rning. The day and night were passed between sleeping and eating, for
as soon as the men woke up, they relighted their fire and cooked more
bear's steaks, in spite of Andrew's warnings that they would soon
exhaust all their fuel.

"Never fear, old man," was the answer, "we shall get enough when we
reach the shore, and let us enjoy ourselves while we can. The natives
manage to live, why should not we?"

"The natives know how to catch the seal and the walrus, and unless we
can prove ourselves as good hunters as they are, we may chance to
starve," answered Andrew.

His warnings, however, had no effect, and when the next morning they
came to examine the contents of the boat, they found they had only
sufficient fuel to last them another night.

Once more they were on their journey. The carcase of the bear added
considerably to their load, the ice too was rough and broken, and they
made but slow progress. The land was seen clearly ahead, but after
toiling all day it seemed almost as far off as when they started. The
days too were becoming shorter and shorter, while the cold rapidly
increased, and once more they were compelled to encamp on the open floe.
That night the remainder of their fuel was consumed. Two of the men
had been complaining during the day of pains in their feet, and when
they pulled off their boots, to their dismay they discovered that they
were perfectly black. In vain their companions rubbed them to restore
the circulation. Their groans were piteous to hear, and when the
morning came they were utterly unable to rise. Andrew proposed to place
them in the boat, and to drag them along to the shore. When, however,
morning came, the ice ahead appeared even rougher than that which they
had passed over on the previous day, and in spite of his desire to
preserve their lives, it was found that with their diminished strength
this would be impossible. It was therefore agreed that the poor fellows
should be left in the hut, and that should any Esquimaux be met with,
they should be sent with their sledges and dogs to their relief. With
sad hearts the rest of the party closed the hut, which they felt would
too probably prove the tomb of their companions.

CHAPTER NINE.

ARCHY HAS A MASK TO PROTECT HIS EYES FROM SNOW-BLINDNESS, FROM WHICH ALL
THE REST SUFFER.--HE LEADS THEM BY A STRING, WHEN AN ESQUIMAUX IS
DISCOVERED SEARCHING FOR SEALS, WHO BUILDS AN IGLOO, AND MELTING SOME
SNOW, BATHES THE BLIND