! but we could not expect always to find a bear in such a place as
this; and as for the fish, we brought them with us," said Harry, by way
of argument.

"But I daresay, if we were to hunt about, we should find some racoons;
and if the ice melted we should catch plenty of fish--or we might make a
hole in the ice and fish through it," argued Charley. "By the by, I
have got some hooks and a line in my pocket; I vote we try."

No sooner was the proposal made than executed; two fishing lines were
fitted--with their spears a hole was made in the easily yielding ice--
the bear furnished bait. Scarcely was a line in than a tug was felt,
and a small fish was hauled up. They did not know the name, but as its
appearance was prepossessing, they had no doubt that it was fit for
food. Another and another followed; they were delighted with their
sport, and even Harry felt that he should be sorry to have to go away.
"If we had but some bread and some tea, with a pot to boil it in, we
should do capitally," he observed.

"We may dig dandelion roots for coffee, we can boil water with hot
stones in a wooden jug, which we can make, and there are roots which
will serve us for bread," said Charley. "If we could but get a few
heads of Indian corn, we might thrive just as we are."

"We might live, certainly," said Harry; "but I doubt if we could do
more."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

We must follow Philip in his perilous adventure. He felt more doubtful
as to the strength of the ice than he had expressed; but should it break
beneath him, he relied on his long pole to extricate himself. He looked
back every now and then, and he appeared to be taking a straight course;
he felt the breeze also always on his left cheek. This inspirited him,
though he could not see the shore. The snow was yielding enough, though
rather clogging about his heels; the fog, however, grew thicker than
ever; it was evidently the fog caused by a warm thaw. He had seen many
such in England. He pushed on boldly--faster than he had gone with his
brothers--he was lightly clad and carried no weight. Did he hear sounds
coming from the shore--sleigh-bells--or sheep-bells--men's voices also?
If so, he was probably near the settlement. He was trying to pierce the
mist, when suddenly he felt his feet sinking from under him, and before
he could spring back, he was sent gliding down a slab of ice, and
plunged in the water. For several yards before him there was nothing
bu