did not look like a different being from what he had appeared an hour before, in consequence of this pause in the regular business of sealing, and the promised holiday.  A strict order was given that no one should go among the seals, as it was feared that some indiscretion or other might have a tendency to create an alarm.  In all other respects the island was placed at the disposal of the men, if anything could be made of such a lone spot, a speck on the surface of the antarctic seas, and nearly encircled by mountains of floating ice.

As for Roswell himself, after reading a chapter or two in Mary Pratt’s bible, he determined to make another effort to ascend to the summit of the sterile rocks which capped the pile that rose vertically in the centre of the island.  The day was nearly all before him; and, summoning Stimson as a companion, for he had taken a great fancy to this man, away he went, young, active, and full of buoyancy.  Almost at the same instant, Hazard, the chief mate, pulled out of the cove in one of the whale-boats, manned by volunteers and provided with sails, with an intention to cross the Great Bay, and get a nearer view of the volcanic hill, out of which smoke was constantly pouring, and occasionally flames.  The second mate and one or two of the hands remained near the house, to keep a look-out on the vessel and other property.

The season had now advanced to the first day of January, a month that in the southern hemisphere corresponds with our own July.  As Roswell picked his way among the broken rocks that covered the ascent to what might be termed the table-land of the island, if indeed any portion of so ragged a bit of this earth could properly be so named, his thoughts recurred to this question of the season, and to the probability of his getting a cargo before it would be absolutely necessary to go to the northward.  On the whole, he fancied his chances good; and such he found to be Stimson’s opinion, when this experienced sealer was questioned on the subject.

“We’ve begun right in all respects but one, Captain Gar’ner,” said Stephen, as he closed his remarks on the subject; “and even in that matter in which we made a small mistake at the outset, we are improving, and I hope will come out right in the end.  I said a small mistake, but in this I’m wrong, as it was a great mistake.”

“And what was it, Stephen?  Make no bones of telling me of any blunder I may have committed, according to your views of duty.  You are so much older than myself, that I’ll stand it.”

“Why, sir, it’s not in seamanship, or in sealing; if it was, I’d hold my tongue; but it’s in not keeping the Lord’s Day from the hour when we lifted our anchor in that bay that bears the name of your family, Captain Gar’ner; and which ought to be, and I make no doubt is, dear to you on that account, if for no other reason.  I rather think, from what they tell me, that the old Lord Gar’ner of all had much preaching of the word, and much praying to the Lord in the old times, when he lived there.”