178 THE WORLD OF IOK.

and dog. How say you, Meetuck—shall we take to it
again when we get through this place ?”

“Faix, then, we'll niver git through,” said O'Riley,
pointing to the end of the chasm, where a third ice-
berg had entirely closed the opening.

The Esquimau pulled up, and after advancing on
foot a short way to examine, returned with a rueful
expression on his countenance.

“Ha! no passage, I suppose ?” said Fred.

“Bad luck to ye!” eried O'Riley, “ won’t ye spaak?”

“No rod—muss go bock,” replied Meetuck, turn-
ing the dogs in the direction whence they had come,
and resuming his place on the sledge.

The party had to retrace their steps half-a-mile in
consequence of this unfortunate interruption, and re-
turn to the level track of the ice-belt, which they had
left for a time and taken to the sea-ice, in order to
avoid the sinuosities of the land. To add to their
misfortunes, the dogs began to flag, so that they were
obliged to walk behind the sledge at a slow pace, and
snow began to fall heavily. But they pressed for-
ward manfully, and having regained the shore-ice,
continued to make their way northward towards the
ship, which was now spoken of by the endearing
name of home.