covered with writing.

"It looks like Egyptian papyrus," said the doctor. "That was the
common paper of antiquity."

"Never mind the Egyptian papyrus," said Featherstone, in feverish
curiosity. "Let's have the contents of the manuscript. You, Melick,
read; you're the most energetic of the lot, and when you're tired the
rest of us will take turns."

"Read? Why, it'll take a month to read all this," said Melick.

"All the better," said Featherstone; "this calm will probably last a
month, and we shall have nothing to interest us."

Melick made no further objection. He was as excited as the rest, and
so he began the reading of the manuscript.



CHAPTER II

ADRIFT IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN


My name is Adam More. I am the son of Henry More, apothecary, Keswick,
Cumberland. I was mate of the ship Trevelyan (Bennet, master), which
was chartered by the British Government to convey convicts to Van
Dieman's Land. This was in 1843. We made our voyage without any
casualty, landed our convicts in Hobart Town, and then set forth on