Wehadnotmade，however，morethanfiftyyardsfromtheshorebeforewebecamesufficientlycalmtoperceivethegreatoversightofwhichwehadbeenguiltyinleavingtheothercanoeinthepowerofthesavages，who，bythistime，werenotmorethantwiceasfarfromthebeachasourselves，andwererapidlyadvancingtothepursuit。Notimewasnowtobelost。Ourhopewas，atbest，aforlornone，butwehadnoneother。Itwasverydoubtfulwhether，withtheutmostexertion，wecouldgetbackintimetoanticipatethemintakingpossessionofthecanoe；butyettherewasachancethatwecould。Wemightsaveourselvesifwesucceeded，whilenottomaketheattemptwastoresignourselvestoinevitablebutchery。
　　Thecanoewasmodelledwiththebowandsternalike，and，inplaceofturningitaround，wemerelychangedourpositioninpaddling。Assoonasthesavagesperceivedthistheyredoubledtheiryells，aswellastheirspeed，andapproachedwithinconceivablerapidity。Wepulled，however，withalltheenergyofdesperation，andarrivedatthecontestedpointbeforemorethanoneofthenativeshadattainedit。Thismanpaiddearlyforhissuperioragility，Petersshootinghimthroughtheheadwithapistolasheapproachedtheshore。Theforemostamongtherestofhispartywereprobablysometwentyorthirtypacesdistantasweseizeduponthecanoe。Weatfirstendeavoredtopullherintothedeepwater，beyondthereachofthesavages，but，findinghertoofirmlyaground，andtherebeingnotimetospare，Peters，withoneortwoheavystrokesfromthebuttofthemusket，succeededindashingoutalargeportionofthebowandofoneside。Wethenpushedoff。Twoofthenativesbythistimehadgotholdofourboat，obstinatelyrefusingtolet90，untilwewereforcedtodespatchthemwithourknives。Wewerenowclearoff，andmakinggreatwayouttosea。Themainbodyofthesavages，uponreachingthebrokencanoe，setupthemosttremendousyellofrageanddisappointmentconceivable。Intruth，fromeverythingIcouldseeofthesewretches，theyappearedtobethemostwicked，hypocritical，vindictive，bloodthirsty，andaltogetherfiendishraceofmenuponthefaceoftheglobe。Itisclearweshouldhavehadnomercyhadwefallenintotheirhands。Theymadeamadattemptatfollowingusinthefracturedcanoe，but，findingituseless，againventedtheirrageinaseriesofhideousvociferations，andrushedupintothehills。
　　Wewerethusrelievedfromimmediatedanger，butoursituationwasstillsufficientlygloomy。Weknewthatfourcanoesofthekindwehadwereatonetimeinthepossessionofthesavages，andwerenotawareofthefactafterwardascertainedfromourcaptivethattwoofthesehadbeenblowntopiecesintheexplosionofthe_JaneGuy。
　　_Wecalculated，therefore，uponbeingyetpursued，assoonasourenemiescouldgetroundtothebaydistantaboutthreemileswheretheboatswereusuallylaidup。Fearingthis，wemadeeveryexertiontoleavetheislandbehindus，andwentrapidlythroughthewater，forcingtheprisonertotakeapaddle。Inabouthalfanhour，whenwehadgainedprobablyfiveorsixmilestothesouthward，alargefleetoftheflat-bottomedcanoesorraftswereseentoemergefromthebayevidentlywiththedesignofpursuit。Presentlytheyputback，despairingtoovertakeus。
　　WEnowfoundourselvesinthewideanddesolateAntarcticOcean，inalatitudeexceedingeighty-fourdegrees，inafrailcanoe，andwithnoprovisionbutthethreeturtles。Thelongpolarwinter，too，couldnotbeconsideredasfardistant，anditbecamenecessarythatweshoulddeliberatewelluponthecoursetobepursued。Thereweresixorsevenislandsinsightbelongingtothesamegroup，anddistantfromeachotheraboutfiveorsixleagues；butuponneitherofthesehadweanyintentiontoventure。Incomingfromthenorthwardinthe_Jane_Guywebadbeengraduallyleavingbehindustheseverestregionsofice-this，howeverlittleitmaybeinaccordancewiththegenerallyreceivednotionsrespectingtheAntarctic，wasafact-
　　experiencewouldnotpermitustodeny。Toattempt，therefore，gettingbackwouldbefolly-especiallyatsolateaperiodoftheseason。Onlyonecourseseemedtobeleftopenforhope。Weresolvedtosteerboldlytothesouthward，wheretherewasatleastaprobabilityofdiscoveringotherlands，andmorethanaprobabilityoffindingastillmilderclimate。
