life nowhere."

"Come, don't give in," said Bolton cheerfully, "we're sure to fall in
with a walrus to-day."

"I think so," cried Fred; "we have come so far out upon the floes that
there must be open water near."

"Come on, then," cried Peter Grim; "don't waste time talking."

Thus urged, O'Riley rose, and, throwing his sledge-strap over his
shoulder, plodded on wearily with the rest.

Their provisions were getting low now, and it was felt that if they did
not soon fall in with walrus or bears they must return as quickly as
possible to the ship in order to avoid starving. It was, therefore, a
matter of no small satisfaction that, on turning the edge of an iceberg,
they discovered a large bear walking leisurely towards them. To drop
their sledge-lines and seize their muskets was the work of a moment.
But unfortunately, long travelling had filled the pans with snow, and it
required some time to pick the touch-holes clear. In this extremity
Peter Grim seized a hatchet and ran towards it, while O'Riley charged it
with a spear. Grim delivered a tremendous blow at its head with his
weapon, but his intention was better than his aim, for he missed the
bear and smashed the corner of a hummock of ice. O'Riley was more
successful. He thrust the spear into the animal's shoulder, but the
shoulder-blade turned the head of the weapon, and caused it to run along
at least three feet, just under the skin. The wound, although not
fatal, was so painful that Bruin uttered a loud roar of disapproval,
wheeled round, and ran away!--an act of cowardice so unusual on the part
of a Polar bear that the whole party were taken by surprise. Several
shots were fired after him, but he soon disappeared among the
ice-hummocks, having fairly made off with O'Riley's spear.

The disappointment caused by this was great; but they had little time to
think of it, for, soon after, a stiff breeze of wind sprang up, which
freshened into a gale, compelling them to seek the shelter of a cluster
of icebergs, in the midst of which they built a snow-hut. Before night
a terrific storm was raging, with the thermometer 40 degrees below zero.
The sky became black as ink; drift whirled round them in horrid
turmoil; and the wild blast came direct from the north, over the frozen
sea, shrieking and howling in its strength and fury.

All that night and the next day it continued. Then it ceased; and for
the first time that winter a thaw set in, so that ere morn