aring frame of mind, was
changed for the Brave One from that day. In a few more minutes the last
charge of the enemy was repulsed, and those of them that remained alive
dived back to that native home into which the slain had already sunk.

Thus ended that notable fight with walruses.

After consummating the victory with three cheers and congratulating each
other, the conquerors proceeded to examine into the extent of damage
received. It was found that, beyond a few scratches, the _Faith_ and
the _Hope_ had escaped scathless, but the _Charity_ had suffered
considerably. Besides a bad rip in the upper part of the gunwale, a
small hole had been poked in her side below water, and her air-chamber
was filling rapidly.

"Come here, quick, uncle," cried Alf, in consternation, when he
discovered this.

To his surprise the Captain was not so much alarmed as he had expected.

"It won't sink you, Alf, so keep your mind easy," he said, while
examining the injury. "You see I took care to have the boats made in
compartments. It will only make you go lop-sided like a lame duck till
I can repair the damage."

"Repair it, uncle! how can--"

"Never mind just now, hand out a blanket, quick; I'll explain after; we
must undergird her and keep out as much water as we can."

This operation was soon accomplished. The blanket was passed under the
boat and made fast. By pressing against the injured part it checked the
inflow of water. Then the cargo was shifted, and part of it was
transferred to the other boats, and soon they were advancing as
pleasantly, though not as quickly as before, while the Captain explained
that he had brought a solution of gutta-percha for the express purpose
of repairing damages to the boats, but that it was impossible to use it
until they could disembark either on land or on an iceberg.

"We'll come to another berg ere long, no doubt, shan't we, Chingatok?"
he asked.

The Eskimo shook his head and said he thought not, but there was a small
rocky islet not far from where they were, though it lay somewhat out of
their course.

On hearing this the Captain changed his course immediately, and rowed in
the direction pointed out.

"There's wind enough up there, Benjy," remarked his father, looking up
to the sky, where the higher clouds were seen rapidly passing the lower
strata to the northward, "but how to get the kites set up in a dead calm
is more than I can tell."

"There is a way out of the diffi