e direction. The snow continued to fall thickly, the
cold was intense, and the wind blew fiercely, while it was possible that
the ice might break away and carry them with it before they could gain
the land.

They were to march in subdivisions, each under their respective
officers. With heavy hearts the officers and crew went down the side of
the ship, and formed on the ice under her lee. The sick--fortunately
there were very few--were supported by their comrades. There were some
women and children; for them it was truly fearful work. The captain,
having ascertained that no man was left on board, was the last to quit
the ship. He could not speak as he came down the side and took his
place in the van. The order to advance was given. Slowly, with heads
bent down against the freezing blast, the party worked their way. In
some places the tide or the wind had forced the water over the ice, and
pools of half-frozen slush had been formed, through which they were
compelled to wade. In others they had to climb over the huge slabs of
ice which had been thrown up in wild confusion. On they toiled,
however, those who kept close together assisting each other; but some,
alas! in the thick snow separated by the inequalities of the surface
over which they travelled, sunk unseen, and not, in many cases, till
their comrades had advanced too far to render assistance, was their
absence discovered. A poor boy--who, though somewhat weak and sickly,
was a favourite with the men--was one of the first missed. He had been
complaining of the cold, but had been encouraged to proceed by those
near him.

"Oh, let me just lie down and rest for a few moments, I am so weary, I
will come on with the others," he murmured.

"You will get no rest to do you good," was the answer. "Cheer up, cheer
up, lad!"

A friendly hand was stretched out to help him. For some way he
struggled on. Then there arose a huge pile of ice slabs, and he escaped
from the friendly hand which held him.

"Ah, now I will rest quietly," he thought, as he laid himself down on a
crevice of the ice filled with snow.

From that sleep he never awoke.

Among the women, one toiled on with a child in her arms. Many of the
seamen offered to carry it; but she would not part with her treasure.
On and on she moved. Her words became wandering, then scarcely
articulate. She ceased at length to speak. Still she advanced. The
snow fell thicker. The road became more uneve