THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



break in the hills at a place called Green Gorge, which is 

 a wide valley running across the island. Further on we 

 could make out Nugget Point, from which extends a 

 reef of rocks for some distance seaward. As we drew 

 nearer to this point we could make out two huts on the 

 shore and also the wreck of a vessel high and dry on the 

 beach. Suddenly, to our surprise, a column of smoke rose 

 from the smaller of the two huts. As we had heard noth- 

 ing of any one living on the island this was extraordinary. 

 Presently with the glass we could make out the figure 

 of a man standing at the door of the smaller of the two 

 huts watching our approach. We came to an anchor, and 

 the boat was lowered and headed for the shore. The man 

 who had been watching us from the hut now walked 

 down to the beach accompanied by two little dogs. There 

 was a heavy surf, but our Crusoe-hke friend, after point- 

 ing out the best landing-place, walked into the water and 

 assisted in beaching the boat. Every one at once wanted 

 to know what he was doing there, was he alone, how long 

 had he been there, &c., and the following information was 

 gathered in less time than it takes to write. Mr. W. 

 McKibbon had arrived at the island last March in a small 

 vessel called the Jessie Nicoll, belonging to a company 

 that has the lease of the island for the purposes of obtain- 

 ing sea elephant and penguin oil. This vessel brings 

 down a number of men to work on the island during the 

 short season trying down blubber on shore, &c. When 

 the previous season was over and the ship filled with 

 barrels of oil, instead of returning with the other men, 

 our friend had elected to remain behind on the island for 

 the winter by himself, and to collect oil for the next 

 season. 



" The next day I went ashore myself; we were met by 

 our friend of the day before who escorted me to his little 



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