The Field of Ice

rozen outside in such dry weather. Had it been snowing they would have been safe eno

ful surprise, that they ate it greedily. The Doctor said he was not astonished at this, as in North America the horses we

. Johnson awoke his companions early next morning, and the march was resumed in haste. The

e very low. The sun rose in the form of a long ellipse, owing to refraction

ng game. He had only sufficient powder left to load three times, and he had just three balls. That was little enou

nty food; but all that day, if even he chanced to see one, either he was too far away, or he was deceived by refraction, and to

n could hardly drag themselves along. The dogs had devoured

ce, and the Doctor lost another

, though the road was illumined by a splendid Aurora Bo

g, was a very sad one - if no provide

ilor took it into his head that Heaven had sent this beast specially for him to kill; and without waking his comrades, he seized the Doctor's gun, and was soon in pursuit of his prey. On reaching the right distance, he took aim; but, just as his fi

op. The sudden fall made it go off, and

ood all at a glance. He saw the animal walking quietly off

med, "a cry-baby, that can't stand

be frost-bitten. Look at your hands - they

ut, Mr. Clawbonny," said the

ate fellow. Come, now, I tell you

e poor fellow into the tent, where

a liquid state, though still cold. Johnson's hand

e in; I should have been forced t

out an hour, but he was advised to keep his hands a

th done. Not a crumb of biscuit remained. They were obliged to con

ive up for the day. They had no supper but coffee, and the dog

istance, but he made no remark to his companions. Sleep forso

Yet these brave, stout-hearted men continued their march, sustained by their superhuman e

d them to make a fresh attempt, but his entreaties and supp

hunger." He set to work to hew out a hut in an iceberg, aided by

s accomplished. The little house was ready, a

onless, a sort of hallucination came over

por, and asked the old man what he mea

s following us,"

follow

the last

two days! You

t a mile t

ver told me

was th

ctor; "we have not a singl

even a bi

for a minute, as if th

rtain the animal

e is reckoning on a go

ctor, grieved at the despai

ugh of his meal

ave no

make

ave no

I have

and went outside and laid it on a block of ice. Then he came in aga

t the thermometer. All the mercury had frozen into a compact cylindrical mass. The

. Clawbonny; you oug

nly gifted with a good memory,

that he

y pierced a plank, an inch thick, with a bullet made of mercury. Oil would even have suited my purpo

uite inc

metal may save our lives. We'll leave it exposed to the

ras made his ap

s project, and sho

lently, and the three hunters w

speedily discovered the bear about three hundred yards distant, sitting on his

is!" he

cried th

ists, never stirred, and displayed neither fear nor anger. It

rt, our very existence is at

, for if Away they went, while the old boatswain slipped behind a hummock, which complete