The sealing was now continued with more order and method than had been observed under Macy’s control.  The old caution was respected, and the work prospered in proportion.  Each night, on his return to the house, Gardiner had a good report to make; and that peculiar snapping of the eye, that denoted Daggett’s interest in his calling, was to be again traced in the expression of the Vineyarder’s features; a certain proof that he was fast falling into his old train of thought and feeling.  Daggett was never happier than when listening to some account of the manner in which an old elephant or lion had been taken, or a number of fur-seals had been made to pay their tribute to the enterprise and address of his people.

As for Roswell, though he complied with his promise, and carried on the duty with industry and success, his eye was constantly turned on those signs that denote the advance of the seasons.  Now he scanned the ocean to the northward, and noted the diminished number as well as lessened size of the floating bergs; proofs that the summer and the waves had been at work on their sides.  Next, his look was on the sun, which was making his daily course, lower and lower, each time that he appeared, settling rapidly away towards the north, as if in haste to quit a hemisphere that was so little congenial to his character.  The nights, always cool in that region, began to menace frost; and the signs of the decline of the year that come so much later in more temperate climates, began to make themselves apparent here.  It is true, that of vegetation there was so little, and that little so meagre and of so hardy a nature, that in this respect the progress of the seasons was not to be particularly noted; but in all others, Roswell saw with growing uneasiness that the latest hour of his departure was fast drawing near.

The sealing went on the while, and with reasonable returns, though the golden days of the business had been seriously interrupted by Macy’s indiscretion and disobedience.  The men worked hard, for they too foresaw the approach of the long night of the antarctic circle, and all the risk of remaining too long.  As we have had frequent occasion to use the term ‘antarctic,’ it may be well here to say a few words in explanation.  It is not our wish to be understood that these sealers had penetrated literally within that belt of eternal snows and ice, but approximatively.  Few navigators, so far as our knowledge extends, have absolutely gone as far south as this.  Wilkes did it, it is true; and others among the late explorers have been equally enterprising and successful.  The group visited by Gardiner on this occasion was quite near to this imaginary line; but we do not feel at liberty precisely to give its latitude and longitude.  To this hour it remains a species of private property; and in this age of anti-rentism and other audacious innovations on long-received and venerable rules of conduct, we do not choose to be parties to any inroads on the