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Updated: June 29, 2025
That Captain Gancy, an experienced navigator, should be unacquainted with the Beagle Channel may seem strange. But at the time of which we write, this remarkable passage was of recent discovery, and not yet laid down on the charts. "How about the other matter?" he asks, in half whisper, glancing significantly toward his wife and daughter, who are but a few paces off.
In this case, however, the cruel sport has a different termination, by the cormorant being deprived of the prey it seemed so sure of. Not through the efforts of the fish itself, which now, badly damaged, swims but feebly; nor do the gulls appropriate it, but a wingless biped no other than Ned Gancy.
"By the water be it, then," calls out Captain Gancy, decisively. "We shall risk it!" "Yes, yes!" agreed the late Calypso's second and third officers. "Anything but lose our boat!" Never did crew or passengers get more quickly on board a craft, nor was there ever a more unceremonious leave-taking between guests and host, than that between the castaways and Orundelico.
Instead of a walk, hop, or run, as with other birds, it is a sort of rapid rush, in which the rudimentary wings of the birds are used as fore legs, so that, from even a slight distance, they might easily be mistaken for quadrupeds. "It is likely they have their nests yonder," observed Mrs Gancy, pointing to where the penguins kept going in and out of the tussac.
Instead, the Fuegian hags but seem more embittered at seeing persons of their own sex so superior to them, and, recovering from their surprise, they clamorously urge the commencement of the attack. Never have the castaways been so near to death with such attendant horrors. So near to it do they feel, that Captain Gancy groans, under his breath, "Our end is come!" But not yet is it come.
Then, hastily divesting himself of his blubber mantle, and shouting back to some one in the rear, he is instantly joined by a woman, who in turn cries out: "Yes, Portsmout'! The Ailwalk' akifka!" "Eleparu! Ocushlu!" exclaims Henry Chester, all amazement; Ned Gancy, equally astonished, simultaneously crying out: "York! Fuegia!"
But he is not smoking tranquilly, as is his wont, but in short, quick puffs, while the expression on his features, habitually firm, tells of troubled thought. "What are you gazing at, Chips?" questions Captain Gancy, who has noticed his uneasy look. "At that glasheer, Captin'. The big 'un derect in front of us." "Well, what of it?"
Another moment's delay might have cost them their lives, for scarce have they taken their seats and pushed the boats clear of the ship's side, when, another sea striking her, she goes down head foremost like a lump of lead, carrying masts, spars, torn sails, and rigging everything along with her. Captain Gancy groans at the sight.
Mrs Gancy and Leoline have retired into the tent, while the men stand by its entrance, prepared to defend it. They make no demonstration of hostility, however, but keep their weapons as much as possible out of sight, and as calmly as possible await the action of the savages.
With equal promptness Ned Gancy, having the halyards still in hand, hoists away, the sheet is hauled taut aft, the sail instantly fills, and off goes the boat, like an impatient steed under loosened rein and deep-driven spurs off and away, in gay careering dance over the water, quickly leaving the foiled, furious giants far hopelessly far in the wake!
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