Our last hope was suddenly extinguished.

And what a blow to Captain Len Guy! We should have to seek land of the austral zone under higher latitudes without being sure of ever coming across it! And then the cry, "Back ship! back ship!" sounded almost unanimously on board the _Halbrane_.
Yes, indeed, the recruits from the Falklands demanding that we should turn back, although Hearne was not there to fan the flame of insubordination, and I must acknowledge that the greater part of the old tars seemed to agree with them.
West awaited his chief's orders, not daring to impose silence.
Gratian was at the helm, ready to give a turn to wheel, whilst his comrades with their hands on the cleats were preparing to ease off the sheets.
Dirk Peters remained immovable, leaning against the fore-mast, his head down, his body bent, and his mouth set firm.

Not a word passed his lips.
But now he turned towards me, and what a look of mingled wrath and entreaty he gave me! I don't know what irresistible motive induced me to interfere personally, and once again to protest! A final argument had just crossed my mind--an argument whose weight could not be disputed.
So I began to speak, and I did so with such conviction that none tried to interrupt me.
The substance of what I said was as follows:-- "No! all hope must not be abandoned.

Land cannot be far off.

The icebergs which are formed in the open sea by the accumulation of ice are not before us.