212 THE WORLD OF ICE.

«Tis cold,” began Grim.

“ Stop, you're wrong.”

“Oh! so I am,” cried Grim, slapping his thigh,
“Tl begin again.”

It may be remarked here, that although Blunder-
bore was supposed to be an Esquimau monarch, he
was compelled to speak English, being unfortunately
ignorant—if we may so speak—of his native tongue !.

“Oh! “tis a dismal thing,” began Grim again, “ to
dwell in solitude and cold! “Tis very cold [Grim
shuddered here tremendously], and—and—(what’s
next ?)”

“ Hunger,” said Fred.

“Hunger gnaws my vitals. My name is Blunder-
bore. “Iwere better had I been born a Blunderbuss,
‘cause then P’d have gone off and dwelt in climes more
shootable to my tender constitoosion. Ha! is that a
bear I sees before me ?”

“Tt’s not sees,” interrupted Fred.

At this moment a tremendous roar was heard, and
O'Riley bounded from behind a top-sail, which repve-
sented an iceberg, dressed from head to foot in the
skin of a white bear which had been killed a few
days before.

“Stop, O'Riley,” cried Fred ; “ you're too soon, man.
J have to come on first as an Esquimau woman, and
when Grim says to the woman he wishes he could
see a bear, then you are to come.”

“Och! whirra, but me brains is confuged intirely
wid it all,” said O'Riley, rising on his hind legs, and