in order to
continue the journey; but short though the period of rest was, it proved
sufficient to enable the men to pursue their journey with some degree of
spirit. Still, it was evident that their energies had been overtaxed,
for when they neared the ship next day, Tom Singleton, who had been on
the lookout, and advanced to meet them, found that they were almost in a
state of stupor, and talked incoherently; sometimes giving utterance to
sentiments of the most absurd nature, with expressions of the utmost
gravity.

Meanwhile good news was brought them from the ship. Two bears and a
walrus had been purchased from the Esquimaux, a party of whom--sleek,
fat, oily, good-humoured, and hairy--were encamped on the lee side of
the _Dolphin_, and busily engaged in their principal and favourite
occupation--eating!

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

WINTER ENDS--THE FIRST INSECT--PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE--NARROW
ESCAPE--CUTTING OUT--ONCE MORE AFLOAT--SHIP ON FIRE--CREW TAKE TO THE
BOATS.

Winter passed away, with its darkness and its frost, and, happily, with
its sorrows; and summer--bright, glowing summer--came at last to gladden
the heart of man and beast in the Polar regions.

We have purposely omitted to make mention of spring, for there is no
such season, properly so called, within the Arctic Circle. Winter
usually terminates with a gushing thaw, and summer then begins with a
blaze of fervent heat. Not that the heat is really so intense as
compared with that of southern climes, but the contrast is so great that
it _seems_ as though the torrid zones had rushed towards the Pole.

About the beginning of June there were indications of the coming heat.
Fresh water began to trickle from the rocks, and streamlets commenced to
run down the icebergs. Soon everything became moist, and a marked
change took place in the appearance of the ice-belt, owing to the pools
that collected on it everywhere and overflowed.

Seals now became more numerous in the neighbourhood, and were frequently
killed near the _atluks_, or holes; so that fresh meat was secured in
abundance, and the scurvy received a decided check. Reindeer, rabbits,
and ptarmigan, too, began to frequent the bay, so that the larder was
constantly full, and the mess-table presented a pleasing variety--rats
being no longer the solitary dish of fresh meat at every meal. A few
small birds made their appearance from the southward, and these were
hailed as harbingers of the