THE WORLD OF ICE. 285

much affected by scurvy. And Mr. Saunders, I think,
may—”
“No,” interrupted the doctor, “Saunders must not
go. He does not look very ill, and I hope is not, but
I don’t like some of his symptoms.”
“Well, doctor, we can do without him. There’s

 

Tom Green and O’Riley. Nothing seems able to bring
down O’Riley. Then there’s—”

“There’s Fred Ellice,” cried Fred himself, joing
the group; “TIl go with you if you'll take me.”

“Most happy to have you, sir. Our healthy hands
are very short, but we can muster sufficient, I think.”

The captain suggested Amos Parr and two or three
more men, and then dismissed his first mate to get
ready for an immediate start.

“T don’t half like your going, Fred,” said his father.
“You've not been well lately, and hunting on the floes,
I know from experience, is hard work.”

“Don’t fear for me, father; I’ve quite recovered
from my recent attack, which was but slight after all,
and I know full well that those who are well must
work as lone as they can stand.”

“Ho, lads! look alive there! are you ready?”
shouted the first mate down the hatchway.

“ Ay, ay, sir,” replied Grim, and in a few minutes
the party were assembled on the ice beside the small
sledge with their shoulder-belts on, for most of the
dogs were either dead or dying of that strange com-
plaint to which allusion has been made in a previous
chapter.