es, however, that the boat had received were very severe, and
it was evident that no means they had at their disposal were sufficient
to repair her. Even a piece of canvas would have been of value, but
they had no canvas and no nails. The sea, too, which had rapidly got
up, now dashed furiously against the sides of the floe, threatening to
sweep over it, and break it to pieces beneath their feet. Andrew looked
around, and observing a large hummock at some distance, urged his
companions to drag the boat towards it.

"Yonder ice hill will afford us some shelter," he said. "And if we make
a signal from the top, it will be more readily seen than one down on the
level."

The men exerting all their strength dragged the boat along, Archy
helping, till they reached the hummock, she was then turned bottom
uppermost under its lee. An axe having been saved, one of the oars was
cut into lengths, which served to prop her up and afford them some
shelter from the freezing wind. Two oars were also lashed together to
serve as a flagstaff, and all the handkerchiefs that could be mustered
were joined to form a flag. A hole, after much labour, was dug with the
axe in the top of the hummock, and the flagstaff was planted, but the
furious wind threatened every moment to blow it down again. The gale
was increasing, and already they felt almost perished, but their great
want was food. They had come away without breakfast, and no provisions
had been put in the boat. Even should they be able to resist the gale,
and should the floe continue together, they ran a fearful risk of
perishing of hunger. The snow falling heavily formed a bank round the
boat, and assisted to keep out the wind,--here they all collected,
crouching down as close together as possible, for the sake of obtaining
warmth from each other.

"If we had but a fire we might do pretty well till the ship comes to
take us off," observed Max. "We have got some wood, at all events, and
when that's gone we must burn the boat and form a roof of snow over our
heads instead, after Esquimaux fashion."

No sooner was the proposal made than the remaining oars,
boat-stretchers, and every piece of wood that could be found was cut up.
Archy produced the tinder-box from the bucket, and in a short time a
fire was blazing up, which served to warm their chilled limbs, and
slightly to raise their spirits. Few of them, however, were disposed to
talk much.

CHAPTER FIVE.

ANDREW S