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Chapter 5 QUICK QUIZ
5-1. (applied-136) A woman’s youngest child starts first grade and she begins working part time.
This is an example of a change in a(an) _______.
a. social role
b. biological role
c. gender role
d. age stratum
5-2. (factual-137) Gender role stereotypes refer to sets of shared beliefs about how men and
women should behave. This can be harmful when ________.
a. the origins of the roles are studied
b. males are considered equal to females
*c. they are used to judge men and women
d. U.S. males and females are similar to those in other cultures
5-3. (conceptual-138) In the U.S., the roles of men and women have changed over the past few
decades. Which of the following best describes the relationship between male and female
gender roles in our current culture?
a. symmetrical
*b. asymmetrical
c. traditional
d. none of the above
5-4. (applied-137) Imagine that you are a business executive and you are about to have a meeting
with a rival executive whom you know to be a woman. You know nothing else about her, but
you imagine that she must be less competitive than your male colleagues—probably more
conciliatory. What process are you demonstrating with such thoughts?
a. intellectualization
b. stereotyping
c. differentiation
d. pragmatics
5-5. (factual-138–139) At which age in the life cycle are adults likely to add the greatest number
of new roles?
a. at 20–30 years old
b. at 40–50 years old
c. at 60–70 years old
d. at 80–90 years old
5-6. (factual-139) Current studies in the United States of the process through which young people
leave home for independent living suggest that _______.
a. the great majority of young people move from living at home to living with a
cohabiting partner or marriage partner
b. at least 60 percent of young people move back in with their parents after a period of
independent living
c. young people from single-parent homes are likely to remain at home longer than those
from 2-parent families
d. there is no longer a dominant common pathway from living at home to independent
living
5-8. (conceptual-152–153) Which of the following conclusions is the most reasonable statement
of current data on gender role crossover at midlife?
a. There is no evidence to support the concept of gender role crossover.
b. There is reasonably strong evidence that men become more feminine, but no clear
evidence that women become more masculine after midlife.
c. There is clear evidence that women become more masculine, but little indication that
men become more feminine after midlife.
d. There is evidence for an expansion of gender role boundaries at midlife, but little
indication of a full crossover.
5-9. (conceptual-157) In the final stage of the family life cycle, roles become _______.
a. more clearly defined and more dominant
b. more clearly defined but less dominant
c. less clearly defined and more dominant
d. less clearly defined and less dominant
5-10. (factual-161) Which of the following best describes our current knowledge about the impact
of childlessness on adult life patterns?
a. Childlessness has little effect in early adulthood, but in old age childless adults are
significantly less happy.
b. Childless men and women are both more committed to their work than are men and
women with children and are also less likely to care for an aging parent.
c. Childless women are consistently less happy with their lives than are women with
children, but there are no differences for men.
d. Childless adults appear to be as happy as those with extended families.
1. Answer: a
Page in text: 136
Topic: Social Roles and Transitions
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: easy
2. Answer: c
Page in text: 137
Topic: Gender Roles
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: moderate
3. Answer: b
Page in text: 138
Topic: Gender Roles
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
4. Answer: b
Page in text: 137
Topic: Gender Roles
Question type: applied; Difficulty level: moderate
5. Answer: a
Page in text: 138–139
Topic: Social Roles in Early Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: easy
6. Answer: d
Page in text: 139
Topic: Social Roles in Early Adulthood
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: moderate
7. Answer: d
Page in text: 153
Topic: Social Roles in Middle Adulthood
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
8. Answer: d
Page in text: 152–153
Topic: Social Roles in Middle Adulthood
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: difficult
9. Answer: d
Page in text: 157
Topic: Social Roles in Late Adulthood
Question type: conceptual; Difficulty level: moderate
10. Answer: d
Page in text: 161
Topic: Social Roles in Atypical Families
Question type: factual; Difficulty level: moderate
5-1. (applied-136) A woman’s youngest child starts first grade and she begins working part time.
This is an example of a change in a(an) _______.
*a. social role
b. biological role
c. gender role
d. age stratum
5-2. (conceptual-136) Recent theories of roles in development emphasize all BUT which of the
following?
