An Antarctic Mystery

nk it well that the public should be put in possession of the facts narrated in "An

Islands, so called, in 1779, by Captain Cook. I lived there for several weeks, and I can affirm, on the evidence of my own eyes and m

scover those islands in the southern part of the Indian Ocean. Indeed, the commander of the squadron on that voyage believed that he had found a new continent on the limit of the Antarctic seas, but in the course of a second expedition he recognized his er

he 2nd of August, 1839, had been augmented for two months past by a unit in my person. Just then I was waiting for an opportunity of leaving the pl

about half as large as Corsica. It is safe, and easy, and free of access. Your ship

s covered with green mosses, grey lichens, various hardy plants, especially wild saxifrage. Only one edible plant grows there, a kind of cabbage, not found anywhere else, and very bitter of flavour. Great flocks of royal and other penguins people these islets, finding g

taking of those amphibious animals either on land or from the sea is profitable, a

was accosted while strolling on

time is beginning to seem ve

all American who kept t

, Mr. Atkins, I will acknowl

t as well used to answers of that kind

sist them e

the Green Cormorant, I said to myself that in a fortnight, if not in a week, y

ins; I never regret

good hab

with your people. I have visited the rookeries where the penguin and the albatross live together in good fellowship, and that was well worth my while. You have given me now and again a dish of petrel, seasoned by your own hand, and very acceptable when on

ry, which is mine, Mr. Jeorling; to return

be-trotter for close upon three years. One mu

has taken root, one

iving, it is likely that I shall be the last of my line

n comfortably at Christmas Harbour with my Betsy; she has presented me

return to th

nothing before me but poverty. Here, on the contrary, in these Islands of Desolation,

or you are a happy man. Nevertheless it is not i

fe was a "valiant" woman of the Scriptural type, his sons were strong, hardy fellows, who did not know what sickness meant. His business was prosperous. The Green Cormorant had the custom of all the ships, whalers and others, that put in at Kerguelen. Atkins supplied them with everyth

d to have come to Kerguelen. I shall always remember the islands kind

," said the philosopher, "you must not forget that t

ks and the shores will be covered thick with snow, and the s

g! Why, the wild grass is already peep

venture to pretend that your bays are not still ice-locked in this

e! The winter has been mild this year. The ships will soon show

tkins, and guide the Ha

he's English-there are good people everywhere-and

nk the H

no longer a Captain Len Guy; and if there is no longer a Captain Len Guy, it is becaus

scornful gesture, indicating that such

her cargo of tin and copper. I meant to stay in the island for a few weeks of the fine season, and from thence set out for Connecticut. Nevertheless, I did not fail to take into due account the share that belongs to chance in human

olour was springing up on the basalt cliffs, strips of seaweed fifty yards long were floating on the sea, and on the plain the lyella, which is of Andean origin, was pushing up

reptilian kinds. A few insects only-butterflies or others-and even these did not fly, for before they could

I used to say to

ith complacent assurance, "will surely come in

eased waters. The penguins, heavy and impassive creatures, did not disappear at my approach; they took no notic

powerful birds can fly for two hundred leagues without resting for a moment, and with such rapidity that they sweep through vast spaces in a few hours. The de

stretched out like the prow of a ship, uttering its shrill cry: a few moments later it was re