a beautiful Esquimaux widow, who had been
captured by two Polar bears, both of which were deeply in love with her,
by Frederick Ellice, Esquire. _First Bear_, a big one, by Terence
O'Riley, Esquire. _Second Bear_, a little one, by David Summers,
Esquire. _Ben Bolt_, a brave British seaman, who had been wrecked in
Blunderbore's desolate dominions, all the crew having perished except
himself, by John Buzzby, Esquire. These constituted the various
characters of the piece, the name of which had been kept a profound
secret from the crew, until the morning of the day, on which it was
acted.

Fred's duties as manager and author upon this occasion were by no means
light, for his troop, being unaccustomed to study, found the utmost
difficulty in committing the simplest sentences to memory. O'Riley
turned out to be the sharpest among them, but having agreed to
impersonate the First Bear, and having to act his part in dumb show--
bears not being supposed capable of speech--his powers of memory had not
to be exerted. Grim was also pretty good, but Davie Summers could not
be got to remember even the general arrangements of the piece; and as
for Buzzby, he no sooner mastered a line than he forgot the one before
it, and almost gave it up in despair; but by dint of much study and many
rehearsals in secret, under the superintendence of Fred and Tom
Singleton, who undertook to assist, they succeeded at last in going
through with it, with only a few mistakes.

On the morning of the 1st December, while the most of the crew were away
at Red Snow Valley cutting moss, Fred collected his _Corps Dramatique_
for a last rehearsal in the forecastle, where they were secure from
interruption, the place being so cold that no one would willingly go
into it except under the force of necessity. A dim lantern lit up the
apartment faintly.

"We must do it without a mistake this time," said Fred Ellice, opening
his book and calling upon Grim to begin.

"'Tis cold," began Grim.

"Stop, you're wrong."

"Oh, so I am!" cried Grim, slapping his thigh; "I'll begin again." It
may be remarked here that although Blunderbore was supposed to be an
Esquimaux monarch, he was compelled to speak English, being
unfortunately ignorant--if we may so speak--of his native tongue!

"Oh! 'tis a dismal thing," began Grim again, "to dwell in solitude and
cold! 'Tis very cold," (Grim shuddered here tremendously) "and--and--
what's next?"

"Hunger," said Fred.