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202 I answered that if the channel were still open, I would send it with the expedition, but in the event of it being blocked by ice, it was my intention to carry it to the outer border of the field, and consign it to the waves, in the hope of it floating to some other land.

"Our greatest trouble will be on the frozen field," he remarked, "for I fear it will be intensely cold. It is somewhat early in the season to remain there very long. However, I have not the least doubt we can weather it all right."

We travelled as fast as it was safe for the animals to go over the broken surface, making for the hill from which I last saw the Penguin. On ascending it, we could see nothing but the irregular mouth of the channel, which did not appear to have altered much since I last beheld it. On scanning the horizon with our glasses, however, we could see a little dark protuberance in the far distance, and the channel was open as far as we could see.

"This is indeed encouraging," observed Yondozi. "There is abundance of room there for a ship to pass through. Our expedition will be a success."

"Yes," I answered; "and the Penguin must have cleared the ice with little difficulty."

We now descended, and, forming a camp,