Part 18 (2/2)

Bobby and Jian also to cut other slabs from a drift outside the circle, and passed them to Skipper Ed when he had exhausted his supply within the circle They were very heavy, these blocks, and as e

When Skipper Ed had built a row of blocks completely around the circle, he trie, that he ht build his circle of blocks up in a spiral

Each block of snoas so placed that it was braced against the one next it, and its top leaned a little inward, so that as the walls of the _igloo_ rose each was s it, until at last a key block in the top corew Bobby plastered the joints between the blocks full of snow,its outside smooth like the surface of a snowdrift

When Skipper Ed had finished the building, he cut a circular place through the side, close down to the bottoh to permit him to crawl out Noith a snowshoe he shoveled the loose snow out of the opening, and leveled the floor within

Bobby and Ji the loads upon the sledges and unharnessing the dogs When this was done Bobby with an ax chopped frozen seal s' supper, while Jis at a distance, for with the unharnessing, and preparation of their supper, they collected into bunches, and sitting on their haunches, growled and snapped at one another, each fearful that his neighbor should gain an advantage, and all the ti whines of impatience

Presently Bobby stepped aside, Jimry beasts were upon their food, gulping it down as fast as they could pick it up, a snarling, snapping, yelping ht or two that the boys were called upon tothe ani was over Skipper Ed had carried the harness into the _igloo_ and spread it evenly on the floor--for the dogs would have eaten their own harness if it had been left to them--and over the harness he laid caribou skins, and then carried in the sleeping bags and provisions Nothing, indeed, was left outside, for nothing would have been safe fros were fed and all wasand safe the three craithin, and closed the entrance to the _igloo_ with a big block of snow previously provided for the purpose

They had brought with them two of Abel's old stone lamps These were simply blocks of stone cut in the shape of a half moon, and hollowed out, to hold seal oil

The lamps were now placed upon snow shelves, one on either side of the _igloo_, and the oil fros carefully placed along the straight side of the lahted and burned with a s well a snow knife was stuck into the wall of the snow house over each lamp, and upon these knives kettles were suspended and filled with snow taken froloo_ One of the kettles was re water The other was permitted to boil, tea was made, and then the fire was put out, for already the teloo_ had becoer of the snow drippinga candle, for it was growing dark, ”we're ready for supper You chaps ry”

”I could eat my boots!” declared Bobby

”So could I!” exclaimed Jimmy, as he poured hot tea into Skipper Ed's and Bobby's cups and then helped hih e decided to stop here”

”Isn't it fine and cozy,” said Bobby, between mouthfuls of frozen boiled pork and hardtack ”I always find a snow _igloo_ cozy”

”It ood shelter,” Skipper Ed adloo_ I'm too ood wood fire, with its sweet smoke odor, and the companionshi+p and shelter of the forest”

”Oh, I think an _igloo_ is nicer,” insisted Bobby ”A tent gets cold at night when the fire goes out, and an _igloo_ keeps fine and warular husky!” laughed Skipper Ed ”Partner and I are Indians, aren't we, Partner?”

”Yes, Partner, I like a tent better,” agreed Jimmy, ”but,” he added, ”I like our house better than a tent”

”It all depends upon e're used to, after all,” remarked Skipper Ed, ”and comfort is a matter of comparison I've no doubt that Bobby, had he never been sent adrift, and had he never found his way here, would now be living in a fine ht here directly froloo_ unbearable, and instead of praising its co it as unendurable, and the good supper we have just eaten as unfit to eat And in that case it would have been a terrible hardshi+p for hilad, then, that I came away from the mansion and its finery,”

declared Bobby ”But I've often wondered who the dead man was that Father found in the boat with e about that, and every surave”

”I remember you spoke of him as 'Uncle Robert,'” said Skipper Ed

”Perhaps he was your uncle”

”I wonder--and I wonder--” said Bobby ”I wonder if , and whether they have stopped feeling bad about iveto see them and tell them I'm happy”