“When men are as tired as we were, their nerves are on edge, and it is necessary for each man to take pains not to irritate the others. On this march we treated each other with a good deal more consideration than we should have done in normal circumstances. Never is etiquette and ‘good form’ observed more carefully than by experienced travellers when they find themselves in a tight place.”

— Frank Worsley

“After 1 a.m. we cut a pit in the snow, piled up loose snow around it, and started the Primus again. The hot food gave us another renewal of energy. Worsley and Crean sang their old songs when the Primus was going merrily. Laughter was in our hearts, though not on our parched and cracked lips.

“We were up and away again within half an hour, still downward to the coast. We felt almost sure now that we were above Stromness Bay.”

— Ernest Shackleton, South