*a. The numerous roles acquired in early adulthood are simply shed when completed.
b. With a few exceptions, roles are neither gained nor lost.
c. Roles change relative to life circumstances.
d. Today’s research involves studying role transitions and adjustments.
5-4. (factual-137) Gender stereotypes refer to sets of shared beliefs about how men and women
should behave. This can be harmful when ________.
a. the origins of the roles are studied
b. males are considered equal to females
*c. they are used to judge men and women
d. U.S. males and females are similar to other cultures
5-6. (factual-137) Research on gender roles around the world shows that _______.
a. gender roles are particularly evident in industrialized cultures
b. gender roles are particularly evident in nonindustrialized cultures
c. only about half the cultures in the world have clear gender roles
*d. every culture has some form of gender roles
5-7. (applied-137) Proximal causes of the origins of gender roles means _______.
a. exaggerated male/female differences
b. minimal acceptance of gender stereotypes
*c. factors present in the immediate environment
d. undifferentiated gender schemas
5-9. (factual-137) Which of the following is NOT consistently part of the male gender role
stereotype in Williams and Best’s cross-cultural studies?
a. active
b. independent
*c. superstitious
d. enterprising
5-10. (factual-137) The school of thought that explains gender roles as dispositional traits we are
predisposed to perform is known as _______.
a. learning schema theory
b. social role theory
*c. evolutionary psychology
d. none of the above
5-11. (factual-137) The term psychologists use to describe the typical collection of female
stereotyped qualities is _______.
a. agentic
*b. communal
c. instrumental
d. emotional
5-12. (conceptual-138) In the U.S., the roles of men and women have changed over the past few
decades. Which of the following best describes the relationship between male and female
gender roles in our current culture?
a. symmetrical
*b. asymmetrical
c. traditional
d. none of the above
5-13. (conceptual-137) Gender stereotypes are clearest when subjects are asked _______.
a. to indicate the probability that each gender will show some specific qualities
*b. to say whether a given quality is more characteristic of men or more characteristic of
women
c. to say what roles or qualities men and women could display
d. to describe the actual behavior of men and women in their culture
5-14. (applied-137) Imagine that you are a business executive and you are about to have a
meeting with a rival executive whom you know to be a woman. You know nothing else about
her, but you imagine that she must be less competitive than your male colleagues—probably
more conciliatory. What process are you demonstrating with such thoughts?
a. intellectualization
*b. stereotyping
c. differentiation
d. pragmatics
5-16. (factual-138–139) At which age in the life cycle are adults likely to add the greatest number
of new roles?
*a. at 20–30 years old
b. at 40–50 years old
c. at 60–70 years old
d. at 80–90 years old
5-17. (factual-139) Current studies in the United States of the process through which young
people leave home for independent living suggest that _______.
a. the great majority of young people move from living at home to living with a
cohabiting partner or marriage partner
b. at least 60 percent of young people move back in with their parents after a period of
independent living
c. young people from single-parent homes are likely to remain at home longer than those
from 2-parent families
*d. there is no longer a dominant common pathway from living at home to independent
living
5-18. (factual-143) Analyses of marriage and cohabitation rates in the United States over the past
several decades suggest that among young people in their early 20s, ________.
a. marriage rates have risen, and cohabitation rates have declined
*b. marriage rates have declined, and cohabitation rates have risen
c. marriage rates have remained about the same, and cohabitation rates have risen
d. marriage rates and cohabitation rates have both risen
5-19. (factual-144) Early gender roles in partnerships, before children are born, are more ______
than they will be when the partners are parenting.
*a. egalitarian
b. traditional
c. male-oriented
d. female-oriented
5-20. (factual-140) In 2003, roughly what percentage of men and women aged 18–24 were still
living with their parents?
a. 15 percent
b. 5 percent
c. 25 percent
*d. 50 percent
5-23. (factual-146) Which of the following groups of adults shows the highest and which the
lowest rates of good physical and mental health?
a. married women highest, unmarried women lowest
b. unmarried women highest, married women lowest
*c. married men highest, unmarried men lowest
d. unmarried men highest, married men lowest
5-24. (factual-148) David Gutmann refers to the magnification of gender role differences after the
birth of the first child as _______.
