Never mind, when he hailed the quarter-deck, Charlie was just as proud as a pouter pigeon who discovers three eggs in her nest instead of the legitimate two.
The observations were continued, for science’ sake, and at great risk too, for half a gale of wind was blowing from the south-east, and the sea roared wild and angrily, so that to land a boat was impossible.
So no one was sorry when they bade farewell to this strangely inhospitable group of islands. They were covered entirely with snow, and it was found from soundings that the bottom around was not of volcanic formation. This, at all events, was something to know.
They had hardly seen the sun for weeks, fogs prevailed as well as high, uncertain winds, so that navigation had been considerably impeded.
Just one adventure they had on leaving these islands. Somehow, while racing about, poor Wallace, the collie, managed to leap clean and clear over the bows.
Every one loved that dear dog, and he was said to be far wiser and more sagacious than even Nick himself.
Be this as it may, he had not the same swimming power, and what followed fully proved this.
A life-buoy was let go almost instanter, and some confusion ensued.
At first it was thought that a lifeboat could hardly live in that wild sea; but Ingomar himself pleaded with the captain to make the attempt, and the ship was being stopped, and the men standing by to lower, when the captain gave the order.
But now comes the strange point. Nick had seen all, and as soon as the command was given he sped quickly aft and dived overboard.