RING UNDER DIFFICULTIES.--AN ANXIOUS NIGHT.--FROZEN UP.

La Salle examined the condition of his patient, and found his tongue
furred, his pulse quick and feverish, his tonsils badly inflamed, and
the chills alternating with flushes of fever heat. The mind of the
patient, too, was anxious; for at the close of the brief examination he
said, "I hope I shan't be sick, for there isn't much show for me out
here on the ice."

"And why not, George? Although I hope you will have nothing more than a
bad cold, yet I think I could cure a pretty sick man out here."

"But we have no medicines, or beds, or food, or anything, scarcely."

"What nonsense! We are far more comfortably housed than the poor
Esquimaux, and even Peter there lives no warmer than we do--do you,
Peter?"

"_Womegun_ hetter than this; but this place very comforble. _I_ no fraid
freeze here."

"Well, George, I must turn doctor now, and try to stop this cold; for
as yet it is no worse. Peter, make a fire outside, and heat the iron
bailer full of salt water. Regnie, reach me my powder-horn and the
little tin cup of the lantern."

Pouring four drachms of gunpowder into the cup, he filled it about half
full of water, and setting it near the hot coals under the red hot
cylinder, soon dissolved the explosive, forming an inky fluid. From the
ammunition bucket he drew a small phial, which had been filled with
olive oil, and pouring some hot water and a little shot into it, he soon
cleaned it for the reception of the fluid, which he filtered through
several thicknesses of his woolen gun-cover. About a fluid ounce of a
rather dirty-looking solution of saltpeter resulted, to which a little
sugar was added.

"Here we have," said the man of drugs, "some three drachms of saltpeter
in solution, of which, by and by, you may take about one sixth, letting
it gargle your throat going down. Peter, is the water hot?"

"Yes, broder, water boilin' hover. What do with him now?"

"I want to soak his feet; but what shall we do it in? I can fill my
seal-skin boots, but they would be awkward."

"There's the ammunition bucket," suggested Regnie.

"That was made to hold peas and such like, and leaks like a sieve."

"Put the rubber blanket around it," interposed the patient.

"That's the idea," said La Salle. And hanging up one of the bird-skin
rugs in its place, the "mackintosh" was drawn and carefully knotted
around the rim of the shaky receptacle. Into this the hot water was