Though no one on the ice knew it, the ship had been brought as near to the ice as possible with safety, for under the water a berg is usually four times as large as the portion exposed.
Slap-dash tried all the persuasion possible, but Gruff, although headed off by the Newfoundlands, refused to be wheedled.
Even the dogs did not dare to go too near.
“I advise you to keep at a respectable distance,” Gruff seemed to say. “One touch of my little foot would bury you both in the snow, and you’d never bark again in this world.”
“I’m not going off for hours yet,” he told Slap-dash; and away he scampered to discuss another penguin.
To have attempted force might have led to an accident, and so at long last all hands returned to the boat, and rowed away towards the ship, dogs and all.
Gruff was close to the sea now, and staring after them.
“Oh,” he said to himself, “if that’s your little game, here is for after you. I can’t forget my poor dear wife Growley.”
He leapt into the sea.
Now, when a snow-bear takes to the water, he swims with terrible strength and speed.