Endurance Part 5: 1-3; Lansing

Shortly after landing, all of the men collapse and sleep as they've never slept before. James wrote in his diary that day, " 'Turned in and slept, as we had never slept before, absolute dead dreamless sleep...' " (179). (Everyone knows that this is the best possible sleep that one can receive). However, shortly after arriving at their new safe haven, Shackleton realizes that they must soon move. He notice water marks on the rocks above their heads, which gives the allusion that when the tide comes in it would kill them all. Shackleton then decides to send Worsley and a crew of five on a coastal trip around the island to find safer land. After a long day's worth of searching, Worsley and his men finally return in the late night. The news that they have brought back is not news that reaches the crews' ears pleasantly; there is only one spot on the island that they could possibly get to, but it is not much better than the place they currently reside. Shackleton makes the executive decision and decides to make the 7 mile journey. Upon reaching the small beach, the decision is resented by most of the men, but they must stay. The wind from the mountains is tremendous, reaching speeds of almost 120 mph. Shackleton makes the observation that they could not possibly survive long there, so he makes ready for a small expedition of 6 men to set sail on the Caird. So, at the end of part 5 Shackleton and a crew of 5 set sail for their last hope to bring back help: the island of South Georgia, 850 miles away.