*a. the parental imperative
b. a species-specific imperative
c. a legacy from our distant ancestors
d. sexual determinism
5-25. (applied-148) Before they married, Bill and Tanya were determined to have an egalitarian
relationship, sharing household tasks and childcare. But after the birth of their first child,
Jason, Tanya found herself doing the majority of the childcare, and Bill found himself
working longer hours at his job than ever. This is an illustration of what theoretical principle
or concept?
a. androgyny
*b. the parental imperative
c. the biological clock
d. gender-role crossover
5-26. (applied-148) Dion and Lucetta have just had their first child. According to Gutmann’s
principle of the parental imperative, what effect (if any) will this new arrival have on Dion’s
behavior?
a. He will spend more time at home than he did before the child’s birth.
*b. He will spend more time focused on his work than he did before the child’s birth.
c. He will spend more time interacting with his own parents.
d. It will have no effect.
5-27. (factual-150) Research in the U.S. indicates that among couples where both husband and
wife work full time, the family role stage during which there is the LARGEST gap in the
hours devoted to housework by husbands and wives is _______.
a. in the newlywed period
*b. when children are young
c. when children are teenagers
d. in the postparental period
5-29. (factual-150) Which new adult role is accompanied by a decrease in marital happiness and
satisfaction?
a. engagement
b. marriage
*c. becoming parents
d. empty nest
5-30. (factual-152) Which of the following best describes the current research information on the
impact of the “empty nest” stage on adults?
a. Both men and women show some negative symptoms, such as increased worries or
depression.
*b. Neither men nor women show widespread negative reactions; marital satisfaction
typically increases.
c. Women show little effect; men typically show an increase in worries or depression.
d. Men show little effect; women typically show an increase in depression or worries.
5-31. (factual-153) The concept of gender role crossover suggests that at some point in the life
cycle, men begin to take on aspects of the women’s role and women take on aspects of the
men’s role. At what stage does Gutmann think this occurs?
a. newlywed couples
b. young couples with infants
c. couples with school-aged children
*d. couples in the postparental stage
5-32. (factual-153) Which of the following is the most commonly acquired new role in the
postparental period?
a. regular care of aging parent
b. community volunteer
*c. grandparent
d. mentor
5-33. (factual-150) Which 2 groups, among families at different stages of the family life cycle,
show the highest levels of marital satisfaction?
a. couples with infants and couples at retirement age
*b. newlywed couples without children and couples at retirement age
c. newlywed couples without children and couples with adolescents
d. couples with preschoolers and couples with adolescents
5-35. (conceptual-152–153) Which of the following conclusions is the most reasonable statement
of current data on gender role crossover at midlife?
a. There is no evidence to support the concept of a gender role crossover.
b. There is reasonably strong evidence that men become more feminine, but no clear
evidence that women become more masculine after midlife.
c. There is clear evidence that women become more masculine, but little indication that
men become more feminine after midlife.
*d. There is evidence for an expansion of gender role boundaries at midlife, but little
indication of a full crossover.
5-37. (factual-153) Approximately what percentage of adults in the U.S. become grandparents
before they are 65?
a. 35 percent
b. 55 percent
*c. 75 percent
d. 95 percent
5-38. (factual-155) Which subgroup of adults is most likely to take on the role of regular
caregiver to an aging parent?
*a. daughters and daughters-in-law
b. sons and sons-in-law
c. daughters and her children
d. daughters and sons equally
5-41. (factual-155) Middle-aged daughters are MOST likely to provide assistance to an aging
parent when that parent is _______.
*a. a widowed mother who lives nearby
b. a widowed father who is very frail
c. a widowed mother who lives several hours away
d. a frail widowed mother who has remarried
5-43. (conceptual-157) In the final stage of the family life cycle, roles become _______.
a. more clearly defined and more dominant
b. more clearly defined but less dominant
c. less clearly defined and more dominant
*d. less clearly defined and less dominant
5-44. (factual-157) Among adults over 65 in the U.S. today, what percentage of women live
alone?
a. 20 percent
*b. 40 percent
c. 60 percent
d. 80 percent
5-45. (factual-158) Among unmarried women in late old age in the U.S., what is the most
common living arrangement?
