It was expected that the colleagues would take their places at the desk.

As they had said nothing of their adventures, it was thought they would then speak, and relate the impressions of their voyage.

But for some reason or other both were silent.

And so also was Frycollin, whom his congeners in their delirium had failed to dismember.
But though the colleagues did not tell what had happened to them, that is no reason why we should not.

We know what occurred on the night of the 27th and 28th of July; the daring escape to the earth, the scramble among the rocks, the bullet fired at Phil Evans, the cut cable, and the "Albatross" deprived of her propellers, drifting off to the northeast at a great altitude.