THE WORLD OF ICE. 220)

himself by saying, “ Well, mayhap ye’re right. I’m
sorry it’s to come to an end so soon; but there is no
doubt that fresh meat is ondispensable. An’ that
reminds me, messmate, that I’ve not cleaned my
musket for two days, an’ it wouldn’t do to go on a
hunt with a foul piece, nohow. We start at ten
o'clock, A.m., don’t we ?”

Grim admitted that they did—-remarking that it
might just as well be ten p.m. for all the difference the
sum would make in it—and went below with Buzzby.
In the cabin active preparations were making for an

 

extended hunting-expedition, which the empty state
of the larder rendered absolutely necessary. For a
week past the only fresh provisions they had pro-
cured were a white fox and a rabbit, notwithstanding
the exertions of Meetuck, Fred, and the doctor, who
with three separate parties had scoured the country
for miles round the ship. Scurvy was now beginning
to appear among them, and Captain Guy felt that
although they had enough of salt provisions to last
them the greater part of the winter, if used with
economy, they could not possibly subsist on these
alone. An extended expedition in search of seals and
walruses was therefore projected.

It was determined that this should consist of two
parties, the one to proceed north, the other to travel
south in the tracks of the Esquimaux, who had left
their temporary village in search of walruses, they
also being reduced almost to a state of starvation.

The plan of the expedition was as follows :—