The skins of these creatures we knew to be
rare and of value, so we were impelled to slaughter some of them for
their fur coats, and also to give us a supply of fresh meat; but their
large brown eyes looked at us so sorrowfully when we attacked them that
we had not the heart to kill more than was necessary for our immediate
needs. It was too much like murder.
The penguins followed us down to the landing-place, until it was full
to overflowing. Some of the birds pushed the others into the water in
their eagerness to witness the killing of the seals, which they
appeared to be discussing with much interest.
A breeze springing up, we returned to the ship, and toward evening,
still steering northward, the floating island was lost to view.
We were now in better spirits than heretofore. We had filled our water
tanks from the ice floes, and supplied ourselves with sufficient fresh
seal meat to last until we came to a warmer climate, to begin again our
search for the Island of Gems. The men we had with us upon this voyage
were a better class than were the crew of the "Endraght", and we had no
fear of mutiny. There were grumblings occasionally at the length of
the voyage, but these vanished at each fresh adventure.
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