*a. living alone
b. living with another elderly woman
c. living in a nursing home
d. living with a child
5-46. (conceptual 144) Miguel and Sara, who live in New York, have been together for six years
and now have two children, aged 1 and 3. According to research, at what period in their
relationship might they have had egalitarian gender roles, or equal gender roles?
a. before they began dating
*b. at the beginning of a marriage or partnership, before children are born
c. when they have at least one child
d. American men and women are incapable of equal gender roles
5-48. (factual-161) Which of the following best describes our current knowledge about the impact
of childlessness on adult life patterns?
a. Childlessness has little effect in early adulthood, but in old age childless adults are
significantly less happy.
b. Childless men and women are both more committed to their work than are men and
women with children and are also less likely to care for an aging parent.
c. Childless women are consistently less happy with their lives than are women with
children, but there are no differences for men.
*d. Childless adults appear to be as happy as those with extended families.
5-49. (applied-161) Kirsten is a 40-year-old, married, childless woman. What reasonable guess
might you make about other facets of Kirsten’s life?
a. she has been a full-time housewife since her marriage
b. she has struggled with depression for most of the past 20 years
*c. she has had a strong commitment to a career
d. she is the oldest child in her family
5-51. (factual-161) In comparison to women with children, childless women are _______.
a. less work committed
*b. more work committed
c. happier in old age
d. less happy in old age
5-52. (factual-162) Which of the following groups is most likely to remarry after a divorce?
*a. men in their 20s or 30s
b. men in their 50s or 60s
c. women in their 20s or 30s
d. women in their 50s or 60s
5-53. (factual-163 ) Research on the economic effects of divorce suggests that a one-family
income needs to be stretched to support two families, a fact that____________.
a. suggests the families will recover immediately after a divorce
b. underscores the perception that men are the breadwinners
*c. lowers the standard of living for all family members. drop sharply immediately
after divorce and remain low unless the woman remarries
d. validates divorce wreaking emotional havoc
5-55. Describe briefly the series of role changes that is likely to occur for a woman, and for a
man, following a divorce.
5-56. List at least seven characteristics that are part of the common cross-cultural male gender
role stereotype and seven that are part of the female stereotype. Indicate briefly some of the
consequences of these role stereotypes for adult development.
5-57. Describe briefly what happens to gender roles in couples after the birth of a child. What is
David Gutmann’s explanation for this phenomenon?
5-58. Folklore has it that women are likely to experience serious upheaval and difficulty
following the departure of their last child from home. What evidence is there for or against this
expectation?
5-59. In young adulthood, there are three major new roles acquired by the majority of people.
Describe these three roles and the problems and joys that accompany them.
ESSAY QUESTIONS
5-61. Compare and contrast the major family and gender roles of young adults and retired adults.
How can you best characterize the differences?
5-62. Researchers have consistently found that married adults are happier and less likely to show
emotional disturbance than are unmarried adults. Describe two possible explanations for this
pattern, and indicate which of the two you consider to be the better explanation and why.
5-63. More adults in the past few years have chosen to marry later, to have their children later,
and/or to have fewer children. Cumulatively, what will be the effects of such changes on the life
patterns of adults? What are the possible advantages? What are the possible disadvantages?
5-64. Evaluate the evidence for (and against) the concept of a gender role crossover in midlife.
What additional type(s) of research would we need to confirm or reject this hypothesis?
5-65. Describe the major age changes in social roles over the adult years in your own culture at
this point in history.
5-67. What do we know about the adult lives of never-married adults? What kind of research
would we need to do to add to our fund of information?
5-68. Aqulano (1996) has found that 44 percent of young adults aged 19–24 had returned home
after living away. Based on what you have learned in this class, provide several arguments for
why this would be and the larger effect it has on the changing life cycle.
