l
sometimes gets astray, and is found on coasts that do not usually come
within his haunts. As respects the animals that so lately abounded on
Sealer's Land, we shall hazard no theory, our business being principally
with facts; but a conversation that took place between the two chief mates
on this occasion may possibly assist some inquiring mind in its
speculations.

"Well, Macy," said Hazard, pointing along the deserted rocks, "what do you
think of _that_? Not an animal to be seen, where there were lately
thousands!"

"What do I think of it?--Why, I think they are off, and I've know'd such
things to happen afore"--The sealers of 1819 were not very particular
about their English, even among their officers--"Any man who watches for
signs and symptoms, may know how to take this."

"I should like to hear it explained; to me it is quite new."

"The seals are off, and that is a sign _we_ should be off, too. There's my
explanation, and you may make what you please of it. Natur' gives such
hints, and no prudent seaman ought to overlook 'em. I say, that when the
seale go, the sealers should go likewise."

"And you set this down as a hint from natur', as you call it?"

"I do; and a useful hint it is. If we was in sailing trim, I'd ha'nt the
old man, but I'd get him off this blessed night. Now, mark my words,
Hazard--no good will come of that nip, and of this return into port ag'in;
and of all this veering and hauling upon cargo."

The other mate laughed; but a call from his commanding officer put a stop
to the dialogue. Hazard was wanted to help secure the schooner of Daggett
in the berth in which she was now placed. The tides do not appear to rise
and fall in very high latitudes, by any means, as much as it does in about
50 deg.. In the antarctic sea they are reported to be but of medium elevation
and force. This fact our navigators had noted; and Daggett had, at once,
carried his schooner on the only thing like a beach that was to be found
on any part of that wild coast. His craft was snug within the cove, and
quite handy for discharging and taking in. Beach, in a proper sense, it
was not; being, with a very trifling exception, nothing but a shelf of
rock that was a little inclined, and which admitted of a vessel's being
placed upon it, as on the floor of a dock.

Into this berth Daggett took his schooner, while the other vessel
anchored. There was nearly a whole day before them, and all the men were
at once set to wo