THE WORLD OF ICE. 299

bourhood, and were frequently killed near the atluks,
or holes, so that fresh meat was secured in abundance,
and the scurvy received a decided check. Reindeer,
rabbits, and ptarmigan, too, began to frequent the bay,
so that the larder was constantly full, and the mess-
table presented a pleasing variety—-rats being no
longer the solitary dish of fresh meat at every meal.
A few small birds made their appearance from the
southward, and these were hailed as harbingers of
the coming summer.

One day O’Riley sat on the taffrail, basking in the
warm sun, and drinking in health and gladness from
its beams. He had been ill, and was now convales-
cent. Buzzby stood beside him.

“T’ve bin thinkin’,”’ said Buzzby, “that we don’t
half know the blessin’s that are given to us in this
here world till we've had ’em taken away. Look,
now, how we're enjoyin’ the sun an’ the heat, just as
if it wos so much gold!”

“Goold!” echoed O’Riley, in a tone of contempt ;
“faix I niver thought so little o’ goold before, let me
tell ye. Goold can buy many a thing, it can, but it
can’t buy sunshine. Hallo! what's this?”

O'Riley accompanied the question with a sudden
snatch of his hand.

“Look here, Buzzby! Have a care, now! jist
watch the openin’ o’ my fist.”

“Wot is it?” inquired Buzzby, approaching, and
looking earnestly at his comrade’s clinched hand with
some curiosity.