The signal from the ship summoned them from their labors; they saw the sails unfurled, and that she was getting under way.

The two sporting partners, however, Mr.M'Dougal and David Stuart, had strolled away to the south of the island in pursuit of penguins.

It would never do to put off without them, as there was but one boat to convey the whole.
While this delay took place on shore, the captain was storming on board.
This was the third time his orders had been treated with contempt, and the ship wantonly detained, and it should be the last; so he spread all sail and put to sea, swearing he would leave the laggards to shift for themselves.

It was in vain that those on board made remonstrances and entreaties, and represented the horrors of abandoning men upon a sterile and uninhabited island; the sturdy captain was inflexible.
In the meantime the penguin hunters had joined the engravers of tombstones, but not before the ship was already out at sea.

They all, to the number of eight, threw themselves into their boat, which was about twenty feet in length, and rowed with might and main.