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304 Penguin; then carefully surveyed the distance, in the hope of seeing a mast. This, however, in a moment, I considered to be folly, for I knew that if no accident had happened, and if not delayed, they must be at their destination before now.

"That dark object must be some huge monster lying asleep on the ice," I said; "for it has not moved since we first noticed it."

I again applied my glass to it, and Yondozi followed my example.

"Rather large for a seal or bear," he observed. "Looks like the hull of a vessel."

"And no other than the Penguin!" I exclaimed.

"They have got blocked in the channel," he said, "and perhaps have perished."

"No!" I responded. "They had abundance of provisions, and must be there still."

"They have suffered from the cold," he said.

"Yes," I replied. "But they took a good supply of firewood with them."

We lost no time in getting into our sledges again, and allowed the animals to go at their highest speed in the direction of the vessel.

Septimus would now certainly be reduced in command; as for Skinny, he would probably lose office. I kept my eyes constantly on the ship;