rious
without the loss of anyone, while we could boast of having killed
upwards of sixty seals. Our next work was to flay them. This, in the
hands of experienced operators, was soon performed, and in a short time
we had sufficient skins ready to load our boats, and to make caps and
jackets for all hands, besides what were required for the ship's use.
The boats now came back to the spot where we were to embark, and by
carefully waiting our time, we leaped on board with no other damage than
wet jackets.

"Williams," said Newman, as we were pulling on shore, "you have nobly
preserved my life at the risk of your own. I trust that I may be
grateful."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

WHALING AND SEAL-CATCHING IN THE ICY REGIONS.

Strong breezes, and cold and thick weather, showed us that we were
getting out of the genial latitudes, in which, without much success, we
had been for some time cruising, and were approaching those icy regions
which encircle the Antarctic Pole. Newman had made such progress in his
knowledge of seamanship, that he was not only considered competent to
undertake all the ordinary duties of a seaman, but was more trusted than
many of the older hands. He soon gave evidence that this confidence was
not misplaced. He and I were in the same watch. This was a great
satisfaction to me, as I benefited largely by his conversation, which I
was now beginning fully to appreciate.

One night we had the middle watch, and were together on the look-out
forward. It was unusually dark; neither moon nor stars were visible,
and the clouds hung down in a thick canopy over us. A strong breeze was
blowing from the southward and eastward, and we were standing to the
south-west with our port-tacks aboard. The sea was not very heavy, but
it struck me at the time that it was somewhat uneven and irregular, and
this made me suspect that we might be in the neighbourhood of land or
fields of ice. Newman was talking of the Aurora Australis, and telling
me how much he longed to see its effect in its fullest brilliancy, when
suddenly he seized my arm with a firm grasp.

"Williams!" he exclaimed, "do you see that unusual whiteness glimmering
there ahead, and on our starboard bow? I hear the surf beating on it!
I'm sure it's an iceberg! Starboard your helm! Luff all you can!
Starboard for your lives!" he shouted, rushing aft to see this done. I
meantime called on those on deck to get a pull at the head-braces; an
inch might