" cried Steve, starting to follow the rest, and the
dog wagged his tail and began to trot to his side, but in a lame, stiff
fashion.

Just then, though, he caught sight of the great carcass of the bear. Up
went the hair about his throat and neck; he gave a fierce growl, forgot
his lameness, and dashed at the bear's throat, stuck his teeth into it,
and tried to give it a shake; then, loosening his hold reluctantly, he
followed his master to the boat, which soon after reached the side of
the _Hvalross_, where the cook announced the meal to be in perfect
readiness, and to it tremendous justice was done.

"Seems nonsense to go to bed now, doesn't it?" said Steve, as they
returned on deck to see the island beginning to grow distant as the
vessel steamed slowly north-north-east, about a mile away from the solid
blue-and-silver wall of ice on their left.

"Yes," said the doctor quietly; "but we must have rest. All this has
come upon you so suddenly, because we have been shut up so long in that
terrible fog."

"But we're leaving Jan Mayen for good, then?"

"Yes; there was nothing to stay for."

"And if we keep right on like this, where shall we go to next?"

"Come, come," said the doctor playfully; "you ought to know the chart.
I can tell you that."

"I know I ought to be able to say," replied Steve, with his brow
wrinkled again; "but I'm puzzled, sir. I don't seem to have grasped it
yet. Where are we making for?"

"Well, if the ice would let us get up there, we are going pretty
straight for the North Pole; but I expect this great wall will keep us
more to the east, and before long, if the weather keeps fine, we shall
be sighting the land of peaks and mountains."

"Spitzbergen?" cried Steve.

"Well done; you have not forgotten everything."

"No, not quite. And we shall be amongst the walrus, seals, and
reindeer, and--"

"To-morrow morning, boy!" cried the doctor. "It's rather soon after a
heavy supper."

"But isn't it to-morrow morning to-day--I mean to-night--I mean--?"

"Bed, Steve, bed!" cried the doctor. "Come along, and I'll set you the
example. Your head will be clearer after a good rest, and you won't be
so ready to make bulls."

"Very well," said the boy, "I'll go; but I'm sure I shan't sleep a wink.
It's impossible, with the sun shining so bright and clear."

But it was not, for in a quarter of an hour he was soundly off,
breathing heavily, and too thoroughly tired out to dream about the