Page:Neuroomia.djvu/150

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138
NEUROOMIA: A NEW CONTINENT.

icebergs. Nevertheless, that gold might induce them to make the attempt.

Yondozi here remarked that although the Government had accepted the vessel, yet he was in a position to say that they would only be too glad to see her leave their shores with a cargo that might be the means of alleviating the distress and ameliorating the condition of some of their fellowmen in other lands. And, further, that the question of getting the Penguin to Atazatlan, or any of their large towns, was still problematical.

"Have you fixed on any plan for that purpose?" I inquired.

"Partly," was the answer. "It was my intention to sail her back again to the ice-field, then make appliances for lifting her up out of the water, and afterwards to place her on a sledge and take her to Scalascala by means of machinery, or, if necessary, with the aid of animals. On arriving in the neighbourhood of Scalascala, she could be slid into the Nocalattan Sea and sailed to Atazatlan. In the event of her reaching her destination in a sound condition, he believed it was not the intention of the Government to place her in the museum, but to leave her in the water, and at my disposal."