noon
Everywhere in a monotonous waste the vast white field seemed to stretch , with only a few albatrosses and petrels dotting its lonely surface . The thermometer dropped to ten below zero , and the boys found the snug warmth of the steam-heated cabins very desirable . There was a fair wind , and sail had been set on the Southern Cross to aid the work of towing her , and she was driving through the ice with a continuous rushing and crashing sound that at first was alarming , but to which her company soon grew accustomed . Captain Barrington announced at noon that day that they were then in lat . 60 degrees 28 minutes , and longitude 59 degrees 20 minutes West -- bearings which showed that they would be , before many days had past , at the Great Barrier itself . Excitement ran high among the boys at the receipt of this news , and Frank and Harry , who had fitted up a kind of work-room in the warmed hold , worked eagerly at their auto-sledge , which was expected to be of much use in transporting heavy loads to and from the ship to the winter quarters . Before the two vessels reached the Barrier , however , they were destined to encounter a spell of bad weather .