Chapter IX. Fitting out the Halbrane

           Onthe15thofOctober,ourschoonercastanchorinPortEgmont,onthenorthofWestFalkland.Thegroupiscomposedoftwoislands,onetheabove-named,theotherSoledadorEastFalkland.CaptainLenGuygavetwelvehours’leavetothewholecrew.Thenextdaytheproceedingsweretobeginbyacarefulandminuteinspectionofthevessel’shullandkeel,inviewofthecontemplatedprolongednavigationoftheAntarcticseas.ThatdayCaptainLenGuywentashore,toconferwiththeGovernorofthegrouponthesubjectoftheimmediatere-victuallingoftheschooner.Hedidnotintendtomakeexpenseaconsideration,becausethewholeadventuremightbewreckedbyanunwiseeconomy.BesidesIwasreadytoaidwithmypurse,asItoldhim,andIintendedthatweshouldbepartnersinthecostofthisexpedition.

           JamesWestremainedonboardallday,accordingtohiscustomintheabsenceofthecaptain,andwasengageduntileveningintheinspectionofthehold.Ididnotwishtogoashoreuntilthenextday.IshouldhaveampletimewhileweremainedinporttoexplorePortEgmontanditssurroundings,andtostudythegeologyandmineralogyoftheisland.Hurliguerlyregardedtheopportunityashighlyfavourablefortherenewaloftalkwithme,andavailedhimselfofitaccordingly.Heaccostedmeasfollows:

           “Acceptmysincerecompliments,Mr.Jeorling?”

           “Andwherefore,boatswain?”

           “OnaccountofwhatIhavejustheard—thatyouaretocomewithustothefarendoftheAntarcticseas.