120 THE WORLD OF ICE.

particularly by the dogs, which grew so fat that they
began to acquire a very disreputable waddle in their
gait as they walked the deck for exercise, which they
seldom did, by the way, being passionately fond of
sleep! But birds, and perchance beasts, might be ex-
pected to take themselves off when the winter arrived,
and leave the crew without fresh food.

Then, although the Dolphin was supplied with
every necessary for a whaling-expedition, and with
many luxuries besides, she was ill provided with the
supplies that men deem absolutely indispensable for a
winter in the Arctic Regions, where the cold is so
bitterly intense that, after a prolonged sojourn, men’s
minds become almost entirely engrossed by two
clamant demands of nature—food and heat. They
had only a small quantity of coal on board, and
nothing except a few extra spars that could be used
as a substitute, while the bleak shores afforded neither
shrub nor tree of any kind. Meanwhile, they had a
sufficiency of everything they required for at least
two or three months to come, and for the rest, as
Grim said, they had “stout hearts and strong arms.”

As soon as it became apparent that they were to
winter in the bay, which the captain named the Bay
of Mercy, all further attempt to extricate the ship
was abandoned, and every preparation for spending
the winter was begun and carried out vigorously. It
was now that Captain Guy’s qualities as a leader be-
gan to be displayed. He knew, from long experience
and observation, that in order to keep up the morale