THE WORLD OF ICE. 328

again. The wondering listeners were told how Esqui-
maux were chased and captured; how walruses were
lanced and harpooned; how bears were speared and
shot; how long and weary journeys were undertaken
on foot over immeasurable fields of ice and snow ;
how icebergs had crashed around their ship, and
chains had been snapped asunder, and tough anchors
had been torn from the ground or lost; how schools
had been set agoing and a theatre got up; and how,
and eaten,

 

provisions having failed, rats were eaten
too, with gusto. All this and a great deal more was
told on that celebrated night—sometimes by one,
sometimes by another, and sometimes, to the con-
fusion of the audience, by two or three at once, and,
not unfrequently, to the still greater confusion of
story-tellers and audience alike, the whole proceed-
ings were interrupted by the outrageous yells and tur-
moil of the two indomitable young Buzzbys, as they
romped in reckless joviality with Dumps and Poker,
But at length the morning light broke up the party,
and stories of the World of Ice came to an end.
ae %

And now, reader, our tale is told. But we cannot
close without a parting word in regard to those with
whom we have held intercourse so long.

It must not be supposed that from this date every-
thing in the affairs of our various friends flowed on
in a tranquil, uninterrupted course. This world is a
battle-field, on which no warrior finds rest until he
dies; and yet, to the Christian warrior on that field,