rights of individuals when invaded by the cupidity and ruthless power of numbers.  Those who wish to imitate Roswell must find the islands by bold adventure as he reached them; for we are tongue-tied on the subject.  It is enough, therefore, that we say the group is near the antarctic circle; whether a little north or a little south of it, is a matter of no moment.  As those seas have a general character, we shall continue to call-them the antarctic seas; with the understanding that, included in the term, are the nearest waters without as well as within the circle.

Glad enough was Roswell Gardiner when his twenty days were up.  March was now far advanced, and the approach of the long nights was near.  The Vineyard craft was not full, nor was Daggett yet able to walk without a crutch; but orders were issued by Gardiner, on the evening of the last day, for his own crew to “knock off sealing,” and to prepare to get under way for home.

“Your mind is made up, Gar’ner,” said Daggett, in a deprecating sort of way, as if he still had latent hopes of persuading his brother-master to remain a little longer “Another week would almost fill us up.”

“Not another day,” was the answer.  “I have stayed too long already, and shall be off in the morning.  If you will take my advice.  Captain Daggett, you will do the same thing.  Winter comes in this latitude very much as spring appears in our own; or with a hop, skip, and a jump.  I have no fancy to be groping about among the ice, after the nights get to be longer than the days!”

“All true enough, Gar’ner; all quite true—­but it has such a look to take a craft home, and she not full!”

“You have a great abundance of provisions; stop and whale awhile on the False Banks, as you go north.  I would much rather stick by you there a whole month, than remain here another day.”

“You make me narvous, talking of the group in this way!  I’m sartain that this bay must remain clear of ice several weeks longer.”

“Perhaps it may; it is more likely to be so than to freeze up.  But this will not lengthen the days and carry us safe through the fields and bergs that we know are drifting about out here to the northward.  There’s a hundred leagues of ocean thereaway, Daggett, that I care for more just now, than for all the seal that are left on these islands.  But, talking is useless; I go to-morrow; if you are wise, you will sail in company.”

This settled the matter.  Daggett well knew it would be useless to remain without the aid of Roswell’s counsel, and that of his crew’s hands; for Macy was not to be trusted any more as the leader of a gang of sealers.  The man had got to be provoked and reckless, and had called down upon himself latterly more than one rebuke.  It was necessary, therefore, that one of the Sea Lions should accompany the other.  The necessary orders were issued accordingly, and “hey for home!” were the words that now