The _Halbrane_ was less than two degrees from the pole.
Captain Len Guy did not seek to conceal the result of this observation, and the sailors knew enough of nautical calculation to understand it.

Besides, if the consequences had to be explained to them, were not Holt and Hardy there to do this, and Hearne, to exaggerate them to the utmost?
During the afternoon I had indubitable proof that the sealing-master had been working on the minds of the crew.

The men, emerging at the foot of the mainmast, talked in whispers and cast evil glances at us.

Two or three sailors made threatening gestures undisguisedly; then arose such angry mutterings that West could not to be deaf to them.
He strode forward and called out.

"Silence, there! The first man who speaks will have to reckon with me ?" Captain Len Guy was shut up in his cabin, but every moment I expected to see him come out, give one last long around the waste of waters, and then order the ship's course to be reversed.
Nevertheless, on the next day the schooner was sailing in the same direction.