CHAPTER VIII.

fired and the doctor goon an excursion in which, among other strange
things, they meet with ved snow and a white bear, and Fred makes his
Jirst essay as a sportsman.

UT where were Fred Ellice and Tom Singleton
all this time? the reader will probably ask.

Long before the game at football was suggested
they had obtained leave of absence from the captain,
and, loaded with game-bag, a botanical box and geo-
logical hammer, and a musket, were off along the coast
on a semi-scientific cruise. Young Singleton carried
the botanical box and hammer, being an enthusiastic
geologist and botanist, while Fred carricd the gaime-
bag and musket.

“You see, Tom,” he said as they stumbled along
over the loose ice towards the icc-belt that lined the
cliffs—* you see, ’'m a great dab at ornithology, espe-
cially when I’ve got a gun on my shoulder. When
I haven't a gun, strange to say, I don’t fecl half so
enthusiastic about birds!”

“That's a very peculiar style of regarding the
science. Don’t you think it would be worth while
communicating your views on the subject to one of