s to the navigator. From north to south this
outer bay was at least six leagues in length, while its breadth could not
much have fallen short of four. Of course it was much more exposed to the
winds and waves than the little harbour proper, though Roswell was struck
with the great advantages it offered in several essential particulars. It
was almost clear of ice, while so much was floating about outside of the
circle of islands; thus leaving a free navigation in it for even the
smallest boat. This was mainly owing to the fact that the largest island
had two long crescent-shaped capes, the one at its north-eastern and the
other at its south-eastern extremity, giving to its whole eastern side the
shape of a new moon. The harbour just described was to the southward of,
or within the north-eastern cape, which our young master at once named
Cape Hazard, in honour of his chief mate's vigilance; that officer having
been the first to point out the facilities probably offered by the
formation of the land for an anchorage.

Though rocky and broken, it was by no means difficult to ascend the rugged
banks on the northern side of the harbour, and Gardiner went up it,
attended by Stimson, who of late had much attached himself to the person
of his commander. The height of this barrier above the waves of the ocean
was but a little less than a hundred feet, and when the summit was
reached, a common exclamation of surprise, not to say delight, broke from
the lips of both. Hitherto not a seal of any sort had been seen, and
Gardiner had felt some misgivings touching the benefits that were to be
derived from so much hardship, exposure and enterprise. All doubts,
however, vanished, the instant he got a sight of the northern shore of the
island. This shore, a reach of several miles in extent, was fairly alive
with the monsters of which he was in search. They lay in thousands on the
low rocks that lined that entire side of the island, basking in the sun of
the antarctic seas. There they were, sure enough! Sea Lions, Sea
Elephants, huge, clumsy, fierce-looking and revolting creatures, belonging
properly to neither sea nor land. These animals were constantly going and
coming in crowds, some waddling to the margin of the rocks and tumbling
into the ocean in search of food, while others scrambled out of the water,
and got upon shelves and other convenient places to repose and enjoy the
light of day. There was very little contention or fighting among