d
out at the top of our voices, as if sounds so faint could reach her.
But all we could do was vain. On she passed in her course, as if we
were not in existence.

"Fire our guns," said Andrew; "they might possibly be heard." But in
their hurry our companions had left the guns at the hut.

All hope of making ourselves seen or heard was now abandoned; the ship
flew by, and soon her hull sank below the horizon. Some of the men, on
this, gave way to impious exclamations of discontent, but Andrew checked
them. "It is God's will that we remain here, mates," he said. "How do
we know but that it is for our benefit that we are left where we are?
That ship, which we are now so anxious to be on board, may before the
night be crushed beneath an iceberg, or perhaps dashed to pieces on the
rocks in sight of home, while we may yet be destined to see again our
country and our families. Believe me, mates, all is for the best; and
though we don't see the way we are to escape, it may now be ready for
us."

The tone of religious confidence in which Andrew spoke, contributed much
to revive the spirits of our companions. The gale was also rapidly
decreasing, and hopes were therefore expressed that, should the last
ship appear, the boat might be able to reach her, even though she might
be too far off to see our signal. However, day drew on, and no ship
appeared. The returning darkness warned us that we must get back to our
hut without delay, or not only might we not be able to find it, but it
might be visited by our friends the bears, and our remaining provisions
might be destroyed. We accordingly hurried back, and were only just in
time to prevent the latter catastrophe; for, as we got to the hut, we
observed three large objects moving over the snow towards the land.
They were no doubt bears, who, when they saw us running up, had been
frightened away from the food, to which their keen scent had attracted
them. I rushed into the hut for a gun, intending to make chase after
them; but Andrew told me to desist, as I should not have the slightest
chance of killing one, and that they might possibly turn upon me and
destroy me.

The third night we spent in our hut was much colder than the former
ones, though there was less wind. One of us by turns kept watch, as
before. I was asleep, and it was Terence's watch, when I was awakened
by a loud noise like thunder, and a shout from him which made all the
party start on their feet. The