5-69. We have discussed several reasons why the social clock in the U.S. no longer operates via a
“family life cycle.” Describe a few of these reasons and discuss the overall ramifications of this
change.
5-70. Describe why there are such large cultural effects on older (65 years of age and older)
women living alone. Include relevant research to support your claim.
5-71. Recall the traditional social roles of early, middle, and late adulthood. Now create a
fictitious adult and mix up those roles, creating some that are on-time and some off-time.
Describe how changing the timing of traditional roles affects the lifestyle and choices of the
fictitious adult, and how your adult copes with these effects.
5-72. (applied, Variations in Timing) People who are off-time with the social clock of their
culture are more apt to have difficulty in their roles and less apt to report high levels of
life satisfaction. Using an example from a television sit-com, movies, or novel, illustrate
a similar-themed fictional situation, whereby an individual is off-time with his or her
social clock and struggles with his or her social roles.
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
Long minutes went by, and still no signal came from below to haul up.
One of the sailors—a light-weight, but strong—had just proposed
shinning down the rope, when suddenly it was shaken three successive
times, and the men commenced hauling up with every care.
Charlie and Walt had nothing to do, and their suspense was therefore
dreadful.
The rope seemed so thin. What if it should suddenly snap from chafing
over the sharp edge of the rock!
At last, however, brave Ingomar’s handsome, resolute face was seen
over the precipice. And in his arms he bore a sad burden.
Curtis was not tall, so his weight was nothing in comparison with the
strength of his rescuer. But his face hung backwards, and was covered with
blood.
The doctor, who had come back with the men, now made attempts to
resuscitate his unfortunate patient. But for a long time he was unsuccessful.
At last Arnold opened his eyes, and was presently able to swallow a little
cordial, and even to talk a word or two, though very incoherently.
“There is no fracture,” said Dr. Wright, as the unfortunate lieutenant
relapsed once more into insensibility. “Bear him to the boat most carefully,
men, and we will follow.”
“No fracture, doctor. I’m so glad.”
Then Ingomar fainted. The strain had been too much for even his strong
physique.
He was laid on his back, however, and soon revived. When fairly
restored and able to take the road gently leaning on Charlie’s arm—
“I say, Charlie,” he said, “wasn’t it a blessing that I didn’t succumb when
about halfway up the cliff?”
Ingomar was smiling, but the boy shuddered as he thought of the narrow
escape of the first lieutenant and Hans Armstrong himself, the two principal
men of the expedition. Had the dreadful accident occurred, and the bold
rescuer been obliged to quit hold while being hauled to bank, it would have
cast a gloom over all the hands which nothing could ever have dispelled.
I believe if people would only try to look upon the bright side of things
in this world, they would always find something to be thankful for.
The captain’s cabin in the Sea Elephant was the largest and best in the
ship. It was right aft, and there was a minimum of noise above it. This was
at once apportioned to the lieutenant, who had not yet recovered sensibility.
Nor did he for three long days.
The shock to brain and system generally had been very great, and would
have killed a less strong man. Even the loss of blood, so said Dr. Wright,
had been in no way against his patient.
Ingomar constituted himself Arnold’s nurse, and a gentle and tender one
he made, Charlie and Walt relieving him now and then.
Meanwhile, good work was being done on shore. Not only were
observations both by night and day taken, and surveys made and soundings
ascertained, but the sailors were now busy in the erection of a stone house
or cabin, which was to be the abode of five men and an officer for probably
a whole year—their home, indeed; and a more dreary one than this it would
be impossible to conceive, especially throughout the long and terrible
winter. They were to have the companionship of two of the best dogs,
plenty of provisions, and everything likely to conduce to their comfort, with
books to read, and even games to while away the time. Moreover, they
would be engaged every day in taking observations, for the advancement of
science, for every little aids; but, nevertheless, it would be—
“A weary time, a weary time.”
CHAPTER VI
At the council or consultation that took place some days after this in the
ward-room of the Walrus, both Charlie and Walt were present, but, of
course, were not supposed to speak.
