ITH GREAT DIFFICULTIES.--THE CAPTAIN BECOMES ILL, BUT IS CHEERED BY
ANDREW.--HE AT LENGTH DIES, AFTER ANDREW HAS PLACED BEFORE HIM THE
TRUTH, WHICH HE ACCEPTS.--HE IS BURIED IN A SNOW TOMB.

Archy was awakened by hearing one of the officers, who had gone out of
the tent, exclaim, "Why, what have become of the boats?" The rest of
the inmates of the tents were quickly on foot. They looked around. Far
away in the distance two dark spots could be seen on the ice. Andrew
and several others ran to the tent of the mutineers--it was empty. The
fire had burnt a hole in the ice and disappeared. Had it not been for
those objects far off they might have supposed that the sleepers had
gone in with it and been drowned. The provisions were next examined--
the packages prepared for travelling had greatly diminished. Several,
indignant at being thus deserted, proposed setting off in pursuit of the
fugitives.

"They have fire-arms with them, and you will not get them to come back,
lads," said the captain, who had come out of his tent.

In spite of his warnings, and the advice of Andrew, who urged that it
was better to let them go, a number of men, and two of the officers,
started away, vowing that they would bring back the mutineers, and
punish them for their treachery.

At first, the party thus deserted seemed inclined to give way to
despair, and Archy more than ever regretted that he had not warned his
friends of the intended treachery.

"Come along, lads, to the wreck," exclaimed Andrew. "Perhaps we may
find another boat, which we may be able to repair, and some more
provisions to replace those carried off."

Thus appealed to, the carpenter, with several men, set off with Andrew
to the wreck, Archy accompanying his friend. After climbing over a
number of huge masses of ice, they made their way to the opposite floe,
which was now firmly united to the one it had struck. Here they found a
quantity of the wreck scattered about, as well as several casks of meat
and biscuits, and wedged between two slabs, the smallest boat, which had
hung at the stern. The carpenter, on examining her, expressed his hopes
that by fastening canvas round her, he could make her float sufficiently
to enable them to pass from one floe to another, should they meet any
open channels in their course. This discovery raised their spirits.
The party immediately hastened back to their companions with the news.
It was agreed that they should at once mo