　　SofarwehadfoundtheAntarctic，liketheArcticOcean，peculiarlyfreefromviolentstormsorimmoderatelyroughwater；butour-canoewas，atbest，offrailstructure，althoughlarge，andwesetbusilytoworkwithaviewofrenderingherassafeasthelimitedmeansinourpossessionwouldadmit。Thebodyoftheboatwasofnobettermaterialthanbark-thebarkofatreeunknown。Theribswereofatoughosier，welladaptedtothepurposeforwhichitwasused。Wehadfiftyfeetroomfromstemtostern，fromfourtosixinbreadth，andindepththroughoutfourfeetandahalf-theboatsthusdifferingvastlyinshapefromthoseofanyotherinhabitantsoftheSouthernOceanwithwhomcivilizednationsareacquainted。Weneverdidbelievethemtheworkmanshipoftheignorantislanderswhoownedthem；andsomedaysafterthisperioddiscovered，byquestioningourcaptive，thattheywereinfactmadebythenativesofagrouptothesouthwestofthecountrywherewefoundthem，，havingfallenaccidentallyintothehandsofourbarbarians。Whatwecoulddoforthesecurityofourboatwasverylittleindeed。Severalwiderentswerediscoverednearbothends，andthesewecontrivedtopatchupwithpiecesofwoollenjacket。Withthehelpofthesuperfluouspaddles，ofwhichtherewereagreatmany，weerectedakindofframeworkaboutthebow，soastobreaktheforceofanyseaswhichmightthreatentofillusinthatquarter。Wealsosetuptwopaddle-bladesformasts，placingthemoppositeeachother，onebyeachgunwale，thussavingthenecessityofayard。Tothesemastsweattachedasailmadeofourshirts-doingthiswithsomedifficulty，asherewecouldgetnoassistancefromourprisonerwhatever，althoughhebadbeenwillingenoughtolaborinalltheotheroperations。Thesightofthelinenseemedtoaffecthiminaverysingularmanner。Hecouldnotbeprevailedupontotouchitorgonearit，shudderingwhenweattemptedtoforcehim，andshriekingout，_“Tekeli-Ii！”_
　　Havingcompletedourarrangementsinregardtothesecurityofthecanoe，wenowsetsailtothesouth-southeastforthepresent，withtheviewofweatheringthemostsoutherlyofthegroupinsight。Thisbeingdone，weturnedthebowfulltothesouthward。Theweathercouldbynomeansbeconsidereddisagreeable。Wehadaprevailingandverygentlewindfromthenorthward，asmoothsea，andcontinualdaylight。Noicewhateverwastobeseen；_nordidIeverseeoneparticleofthisafterleavingtheparallelofBennet’sIslet。
　　_Indeed，thetemperatureofthewaterwasherefartoowarmforitsexistenceinanyquantity。Havingkilledthelargestofourtortoises，andobtainedfromhimnotonlyfoodbutacopioussupplyofwater，wecontinuedonourcourse，withoutanyincidentofmoment，forperhapssevenoreightdays，duringwhichperiodwemusthaveproceededavastdistancetothesouthward，asthewindblewconstantlywithus，andaverystrongcurrentsetcontinuallyinthedirectionwewerepursuing。
　　_March1st_。{*7}-Manyunusualphenomenanow-indicatedthatwewereenteringuponaregionofnoveltyandwonder。Ahighrangeoflightgrayvaporappearedconstantlyinthesouthernhorizon，flaringupoccasionallyinloftystreaks，nowdartingfromcasttowest，nowfromwesttoeast，andagainpresentingalevelanduniformsummit-inshort，havingallthewildvariationsoftheAuroraBorealis。Theaverageheightofthisvapor，asapparentfromourstation，wasabouttwenty-fivedegrees。Thetemperatureoftheseaseemedtobeincreasingmomentarily，andtherewasaveryperceptiblealterationinitscolor。
　　_March2d。_-To-daybyrepeatedquestioningofourcaptive，wecametotheknowledgeofmanyparticularsinregardtotheislandofthemassacre，itsinhabitants，andcustoms-butwiththesehowcanInowdetainthereader？Imaysay，however，thatwelearnedtherewereeightislandsinthegroup-thattheyweregovernedbyacommonking，named_Tsalemon_or_Psalemoun，_whoresidedinoneofthesmallestoftheislands；thattheblackskinsformingthedressofthewarriorscamefromananimalofhugesizetobefoundonlyinavalleynearthecourtoftheking-thattheinhabitantsofthegroupfabricatednootherboatsthantheflat-bottomedrafts；thefourcanoesbeingallofthekindintheirpossession，and，thesehavingbeenobtained，bymereaccident，fromsomelargeislandin’thesouthwest-thathisownnamewasNu-Nu-thathehadnoknowledgeofBennet’sIslet-andthattheappellationoftheislandhehadleftwasTsalal。Thecommencementofthewords_Tsalemon_andTsalalwasgivenwithaprolongedhissingsound，which’wefounditimpossibletoimitate，evenafterrepeatedendeavors，andwhichwaspreciselythesamewiththenoteoftheblackbitternwehadeatenuponthesummitofthehill。
