nd more faintly, while the moonlight was dim, and then all dark, for he
had sunk insensible upon the snow.

When he opened his eyes Skene was standing with his fore paws upon his
chest, and nearly a dozen men in heavy furs stood about him, while one
white-haired, burly-looking personage, who was supporting him, said:

"Come, my lad, better? Where are your friends? in the ship?"

"Uncle!" was all that Steve could pant out, for he recognised the voice
that he had not heard for a couple of years.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

THE WAY OUT.

Captain Young it was with his crew! For the rescue party which had gone
out in search of the _Ice Blink_, and met with the fate of so many who
penetrate the solitudes of the north, had been found and rescued by
those they sought to save.

Their coming, as they advanced toward the frozen-in _Hvalross_ cheering
loudly, acted like an electric shock, and before they reached the deck
with Steve, men who had been lying in hopeless misery shut up in their
bunks came crawling out to meet the help which they knew must have
arrived.

An hour later Steve could hardly believe in the change, for the silence
in the ship had given place to an eager buzzing of conversation; the
fires were burning and sending forth their warm glow; and though in the
cabin the captain still lay insensible, the doctor had been galvanised
into life, and was talking eagerly to Captain Young.

"So, Steve," cried the latter, "you are in command now, eh?"

"Oh, nonsense, uncle! That is only what Mr Handscombe said," replied
the lad.

"Well, you must have been captain and crew, too," said his uncle, who
was making a tremendous meal. "But you're a poor officer, my lad, to
let your men get into such a low, exhausted state."

"You don't know, uncle, how every one has tried," said Steve
reproachfully.

"Tried?" said Captain Young. "Why, when we came on board an hour ago
your men pretended that they were all dying. Now they are feasting
along with my lads as if nothing whatever had been the matter."

"You don't know how reduced and helpless we had all grown, sir," said
the doctor, coming to Steve's help; "and you do not think of the effect
upon them of your coming with help when they had all literally lain down
to die."

"I know, I know, my dear sir!" said the bluff, red-faced, grey-headed
man. "I've gone through it all. Last winter I saw my poor fellows go
down one by one, till I was the only man about who trie