the Albatross was to remain a fixture for seven long dreary months.
It was by no means a pleasant outlook. Yet the crew proceeded to make the best of it.
The rations were carefully reckoned up.
It was found that only with the most frugal of indulgence would they last until spring.
But yet there was a chance that game might be procured to some extent. Even then, however, it was remembered that after the ice pack should break up it would be three months before they could hope to reach a port.
Therefore the outlook was serious indeed.
Added to this was the almost absolute certainty of sickness.