It must have been a trying and anxious time for both officers and men, while pursuing their quest, never knowing what force might suddenly be disclosed in opening out one of these harbours. From the weather usually experienced in these parts some idea may be formed of the discomforts. An officer in the _Glasgow_, writing of this period, says: "It blew, snowed, rained, hailed, and sleeted as hard as it is possible to do these things. I thought the ship would dive under altogether at times. It was a short sea, and very high, and doesn't suit this ship a bit. The _Monmouth_ was rather worse, if anything, though not quite so wet. We were rolling 35 degrees, and quite useless for fighting purposes. The ship was practically a submarine." Imagine, too, the position of the _Otranto_, searching these waters by herself, without the least hope of being able to fight on level terms with one of the enemy's light-cruisers. The words of one of her officers sum up the situation: "We finally got past caring what might happen," he said; "what with the strain, the weather, and the extreme cold, we longed to find something and to have it out, one way or the other." When the depredations of the _Karlsruhe_ became more numerous, the Admiralty dispatched ships--as could best be spared from watching other trade routes--to reinforce Admiral Cradock's command. Thus, what may be termed a second squadron was formed, consisting of the _Canopus_, _Cornwall_, _Bristol_, the armed P. & O. liner _Macedonia_, and the armed Orient liner _Orama_. This latter squadron carried out a fruitless search during September and October for the ever elusive _Karlsruhe_, but, so far as is known, did not succeed in getting near her, for she was never actually sighted. In the absence of orders from Admiral Cradock, the duties of Senior Naval Officer of this northern squadron frequently involved the consideration of matters of no little consequence. These duties primarily devolved upon the shoulders of Captain Fanshawe of the _Bristol_, who was succeeded on the arrival of the _Canopus_ by Captain Heathcoat Grant. As the poor state of the engines of the _Canopus_ did not enable her to steam at any speed, she remained at the base and directed operations, forming a valuable link with her wireless. Orders, however, were received from Admiral Cradock which necessitated her sailing on October 10th in order to join his southern squadron, so that Captain Fanshawe was again left in command. On October 24th the _Carnarvon_ (Captain H. L. d'E. Skipwith) arrived, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A. P. Stoddart, who, though acting under the orders of Admiral Cradock, now took charge of the sweeping operations necessitated by our quest. Admiral Stoddart had previously been in command of the ships operating along our trade routes near the Cape Verde Islands, where the _Carnarvon_ had not long before made a valuable capture, the German storeship _Professor Woermann_, filled with coal and ammunition.