I don't mean to say that I think he'll want to do us any harm, for he has never shown any sign of such a feelin', but if he takes to bouncin' and thrashin' when he scratches himself on any rocks, it'll be a bad box for us to be in." None of the others shared these special fears of Mrs.Block, but they were all as much disinclined as she was to begin another submarine voyage in the shallow waters which they had been so glad to leave.
It was believed, from the general contour of the surrounding region, that if the ice were all melted away it would be seen that a cape projected from the American continent eastward at the point where they had entered the polar sea, and that it was in crossing the submerged continuation of this cape that they had found the shallow water.

Beyond and southward they knew that the water was deep and safe.

If they could reach that portion of the sea without crossing the shallow point, they would have no fears regarding their return voyage.

They knew how far south it was that that deep water lay, and the questions before them related to the best means of reaching it.
At a general council of officers, Sammy and Captain Hubbell both declared that they were not willing to take any other path homeward except one which led along the seventieth line of longitude.

That had brought them safely up, and it would take them safely down.