It was resolved therein that, instead of plunging at once into the great
ice-pack, and attempting to find out the South Pole by one bold rush, the
two ships should first spend ten or eleven months in sailing completely
round the world that lies all beneath or south of the latitudes of Kerguelen
and Cape Horn or Tierra del Fuego, and other southern lands around the
Antarctic Continent.
But they were to sail in different directions, one, the Sea Elephant, going
eastwards, the good old Walrus westwards.
Perhaps they might meet halfway round on the high seas. Anyhow—if
all turned out well—they hoped once more to unite their forces at
Kerguelen, and thence bear up for the pole itself, or, at all events, get South
as far as possible.
This had not been the first intention of the expedition, but the officers
thereof were, of course, right in altering their plans.
But what about the bears, and dogs, and the Eskimos themselves?
This was a matter for serious consideration. It was true that there was
food enough for all on board the Walrus, and that during explorations,
surveyings, and observation-taking all along the line of route, they would be
able to catch enough fish to keep the bears and Yak dogs in good health and
condition.
“With all my love for the creatures we are so fond of calling the lower
animals,” said Captain Mayne Brace, “I must admit that bears and Yak dogs
are not the very best shipmates one can possess. What say you, Mr.
Milton?”
“No, sir; we found that out in bringing the beggars home. A bear doesn’t
sleep so sweetly as a well-cared-for baby. Gruff is apt to wake at night to
cough or yawn, and when he does so he wakes his wife, and she coughs or
yawns; then the dogs join, and bedlam isn’t a circumstance to the row they
make.”
“Well, now,” continued Brace, “I have a question to put. Why shouldn’t
we leave them all here on Kerguelen till our return?”
“Why,” cried Captain Bell, “that is a splendid idea of yours. The Yak-
Yaks can build their own shelters, and feed and look after the whole pack.
Are you agreeable to that proposal, Mr. Armstrong?”
“Oh, quite. In fact, Captain Bell, the bears and dogs are not the best
companions; their voices are hardly melodious enough to conduce to sleep,
and they are like Artemus Ward’s elephants—they are powerful eaters. So I
agree.”
And all agreed. And as soon as everything was got ready on shore, both
Eskimos and animals were landed; and then the two ships bade each other
farewell, and each steamed away on her own track.
It will thus be seen that both vessels would sail round the world, and
each would make different observations and explorations.
But for the present, at all events, we must sail away in the Walrus.
Strangely enough, for the first few days the men actually missed the
bears and dogs.
Dumpty himself, who was very fond of Gruff and even Growley, used to
stand staring in at the empty cage for a quarter of an hour at a time, and
openly declared that he couldn’t sleep half so well now the dear old chaps
were gone; and many of the crew also thought the change was not one for
the better. However, that remained to be seen.
I must remind the reader just here that, though neither Charlie nor Walter
was bound apprentice, they were, nevertheless, already good sailors, and
that, moreover, they determined to adopt the sea as a profession eventually.
They now tried, therefore, to learn all they could, and were not too proud or
lazy to help on deck, and even take their trick at the wheel.
This latter is hard work and weary, especially when the thermometer is at
or below zero, a high wind blowing, and when your mittens get frozen to
the spokes. It is bad enough in tropical seas, with the sun beating down
almost vertically on one’s head, the waves all aglitter with light and heat,
and the pitch a-boil between the planks of the quarter-deck. And yet—
having done both—I much prefer the heat to the excessive cold of Polar
seas when steering.
Whenever time permitted, the boys now sought the companionship of
Ingomar. He was a treasure, to their way of thinking. There was no feeling
lonely when he was there, whether it were treading the decks by day or
listening to his stories and talk at eventide.
Where he had picked up all his knowledge was a puzzle to both lads, and
his yarns, at all events, bore an exceedingly strong resemblance to the truth.
There was plenty of music on board, and besides this, almost every one
could sing a bit. Before leaving Kerguelen the dogs generally began to sing
when the band began to play. The bandsmen could now play in peace, and
there was no Gruff nor Grumpey to imitate the trombone. Wallace the collie
was far too much of a gentleman to interrupt. Well, there were games of all
sorts to go in for in fine weather, and when the storms raged and stormy
winds blew, they could read and yarn.
