THE WORLD OF ICE. 278

Buzzby obeyed, and Amos, being heavy and past
the agile time of life, leaped upon, instead of over, his
back, and there stuck.

“Not so high, lads,” cried Captain Guy. “Come,
Mr. Saunders, give us a back.”

“ Faix he'd better go on his hands an’ knees.”

“ That’s it! over you go! hurrah, lads!”

In five minutes nearly the whole crew were pant-
ing from their violent exertions, and those who did
not or could not join panted as much from laughter.
The desired result, however, was speedily gained.
They were all soon in a glow of heat, and bade de-
fiance to the frost,

An hour’s sharp climb brought the party almost to
the brow of the hill, from which they hoped to see
the sun rise for the first time for nearly five months.
Just as they were about to pass over a ridge in the
cliffs, Captain Guy, who had pushed on in advance
with Tom Singleton, was observed to pause abruptly
and make signals for the men to advance with caution.
He evidently saw something unusual, for he crouched
behind a rock and peeped over it. Hastening up as
silently as possible, they discovered that a group of
Polar bears were amusing themselves on the other
side of the cliffs, within long gunshot. Unfortunately
not one of the party had brought fire-arms. Intent
only on catching a sight of the sun, they had hurried
off unmindful of the possibility of their catching
sight of anything else. They had not even a spear;
and the few oak cudgels that some carried, however

18