MMario is right about the polar bears. They did not meet up with any bears but there was a spooky moment they recall when the ship's fate was nearing disaster from the crushing ice.
One evening when all was quiet an unsettling incident occurred while several sailors were on deck. A band of eight emperor penguins solemnly approached the ship, an unsually large number of penquins to be travelling together. The penquins intently looked at the ship for a few moments and then they threw back their heads and emitted an eerie, soulful cry.
"I myself must confess that I have never, either before or since, heard the penquins make any sound similar to the sinister wailings they moaned that day", wrote Worsley, one of the crew members.

I have a feeling those penguins were not offering a eerie sinister chorus because of the banjo music.

Bonnie