fore daylight, for the sky was clear and the moon and
stars afforded them ample light to see their way. The sun at length
rose above the horizon, and cast his brilliant rays over the sheet of
snow. All the three men had, on the previous day, complained of a
peculiar smarting of the eyes, but little did they think at the time of
what it portended. As they proceeded the smarting sensation increased,
till at length David Saunders began to stumble, and exclaimed that all
was dark. His words struck dismay into the hearts of his companions,
for both Andrew and Foubister had for some time found a difficulty in
seeing objects before them, and in a short time the latter cried out
that he too was blind. It would have been certain death to stop, so,
although Andrew himself was suffering intense pain, he urged his
companions to proceed, hoping still that they might discover some
Esquimaux' huts on the shore, or find other means of preserving their
lives.

"And how do your eyes feel, Archy?" asked Andrew, in a voice which
showed his anxiety.

"I have no pain, and can see as well as ever," answered Archy.

"Thank God," replied Andrew. "You must then be our guide, for I too
have lost my sight." Archy on hearing this felt ready to burst into
tears.

"Oh! what can I do? How can I lead you?" he exclaimed.

"Trust in God and go straight on, lad. Here, take this line and we will
hold on to it," he added uncoiling a short length of rope which he
carried at his side, and he put the end into Archy's hands. He and
Foubister and Saunders then took hold of it, following each other in
line.

"Now move on, Archy," said Andrew, "and keep a bright look out ahead, as
well as on the right hand and on the left. If you see anything like
smoke or little round hillocks near the shore, we may be certain that
natives are there, or may be you will catch sight of the masts of a ship
in the horizon, no fear of her getting away from us, for she will be
fast frozen in."

Thus cheered by the confiding faith of old Andrew and his dauntless
courage, the party proceeded onwards over the ice-field, Archy's eyes
alone, protected by his mask, escaping the snow-blindness. Every now
and then, with anxious voices, one or the other would cry out, "Do you
see anything ahead, Archy, any sign of Esquimauxs on the shore,--any
vessel in the distance?"

"No, I only see tall ice-cliffs on the left, and icebergs rising up here
and there out of the frozen sea