Perhaps the Walrus was not so well found in food and drinkables as an
Atlantic liner. Yet there was enough, and everything was of the best.
What more could heart of sailor desire?
I think, though, that Ingomar, who remained in the Walrus, would have
been glad if his friend Curtis had made one of the crew of this ship.
One word from the American and the transference would have been
accomplished; but he did not speak that word. It would, he thought, look as
if he, being the owner of the ships, were interfering with the arrangements
thereof.
“Perhaps, after all,” he said to himself, “it is better as it is. We don’t
know what may transpire yet. Arnold does not look a bit too strong, and—
well, I should not like to see him sink and die.”
* * * * *
“Right gaily goes a ship when the wind blows free.” Thus sing some
sailor lads.
And the wind did blow free, and fast also, some few days after the two
discovery vessels parted company.
Not with the force of a gale, however, but that of a strong breeze, almost
like a joyous trade wind, that filled the white and flowing sail and bent the
gallant masts. This is perhaps a trifle too figurative, for the masts of ships
like these would take a deal of wind before they bent, and when they did so,
they would probably break. Of course the Walrus was not in low enough
latitudes to catch the regular or trade winds.
These, it will do you, reader, no harm to know, are really north winds
and south winds, that seem out of their course by the motion of the earth in
its revolution. In the north of the equator, and its belts of calm and variable
winds, and extending from about 10° N. lat. to about 30° N., we have the
N.E. trades; and south of the equatorial belt we get, as you would naturally
expect, the S.E. trades.
That is near enough for most landsmen to know. If, however, you ask
why the winds blow towards the equator, I need only tell you that Nature
abhors a vacuum. Well, along the great hot regions round the earth’s waist
you have such a vacuum, because heated air always ascends, and winds
rush in from both sides to fill it up.
The winds far south of the trades have often, in summer particularly, a
northerly direction, because the ocean is here warmer than the ice. But these
are very variable.
On the whole, perhaps, the study of the winds is best left to the
meteorologist.
A single glance at a map of the Antarctic will show any one what a vast
stretch of lonesome ocean there is betwixt Kerguelen and Tierra del Fuego,
which is the lowest land of the great South American continent.
The wind to the Walrus, and to the Sea Elephant as well, would be ever
welcome, unless it came in the somewhat questionable shape of a hurricane,
because they must steam just as little as possible. The Elephant, it is true,
had more than filled up at Mauritius. In fact, she had arrived at Kerguelen a
bumper ship, with coals, coals everywhere, and these she had shared with
the Walrus.
More than this, in the Sea Elephant’s passage back to Kerguelen, she
would probably call at the Cape to coal up again—or somewhere else; and,
indeed, in a voyage such as this, a good deal has to be left to what is termed
blind chance, though be assured chance never is or was blind—every wind
and every current of the ocean is but obeying inexorable laws in blowing or
flowing whither it does.
* * * * *
Navigation, nowadays, is so strange and difficult a study to a mere
outsider, or ’longshoreman, that although told that the Walrus was bearing
up for the Crozet Islands, and although they could easily position these on
the map or chart, and knew therefore that they lay to the nor’ard and west of
Kerguelen, Charlie and Walt were considerably puzzled when they looked
at the compass to see which way the ship’s head was.
“We seem to be going a bit zigzag, don’t we, Charlie, old man?” said
Walt to his companion one fine forenoon.
“I thought so too, Walt; but I suppose we’ll get there all the same. Come
along. Don’t puzzle your head; the dogs want a scamper, and luckily we’re
off duty.”
Everybody was dressed in extra clothing now, and this added
considerably to everybody’s breadth of beam, but especially, apparently, to
Dumpty’s. He was, indeed, a curious figure; and the Newfoundlands and
ship’s collie all seemed to know there was something rather ridiculous
about his build, and were never tired getting some fun out of him.
Dumpty had been throwing a wooden belaying-pin along the decks to-
day, that the wise animals might have exercise. And this was a species of