ny
increase of speed. This coast evidently Stretched from north-west to
south-east. Nevertheless, the telescopes revealed no distinctive
features--even after three hours' navigation.

The crew, gathered together on the forecastle, were looking on
without revealing their impressions. West, after going aloft to the
fore-cross-trees, where he had remained ten minutes, had reported
nothing precise. Stationed at the port side, leaning my elbows on
the bulwarks, I closely watched the sky line, broken only towards
the east.

At this moment the boatswain rejoined me, and without preface said:

"Will you allow me to give you my opinion, Mr. Jeorling?"

"Give it, boatswain," I replied, "at the risk of my not
adopting it if I don't agree with it."

"It is correct, and according as we get nearer one must really be
blind not to adopt it!"

"And what idea have you got?"

"That it is not land which lies before us, Mr. Jeorling!"

"What is it you are saying?"

"Look attentively, putting one finger before your eyes--look
there--out a--starboard."

I did as Hurliguerly directed.

"Do you see?" he began again. "May I lose my liking for my
grog if these heights do not change place, not with regard to the
schooner, but with regard to themselves!"

"And what do you conclude from this?"

"That they are moving icebergs."

"Icebergs?"

"Sure enough, Mr. Jeorling."

Was not the boatswain mistaken? Were we in for a disappointment?
Were there only drifting ice-mountains in the distance instead of a
shore?

Presently, there was no doubt on the subject; for some time past the
crew had no longer believed existence of land in that direction.

Ten minutes afterwards, the man in the crow's-nest announced that
several icebergs were coming north-west, in an oblique direction,
into the course of the _Halbrane_.

This news produced a great sensation on board. Our last hope was
suddenly extinguished. And what a blow to Captain Len Guy! We should
have to seek land of the austral zone under higher latitudes without
being sure of ever coming across it!

And then the cry, "Back ship! back ship!" sounded almost
unanimously on board the _Halbrane_.

Yes, indeed, the recruits from the Falklands demanding that we
should turn back, although Hearne was not there to fan the flame of
insubordination, and I must acknowledge that the greater part of the
old tars seemed to agree with them.

West awaited his chief's orders, not daring to impo