The Field of Ice

n human power now, and, after having struggled for nine months against currents and tempests, shattering icebergs and breaking through almost insurmountable barrie

g spirits among them had left him and his little band of men in a terrible situation - helpless in an icy d

e three men which were left him were the best on board h

e was to look their prospects fairly in the face, and know the exact state of things. Ac

l smouldering, and here and there in the distance spiral wreaths of smoke, met his eye on all sides. His cabin and all his precious treasures were gone, his books, and instru

ome of us?" as

" was the old

nny, "do not let us d

ime to show our mettle. We are in a bad plight,

grown so attached to her. I loved her as one

old those planks and beams

- is that burnt?"

Shandon and his gang

he pir

op. Do you see those bits of sheet-i

nothing but th

l, thanks to your idea

much," sai

exclaimed Johnson. "Heaven

they have been tried. Only the best remain good in the evil day; few ca

re silent, and then Johnson aske

ut a mile off,"

rge of

n is dead,

son d

gave way entirely,

who knows if he isn't

have left behind, we have

ying

ptain Al

he informed Johnson

d Johnson, as the

But I wonder what the Porpoise was,

e rest of foolhardy adventurers; b

shook his

d not even get as far as the place

fuel whatever?" s

N

o prov

N

make our way b

hese gloomy realities, but, after a

he first thing to be done now is to make a hut, fo

e Doctor. "Then we must go and find the sledge, and bring

always forgetting his own tr

into space, but his face had recovered its calm, self-possessed expression. His faithful dog stood beside hi

on had to take vigorous measures to rouse him, but at last,

eed a place to put our heads in. Come and help me, Bell. You haven't forgotten how to make a snow hut, have you? There is an

p his comrade, while Mr. Clawbonny underto

th him, captain

ke the task. Before the day ends I must come to some resolution, and I need to be al

ack to the Doc

ms quite to have got over his anger. I

lawbonny. "Believe me, Johns

d as possible, the Doctor seized his iron-tip

of ice; but it was not easy work, owing to the extreme hardness of the material. However, this very hardness

d stood motionless, evidently shrinking fr

lds of the tent. The poor dogs were so exhausted from starvation that they could scarcely draw it along, a

time the hut was completed, had filled it with wood and got it lighted. Before long it was roaring, and diffusing a genial warmth on all sides. The American was brought in and laid on blankets, and the four Engli

octor rose and went out, maki

off, and our treasures are scattered in all directions; so we had better begin, and pick them up as fast a

n," replied Johnson. "Fire and f

ll take the other, and we'll search

50 lbs. of pemmican, three sacks of biscuits, a small stock of chocolate, five or

, nor clothing - all had been

y last three weeks, and they had wood enough

ill, and before long returned bringing the few but precious treasures found among the débris of the brig. These were safely deposite