ing their
sleeping-bags and socks were thoroughly wetted. This was of short
duration, however. In a few hours the frost set in again as intense as
ever, converting all their wet garments and bedding into hard cakes of
ice. To add to their misfortunes their provisions ran out, and they
were obliged to abandon the hut and push forward towards the ship with
the utmost speed. Night came on them while they were slowly toiling
through the deep drifts that the late gale had raised, and to their
horror they found they had wandered out of their way, and were still but
a short distance from their snow-hut. In despair they returned to pass
the night in it, and, spreading their frozen sleeping-bags on the snow,
they lay down, silent and supperless, to rest till morning.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

UNEXPECTED ARRIVALS--THE RESCUE-PARTY--LOST AND FOUND--RETURN TO THE
SHIP.

The sixth night after the hunting-party had left the ship, Grim and Fred
Ellice suddenly made their appearance on board. It was quite dark, and
the few of the ship's company who were able to quit their berths were
seated round the cabin at their meagre evening meal.

"Hallo, Fred!" exclaimed Captain Ellice, as his son staggered rather
than walked in, and sank down on a locker. "What's wrong, boy? where
are the rest of you?"

Fred could not answer; neither he nor Grim were able to utter a word at
first. It was evident that they laboured under extreme exhaustion and
hunger. A mouthful of hot soup administered by Tom Singleton rallied
them a little, however.

"Our comrades are lost, I fear."

"Lost!" exclaimed Captain Guy. "How so? Speak, my boy; but hold, take
another mouthful before you speak. Where did you leave them, say you?"

Fred looked at the captain with a vacant stare. "Out upon the ice to
the north; but, I say, what a comical dream I've had!" Here he burst
into a loud laugh. Poor Fred's head was evidently affected, so his
father and Tom carried him to his berth.

All this time Grim had remained seated on a locker, swaying to and fro
like a drunken man, and paying no attention to the numerous questions
that were put to him by Saunders and his comrades.

"This is bad!" exclaimed Captain Guy, pressing his hand on his forehead.

"A search must be made," suggested Captain Ellice. "It's evident that
the party have broken down out on the floes, and Fred and Grim have been
sent to let us know."

"I know it," answered Captain Guy; "a