And yet, there was nothing surprising in that, for everything is variable in the austral seas.
Happily, the fresh breeze from the north-east continued to blow, and the _Halbrane_ made progress toward higher waters, thirteen degrees in advance upon Weddells ship and two degrees upon the fane.

As for the land--islands or continent--which Captain Len Guy was seeking on the surface of that vast ocean, it did not appear.

I was well aware that he was gradually losing confidence in our enterprise.
As for me, I was possessed by the desire to rescue Arthur Pym as well as the survivors of the _Jane_.

And yet, how could he have survived! But then, the half-breed's fixed idea! Supposing our captain were to give the order to go back, what would Dirk Peters do?
Throw himself into the sea rather than return northwards?
This it was which made me dread some act of violence on his part, when he heard the greater number of the sailors protesting against this insensate voyage, and talking of putting the ship about, especially towards Hearne, who was stealthily inciting his comrades of the Falklands to insubordination.
It was absolutely necessary not to allow discipline to decline, or discouragement to grow among the crew; so that, on the 7th of January, Captain Len Guy at my request assembled the men and addressed them in the following words:-- "Sailors of the _Halbrane_, since our departure from Tsalal Island, the schooner has gained two degrees southwards, and I now inform you, that, conformably with the engagement signed by Mr.Jeorling, four thousand dollars--that is two thousand dollars for each degree--are due to you, and will be paid at the end of the voyage." These words were greeted with some murmurs of satisfaction, but not with cheers, except those of Hurliguerly the boatswain, and Endicott the cook, which found no echo.
On the 13th of January a conversation took place between the boatswain and myself of a nature to justify my anxiety concerning the temper of our crew.
The men were at breakfast, with the exception of Drap and Stern.

The schooner was cutting the water under a stiff breeze.