ntly escaped your attention. It is that the braying of the
penguins is mingled with a sound like the lowing of cattle. Listen
and you will readily distinguish it."

I listened, and, sure enough, the orchestra was more full than I had
supposed.

"I hear the lowing plainly," I said; "there are, then, seals
and walrus also in the sea at the base."

"That is certain, Mr. Jeorling, and I conclude from the fact that
those animals--both birds and mammals--very rare since we left
Tsalal Island, frequent the waters into which the currents have
carried us."

"Of course, captain, of course. Oh! what a misfortune it is that
we should be surrounded by this impenetrable fog!"

"Which prevents us from even getting down to the base of the
iceberg! There, no doubt, we should discover whether there are
seaweed drifts around us; if that be so, it would be another sign."

"Why not try, captain?"

"No, no, Mr. Jeorling, that might lead to falls, and I will not
permit anybody to leave the camp. If land be there, I imagine our
iceberg will strike it before long."

"And if it does not?"

"If it does not, how are we to make it?"

I thought to myself that the boat might very well be used in the
latter case. But Captain Len Guy preferred to wait, and perhaps this
was the wiser course under our circumstances.

At eight o'clock that evening the half-condensed mist was so
compact that it was difficult to walk through it. The composition of
the air seemed to be changed, as though it were passing into a solid
state. It was not possible to discern whether the fog had any effect
upon the compass. I knew the matter had been studied by
meteorologists, and that they believe they may safely affirm that
the needle is not affected by this condition of the atmosphere. I
will add here that since we had left the South Pole behind no
confidence could be placed in the indications of the compass; it had
gone wild at the approach to the magnetic pole, to which we were no
doubt on the way. Nothing could be known, therefore, concerning the
course of the iceberg.

The sun did not set quite below the horizon at this period, yet the
waters were wrapped in tolerably deep darkness at nine o'clock in
the evening, when the muster of the crew took place.

On this occasion each man as usual answered to his name except Dirk
Peters.

The call was repeated in the loudest of Hurliguerly's stentorian
tones. No reply.

"Has nobody seen Dirk Peters during the da