　　_March3d。_-Theheatofthewaterwasnowtrulyremarkable，andincolorwasundergoingarapidchange，beingnolongertransparent，butofamilkyconsistencyandhue。Inourimmediatevicinityitwasusuallysmooth，neversoroughastoendangerthecanoe-butwewerefrequentlysurprisedatperceiving，toourrightandleft，atdifferentdistances，suddenandextensiveagitationsofthesurfacethese，weatlengthnoticed，werealwaysprecededbywildflickeringsintheregionofvaportothesouthward。
　　_March4th。_-To-day，withtheviewofwideningoursail，thebreezefromthenorthwarddyingawayperceptibly，Itookfrommycoat-pocketawhitehandkerchief。Nu-Nuwasseatedatmyelbow，andthelinenaccidentallyflaringinhisface，hebecameviolentlyaffectedwithconvulsions。Theseweresucceededbydrowsinessandstupor，andlowmurmuringsof_“’Tekeli-li！Tekeli-Ii！”_
　　_March_5th-Thewindhadentirelyceased，butitwasevidentthatwewerestillhurryingontothesouthward，undertheinfluenceofapowerfulcurrent。Andnow，-indeed，itwouldseemreasonablethatweshouldexperiencesomealarmattheturneventsweretaking-butwefeltnone。ThecountenanceofPetersindicatednothingofthisnature，althoughitworeattimesanexpressionIcouldnotfathom。
　　Thepolarwinterappearedtobecomingon-butcomingwithoutitsterrors。Ifelta_numb_nessofbodyandmind-adreaminessofsensationbutthiswasall。
　　_March6th。_-Thegrayvaporhadnowarisenmanymoredegreesabovethehorizon，andwasgraduallylosingitsgraynessoftint。Theheatofthewaterwasextreme，evenunpleasanttothetouch，anditsmilkyhuewasmoreevidentthanever。Todayaviolentagitationofthewateroccurredveryclosetothecanoe。Itwasattended，asusual，withawildflaringupofthevaporatitssummit，andamomentarydivisionatitsbase。Afinewhitepowder，resemblingashes-butcertainlynotsuch-felloverthecanoeandoveralargesurfaceofthewater，astheflickeringdiedawayamongthevaporandthecommotionsubsidedinthesea。Nu-Nunowthrewhimselfonhisfaceinthebottomoftheboat，andnopersuasionscouldinducehimtoarise。
　　_March7th。_-ThisdaywequestionedNu-Nuconcerningthemotivesofhiscountrymenindestroyingourcompanions；butheappearedtobetooutterlyovercomebyterrortoaffordusanyrationalreply。Hestillobstinatelylayinthebottomoftheboat；and，uponreiteratingthequestionsastothemotive，madeuseonlyofidioticgesticulations，suchasraisingwithhisforefingertheupperlip，anddisplayingtheteethwhichlaybeneathit。Thesewereblack。WehadneverbeforeseentheteethofaninhabitantofTsalal。’
　　_March8th。_-To-daytherefloatedbyusoneofthewhiteanimalswhoseappearanceuponthebeachatTsalalhadoccasionedsowildacommotionamongthesavages。Iwouldhavepickeditup，buttherecameovermeasuddenlistlessness，andIforbore。Theheatofthewaterstillincreased，andthehandcouldnolongerbeenduredwithinit。Petersspokelittle，andIknewnotwhattothinkofhisapathy。
　　Nu-Nubreathed，andnomore。
　　_March9th。_-Thewholeashymaterialfellnowcontinuallyaroundus，andinvastquantities。Therangeofvaportothesouthwardhadarisenprodigiouslyinthehorizon，andbegantoassumemoredistinctnessofform。Icanlikenittonothingbutalimitlesscataract，rollingsilentlyintotheseafromsomeimmenseandfar-distantrampartintheheaven。Thegiganticcurtainrangedalongthewholeextentofthesouthernhorizon。Itemittednosound。
　　_March21st。_-Asullendarknessnowhoveredaboveus-butfromoutthemilkydepthsoftheoceanaluminousglarearose，andstoleupalongthebulwarksoftheboat。Wewerenearlyoverwhelmedbythewhiteashyshowerwhichsettleduponusanduponthecanoe，butmeltedintothewaterasitfell。Thesummitofthecataractwasutterlylostinthedimnessandthedistance。Yetwewereevidentlyapproachingitwithahideousvelocity。Atintervalstherewerevisibleinitwide，yawning，butmomentaryrents，andfromouttheserents，withinwhichwasachaosofflittingandindistinctimages，therecamerushingandmighty。butsoundlesswinds，tearinguptheenkindledoceanintheircourse。
　　_March22d。_-Thedarknesshadmateriallyincreased，relievedonlybytheglareofthewaterthrownbackfromthewhitecurtainbeforeus。
　　Manygiganticandpallidlywhitebirdsflewcontinuouslynowfrombeyondtheveil，andtheirscreamwastheeternal_Tekeli-li！_astheyretreatedfromourvision。HereuponNu-Nustirredinthebottomoftheboat；butupontouchinghimwefoundhisspiritdeparted。Andnowwerushedintotheembracesofthecataract，whereachasmthrewitselfopentoreceiveus。Buttherearoseinourpathwayashroudedhumanfigure，veryfarlargerinitsproportionsthananydwelleramongmen。Andthehueoftheskinofthefigurewasoftheperfectwhitenessofthesnow。