nder; he already seems very uncertain,
and if we were quietly to propose it----"

"I don't know that," said Plover; "Richard Shandon is a hard,
headstrong man, and we should have to sound him carefully."

"When I think," replied Bolton, with a covetous sigh, "that in a month
we might be back in Liverpool; we could soon clear the southern
ice-line. The pass in Davis's Straits will be open in the beginning
of June, and we shall only have to let ourselves drift into the
Atlantic."

"Besides," said the prudent Clifton, "if we bring back the commander
with us, acting under his responsibility, our pay and bounty money
will be sure; whilst if we return alone it won't be so certain."

"That's certain!" said Plover; "that devil of a Clifton speaks like
a book. Let us try to have nothing to explain to the Admiralty; it's
much safer to leave no one behind us."

"But if the officers refuse to follow us?" replied Pen, who wished
to push his comrades to an extremity.

To such a question they were puzzled to reply.

"We shall see about it when the time comes," replied Bolton; "besides,
it would be enough to win Richard Shandon over to our side. We shall
have no difficulty about that."

"Anyhow," said Pen, swearing, "there's something I'll leave here if
I get an arm eaten in the attempt."

"Ah! you mean the dog," said Plover.

"Yes, the dog; and before long I'll settle his hash!"

"The more so," replied Clifton, coming back to his favourite theme,
"that the dog is the cause of all our misfortunes."

"He's cast an evil spell over us," said Plover.

"It's through him we're in an iceberg," said Gripper.

"He's the cause that we've had more ice against us than has ever been
seen at this time of year," said Wolsten.

"He's the cause of my bad eyes," said Brunton.

"He's cut off the gin and brandy," added Pen.

"He's the cause of everything," said the assembly, getting excited.

"And he's captain into the bargain!" cried Clifton.

"Well, captain of ill-luck," said Pen, whose unreasonable fury grew
stronger at every word; "you wanted to come here, and here you'll
stay."

"But how are we to nap him?" said Plover.

"We've a good opportunity," replied Clifton; "the commander isn't
on deck, the lieutenant is asleep in his cabin, and the fog's thick
enough to stop Johnson seeing us."

"But where's the dog?" cried Pen.

"He's asleep near the coalhole," replied Clifton, "and if anybody
wants----"

"I'll take charge of