me!"

These two bears were the last they obtained that winter; but as a good
supply of meat had been obtained from the Eskimos, they were relieved
from anxiety for the time, and the health of the men began to improve a
little. But this happy state of things did not last till spring. These
sorely tried men were destined to endure much suffering before the light
of the sun came back to cheer their drooping spirits.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

CHRISTMAS TIME--DEATH--RETURN OF LIGHT AND HOPE--DISASTERS AND FINAL
DELIVERANCE.

Christmas came at last, but with it came no bright sun to remind those
ice-bound men of our Saviour--the "Sun of Righteousness"--whose birth
the day commemorated. It was even darker than usual in Refuge Harbour
on that Christmas-day. It was so dark at noon that one could not see
any object more than a few yards distant from the eyes. A gale of wind
from the nor'-west blew the snow-drift in whirling ghost-like clouds
round the _Hope_, so that it was impossible to face it for a moment. So
intense was the cold that it felt like sheets of fire being driven
against the face! Truly it was a day well fitted to have depressed the
heartiest of men. But man is a wonderful creature, not easy to
comprehend! The very things that ought to have cast down the spirits of
the men of the _Hope_ were the things that helped to cheer them.

About this time, as I have said, the health of the crew had improved a
little, so they were prepared to make the most of everything. Those
feelings of kindliness and good-will which warm the breasts of all
right-minded men at this season of the year, filled our Arctic voyagers
to overflowing. Thoughts of "home" came crowding on them with a power
that they had not felt at other times. Each man knew that on this day,
more than any other day of that long, dark winter, the talk round a
well-known hearth in Merry England would be of one who was far, far away
in the dark regions of ice and snow. A tear or two that could not be
forced back tumbled over rough cheeks which were not used to _that_ kind
of salt water; and many a silent prayer went up to call down a blessing
on the heads of dear ones at home.

It blew "great guns outside," as Baker said, but what of that? it was a
dead calm in the cabin! It was dark as a coal-hole on the floes. What
then? it was bright as noon-day in the _Hope_! No sun blazed through
the skylight, to be sure, but a lamp, filled with fat, glared on th