These Troglodytes, then, were a nation of cave-dwellers, loving the dark--not exactly loving death, yet at any rate regarding it with merriment and pleasure; and so I cannot help seeing a connection between them and the Kosekin." "Yes," said the doctor, "but how did they get to the South Pole ?" "That," said Oxenden, "is a question which I do not feel bound to answer." "Oh, it is easy enough to answer that," said Melick.

"They, of course, dug through the earth." Oxenden gave a groan.
"I think I'll turn in for the night," said he, rising.

Upon this the others rose also and followed his example.
On the following morning the calm still continued.

None of the party rose until very late, and then over the breakfast-table they discussed the manuscript once more, each from his own point of view, Melick still asserting a contemptuous scepticism--Oxenden and the doctor giving reasons for their faith, and Featherstone listening without saying much on either side.
At length it was proposed to resume the reading of the manuscript, which task would now devolve upon Oxenden.

They adjourned to the deck, where all disposed themselves in easy attitudes to listen to the continuation of More's narrative..