on with increasing seas, Sir E. decided to “heave to”.  A sea anchor was hastily constructed with the Dudley Docker’s oars, to which she was moored, the Caird’s painter being attached to her stern, the Caird taking a line from the Wills. 
Throughout the night the boats were continually shipping seas which broke over & froze onto them.  The ice had to be chipped away hourly.  The Wills being in an especially bad way, ice forming on her focstle head & keeping her down at the bows.  Owing also to the cross seas & currents, the boats would not be true to their moorings & were constantly bringing up on each other, having to be staved off with boat hooks. 
To add to our trials our ejection into the open sea had been so rapid that we had been unable to take any ice on board & all were in sore need of water.  Our wet condition, the agonising cold &; the need of sleep, made life well nigh unbearable, furthermore, we were without any definite bearings as to our position.  Never was dawn more anxiously awaited, never did night seem so long.  Never do I wish to endure such a night.  Some tried to sleep