THE WORLD OF ICE. 259

skeleton, for the men sympathized with their young
comrade, and worked with all their energies.

“Cheer up, Fred,” said Bolton, coming and laying
his hand on the youth’s shoulder; “it’s not your
father. There is a bit of black hair sticking to the
scalp.”

With a fervent expression of thankfulness Fred
rose and examined the skeleton, which had been
placed in a sort of sack of skin, but was destitute of
clothing. It was quite dry, and must have been there
a long time. Nothing else was found, but from the
appearance of the skull and the presence of the plate
and spoon, there could be no doubt that it was that
of one of the Pole Star’s crew.

It was now resolved that they should proceed
along the coast and examine every creek and bay for
traces of the lost vessel.

“O Bolton! my heart misgives me,” said Fred,
as they drove along; “I fear that they have all
perished.”

“Niver a bit, sir,” said O'Riley, in a sympathizing
tone; “yon chap must have died and been buried
here be the crew as they wint past.”

“You forget that sailors don’t bury men under
mounds of stone, with pewter plates and spoons be-
side them.”

O’Riley was silenced, for the remark was un-
answerable.

“He may ha’ bin left or lost on the shore, and
been found by the Esquimaux,” suggested Peter Grim.