Post V

        After reading Part IV I was a lot more excited to read part V feeling a sense of hope for the men, assuming this section would have a good outcome.  For the most part it did, however it kept me on the edge of my seat, especially ending it with some what of a cliff hanger.  Reaching Elephant Island was most definitely a boost in optimism yet it still did suffice for a permanent camping space.  Shackleton decided it was time to find help now that he knew leaving his men here they would be safe.  He set off on the Caird with five other men heading to St. Georgia to hopefully get a relief ship.  One of the many advantages of camping on Elephant Island was the ability to no longer depend on such low rations of food instead there was a little bit better of a selection of food.  The land consisted of a lot of penguins and seals, as far as meat wise and to satisfy their sugar craving the men ate sugar cubes.  Another advantage was the ability to make a hut to live in, where the men made walls out of rocks and used their boats are roofs.  They wrapped tents around the huts in order to keep from getting too cold.  Blackboro's frostbite in his foot eventually led to an amputation.  The only tedious part now was waiting.  Waiting may seem better than working to stay alive but in the same respect it can be just as hopeless.  The men didn't know if they were waiting to die or waiting to live.
        Personally, I have zero patience and not only would I have not made it this far but waiting for Shackleton's possible arrival would have been torture for me.  Even after everything the men had been through, the effort that they had put into this challenging, near death journey they were still able to put strength into making a hut to live in while they waited.  That deserves recognition, what they did all came down to being motivated to live.