Part 26 (1/2)

”Don't fear for me, father; I've quite recovered from my recent attack, which was but slight after all, and I know full well that those who are well must work as long as they can stand.”

”Ho, lads! look alive there! are you ready?” shouted the first mate down the hatchway.

”Ay, ay, sir,” replied Grim, and in a few minutes the party were a.s.sembled on the ice beside the small sledge with their shoulder-belts on, for most of the dogs were either dead or dying of that strange complaint to which allusion has been made in a previous chapter.

They set out silently, but ere they had got a dozen yards from the s.h.i.+p Captain Guy felt the impropriety of permitting them thus to depart.

”Up, lads, and give them three cheers!” he cried, mounting the s.h.i.+p's side and setting the example.

A hearty, generous spirit, when vigorously displayed, always finds a ready response from human hearts. The few sailors who were on deck at the time, and one or two of the sick men who chanced to put their heads up the hatchway, rushed to the side, waved their mittens--in default of caps--and gave vent to three hearty British cheers. The effect on the drooping spirits of the hunting-party was electrical. They p.r.i.c.ked up like chargers that had felt the spur, wheeled round, and returned the cheer with interest. It was an apparently trifling incident, but it served to lighten the way and make it seem less dreary for many a long mile.

”I'm tired of it intirely,” cried O'Riley, sitting down on a hummock, on the evening of the second day after setting out on the hunt; ”here we is, two days out, an' not a sign o' life nowhere.”

”Come, don't give in,” said Bolton cheerfully; ”we're sure to fall in with a walrus to-day.”

”I think so,” cried Fred; ”we have come so far out upon the floes that there must be open water near.”

”Come on, then,” cried Peter Grim; ”don't waste time talking.”

Thus urged O'Riley rose, and throwing his sledge-strap over his shoulder, plodded on wearily with the rest.

Their provisions were getting low now, and it was felt that if they did not soon fall in with walruses or bears they must return as quickly as possible to the s.h.i.+p in order to avoid starving. It was therefore a matter of no small satisfaction that, on turning the edge of an iceberg, they discovered a large bear walking leisurely towards them. To drop their sledge-lines and seize their muskets was the work of a moment.

But, unfortunately, long travelling had filled the pans with snow, and it required some time to pick the touch-holes clear. In this extremity Peter Grim seized a hatchet and ran towards the bear, while O'Riley charged it with a spear. Grim delivered a tremendous blow at its head with his weapon; but his intention was better than his aim, for he missed the bear and smashed the corner of a hummock of ice. O'Riley was more successful. He thrust the spear into the animal's shoulder; but the shoulder-blade turned the head of the weapon, and caused it to run along at least three feet just under the skin. The wound, although not fatal, was so painful that Bruin uttered a loud roar of disapproval, wheeled round, and ran away!--an act of cowardice so unusual on the part of a Polar bear that the whole party were taken by surprise. Several shots were fired after him, but he soon disappeared among the ice-hummocks, having fairly made off with O'Riley's spear.

The disappointment caused by this was great, but they had little time to think of it, for soon after a stiff breeze of wind sprang up, which freshened into a gale, compelling them to seek the shelter of a cl.u.s.ter of icebergs, in the midst of which they built a snow-hut. Before night a terrific storm was raging, with the thermometer 40 below zero. The sky became black as ink, drift whirled round them in horrid turmoil, and the wild blast came direct from the north, over the frozen sea, shrieking and howling in its strength and fury.

All that night and the next day it continued. Then it ceased, and for the first time that winter a thaw set in, so that ere morning 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 s.h.i.+p 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 pa.s.s the night in it, and spreading their frozen sleeping-bags on the snow, they lay down, silent and supperless, to rest till morning.

CHAPTER XXIII.

_Unexpected arrivals--The rescue party--Lost and found--Return to the s.h.i.+p._

The sixth night after the hunting-party had left the s.h.i.+p, Grim and Fred Ellice suddenly made their appearance on board. It was quite dark, and the few of the s.h.i.+p'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 was 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.”