y.

"'Bout ship and coast up again, then follow the edge of the ice away to
the north and east. But we'll keep close in, as we know the water is
deep. We may, perhaps, find a landing-place which we have missed coming
down."

Another look round was given, and they began to steam north once more.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE WRECK ASHORE.

A coast could never have been more eagerly scanned than was that of this
island, for every man of the crew was longing for a run ashore in search
of some little adventure to break the monotony of the life on board; and
again and again, as a seal was seen to slip off the rocks after staring
at them for a while with its peculiar, half human countenance, or a
flock of sea-birds was passed, the men looked disappointed that no
efforts were made to harpoon the one or shoot the other. But as far as
landing was concerned, the heavy waves which foamed among the craggy
masses thoroughly precluded that, and at last they neared the wreck once
more, looking as grim and desolate as ever. Steve had just turned his
glass to examine the snow near the top of the volcano where the smoke
was issuing, and was wondering why it did not melt, when Jakobsen, the
principal harpooner of the Norwegian party, gave a shout and pointed
shoreward and forward.

"Yes, what is it?" cried Captain Marsham.

"Landing-place, sir."

There it was, surely enough, hidden from them as they came south, but
plain to view now at the back of a huge mass of rock which acted as a
breakwater; and there, in quite a recess, was a patch of yellow sand,
over which the sea glided gently, while behind the rock the water seemed
to be deep and still.

Five minutes after the engine was stopped, the boat lowered, and the
captain, doctor, Steve, and a strong crew jumped in, leaving Mr Lowe in
charge, the dog leaping in last of all. A short row, for the most part
balanced on the top of a great roller gliding shoreward to break on the
rocks, and then a smart pull to the right, and they were behind the
great rock, riding gently on deep crystal-like water. Fifty yards
farther the boat was beached on the thick sand, drawn up, and the party
set off, climbing over the tumbled-together rocks to reach the more
level ground and make straight for the wreck, which lay some quarter of
a mile to the north.

The captain took a sharp look round, and then suggested loading the
heavy double guns he, the doctor, and Steve carried, the right bore with