heard his story of Bobby's disappearance they had no blame for him and
no complaint, but said again that God had sent them Bobby, and God had
called him back again, and God knew best, for He was good. And then
Jimmy left them and hurried eagerly on to the cabin home that so
recently had seemed lost to him forever. How good it looked that cold
winter evening, and when he quietly pushed the door open and silently
entered, and surprised Skipper Ed with his coming, and when Skipper Ed
clasped him in his arms and thanked God over and over again for sparing
his partner, Jimmy sank down in his chair and cried.

CHAPTER XXVI

CAST AWAY ON THE ICE

It was one of Bobby's characteristics never to acknowledge himself
defeated in anything he undertook to do, so long as there seemed a
possibility of accomplishing the thing in hand. He had set out to find a
suitable drift and to build a snow house. He was confident such a drift
was to be found not far from the _komatik_ where he had left Jimmy, for
in passing to Itigailit Island and back with loads of seals earlier in
the day he had observed some good hard drifts which he believed to be in
this locality, though he was aware that in the blinding snow he may have
stopped the dogs a little on one side or the other of them. So he felt
assured that he and Jimmy had overlooked them in their previous search,
and this time he was determined to find them.

This it was, then--this dislike to feel himself beaten--rather than dire
necessity, that had sent him on the final search. And, too, the man who
lives constantly in the wilderness never endures unnecessary hardships.
He makes himself as comfortable as the conditions under which he lives
will permit, and provides himself as many conveniences and comforts as
possible under the circumstances in which he finds himself, without
burdening himself with needless luxuries.

Bobby had hinted to Jimmy that they might protect themselves under the
snow, after the manner of the dogs. He had done this once during the
winter, when he and Abel Zachariah were hunting together and were
suddenly overtaken by a storm. But at best this was an uncomfortable
method of passing a night, and a last resort, and Bobby was therefore
quite willing to endure preliminary discomfort in order to secure an
_igloo_.

Engrossed in his search he wandered much farther afield than he had
intended, and much farther than he knew, which was a reckless thing to
do. And