THE PROBLEM OF THE ANTARCTIC ZONE 437 



figures of men, and a still nearer view revealed two such extraordi- 

 nary creatures that one of the men from the station thought it would 

 be as well to have a revolver ready in case of emergency. The two 

 figures were in black garments, with black caps on their heads, and 

 their hands and faces were as black as their clothes, while the upper 

 parts of their faces were hidden by curious-looking masks. Beside 

 them was a sledge. , 



With considerable uncertainty the men from the station 

 approached, and were not reassured when they were asked, in Eng- 

 lish, how they were. "Thanks; how are you?" they replied. "Don't 

 you know us ?" one of the strange-looking creatures asked. "We're 

 the relief party. Have you seen the ship?" Then a third figure 

 appeared from behind an ice hummock where he had been preparing 

 a meal. They were Professor Andersson and his companions, who 

 were on their way, for the second time, to the station. 



Without loss of time the reunited comrades made their way to 

 the station, where soap and water and a fresh supply of clothes 

 soon transformed the appearance of the three who had had so trying 

 a time in the little stone hut at Hope Bay. But the situation was 

 still fraught with anxiety, now that they realized that something 

 very serious had happened to the "Antarctica." It was impossible 

 for them to determine whether she had gone to the bottom, or had 

 been beset in the ice. Only one thing was clear, and that was that 

 they would all have to stay where they were until some help came 

 to them. While they were still debating what chances there were 

 of any coming before another winter went by, they were startled, 

 one day, by the arrival of visitors. These proved to be a search 

 party from the Argentine cruiser "Uruguay," which the Argentine 

 government had despatched on account of the "Antarctica," not 

 having returned at her appointed time. Help had come at a time 

 and from a quarter least expected. 



But the news that the cruiser brought added very much to the 

 fears the explorers entertained as to the safety of the "Antarctica" 



