k-out in the bows; and the
announcement was received with a ringing shout, for the heavens were
beginning to get overcast, and the wind was rising, promising that,
should we be compelled to remain afloat another night, we should not
find it quite so pleasant as our experiences of the past one, in spite
of what we then thought the dangerous character of the following waves;
and, if it came on to blow in addition, the heavy running sea which we
had then to contend with would be mere child's play in comparison with
what we might expect would get up in an hour or two.

But, the nearness of the land led us to hope that we should not
experience any further risk of being swamped. Long before sunset we
approached it close enough to see where we were going.

The nearest shore was that of an island, with high mountain peaks, but
of little apparent extent, looking, as we saw it, barely a mile long.
Near this were three or four other islands, although further to the
northwards; while on the extreme left, some miles to the westwards, was
the high snow-white peak which the skipper had said was Cape Horn,
standing on a little island of its own that stretched out into the sea
to a more southerly point than any of the other islets composing the
archipelago.

"Why, sir," said I to Captain Billings, "I always thought that Cape Horn
was part of the mainland, jutting out from the end of Tierra del Fuego--
that's what my school geography taught, at all events!"

"Oh, no," he replied. "It is on an island, sure enough, as all mariners
know, although these chaps that write books for schools may not think it
island enough to mention the fact. Where it stands is called Horn
Island, and the next large one beyond it Wollaston Island; but I'm going
to make for that little one ahead, as it is the nearest."

"And what is that called?" I asked.

"Herschel Island, after the great astronomer," answered the skipper.
"I've been here before, my lad, and recognise the whole lot of them, and
that is how I come to know about 'em."

"Are any people living there?" said I, presently, the boat nearing the
island so quickly that we could see a line of white beach, with the
waves breaking on it, lying below the chain of mountain ridges that ran
across it "fore and aft," as a sailor would describe it.

"Only cannibals," replied the skipper, placidly.

"Cannibals on Herschel Island, and we going there!" I exclaimed, half
astonished, half frightened.