l-known tones.

"My friends out there want your help," said Archy, not stopping to
explain who he was.

They all had arms in their hands--while some stopped to fire at the
retreating bear, others run on in the direction indicated. Some of the
bullets took effect, and the bear was seen to drop on the snow. While
most of them dashed forward towards the wounded bear, one of them
remained by Archy.

"Where do you come from, lad--who are you?" he asked. Archy, with a
bounding heart, recognised the voice. It was that of Captain Irvine.

"I am Archy Hughson, sir, and Andrew Scollay, and David Saunders, and
Foubister, the carpenter of a ship which took us on board, are out
there--I hope the bears have not hurt them."

"I trust not," said the captain; "but come along, laddie, to the ship--
tell me more as you go. You seem scarcely able to stand."

Archy was, indeed, gasping for breath, and well nigh dropping from
fatigue and excitement. The kind captain supporting him, they made
their way toward the ship; but Archy, though he tried to speak, had lost
all power of utterance. One of the other men came quickly to their
assistance, and Archy was lifted on board, and placed in the captain's
cabin, under the care of Dr Sinclair. In a short time the rest of the
party arrived, bringing Andrew and Foubister unhurt, though well nigh
exhausted; but poor Saunders had been severely wounded by one of the
bears, two of which had, however, been killed.

Andrew, on being carried below, soon somewhat recovered. His first act
was to kneel down, when, lifting up his hands, he returned thanks to
that all powerful and merciful God who had preserved him and his
companions.

"Shipmates," he said, as he observed the look of astonishment with which
some of those who stood around regarded him. "Had you gone through the
dangers we have encountered, and been preserved from them to reach the
ship again, you would feel that it was not your own arm, or your own
strength had saved you, but He, who not only takes care of the bodies of
us sinful and ungrateful creatures, but is willing and ready to save our
immortal souls alive."

Archy remained for some days in a state of unconsciousness, but under
the care of Dr Sinclair he gradually recovered. The captain treated
him with the greatest kindness.

"I have heard all about you, Archy," he said, "and I don't speak to you
now to blame you for your conduct in leaving home. I'll leave it to
yo