Trouble Settling Down

Part Three, Chapter One: Trouble Settling Down

Term: anecdote



The crew has just settled into their new camp. Frank Worsley named this place "Mark Time Camp."  This chapter begins on New Year's Day, and the men are making a sincere effort to be cheerful. Although they kept their spirits high, many problems were evident around camp. The amount of food was far from reassuring, and the temperature remained just about at the freezing point. Luckily, a very large sea leopard sprang out of the water and chased one of the crew members. The animal was in heavy pursuit just as Frank Wild pulled out his rifle and fired at the beast. At last, the crew caught a break and had captured a beast weighing in at about 1,100 pounds. Frank Worsley briefly discussed his view on the frightening incident in his diary when he said, "A man on foot in soft, deep snow and unarmed would not have a chance against such an animal as they almost bound along with a rearing, undulating motion at least five miles an hour. They attack without provocation, looking on man as a penguin or seal" (Lansing 103).


Hunting parties continued the next day, the men's confidence was on the rise. Tragically, the food supply was still an issue, and the sled dogs were days away from being shot for food. This chapter ends with Shackleton ordering his men to move to yet another camp named "Patience Camp." Frank Worsley's anecdote regarding the alarming incident with the sea leopard shows just how exposed these men are to the dangers of the sea. This quote further explains the perilous encounters that these men face during their long journey across the Antarctic continent. Throughout history, these dangerous incidents have become more and more threatening. However, ship leaders and developers have created better methods of defense against the many dangers of the vast sea.