Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

The arrival onshore is almost anticlimactic, but the ravaged sailors manage to mark the occasion by shaking hands. Meanwhile, the surf inside the cove where they have landed is tumultuous, so the men form a chain and pass their stores up higher on the beach. When the time comes to hoist the Caird to higher ground, the extent of their weakness becomes apparent, and Shackleton orders that the men rest and eat prior to making a second attempt. The boat is left at the water’s edge while the crew prepares to sleep overnight in a cave. Crean takes the watch while the others rest; however, he calls out for them at 2:00 am, when the boat is caught by a wave and brought out to sea. Crean grabs the bow line and is in water “almost over his head” (326) when the others join him.

Shackleton, after analyzing the situation, announces that three of the party will traverse the distance to Leith Harbor on foot, since sailing has become so treacherous, despite the fact that some of the peaks on the island rise to about 10,000 feet. He decides that Worsley and Crean will join him in the expedition to find help.