ced, and there they
left him, out on that wild frozen ocean, where many of England's bravest
sons rest from their toils. Happy are those who have died as he died,
trusting in the Lord. The men were too much engrossed with their own
sufferings to mourn his loss, but few failed, when the next morning they
started on their journey, to cast a glance at the tomb. "Poor old man,
he is better off than we are," was the expression uttered by most of
them.
The fatigue of dragging the sledges over the rough ice was now so great,
that some of the men purposed leaving their tents and the remainder of
their fuel behind, and the officers had much difficulty in making them
see the folly of such a proceeding. As they advanced, not only large
hummocks, but vast icebergs became numerous, among which they were
frequently enveloped, and many a circuit had to be made to avoid them.
The day after the captain's death it began to snow heavily. The sledges
were as usual ahead, still Andrew and his party managed to proceed with
the boat. The snow-storm increasing in density, they at length lost
sight of their companions. For some time they followed up their tracks,
but these were gradually obliterated by the falling snow. Still they
went on, till they found themselves at the base of an iceberg, but not a
trace was visible to show whether the party ahead had made their way
round by the north or south end. As any delay would have increased the
difficulty of overtaking them, they pushed on, taking a southerly
direction.
Having doubled the berg, they saw a clear space before them, but though
the snow had ceased, the sledge parties were nowhere visible.
The captain's rifle had been saved. Andrew fired it in the hopes that
the signal might be heard, but no reply came to their listening ears.
Once more they went on, but their progress was slow and tedious.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
PROCEEDING ON AGAINST MANY DIFFICULTIES.--ARCHY AND HIS COMPANIONS AT
LAST DISCOVER LAND AHEAD, AND CAMP IN A SNOW-HUT.--AT DAYBREAK, SEEING
NO TRACES OF THE MUTINEERS, THEY PUSH ON, AND ARRIVE AT THE EDGE OF THE
FLOE. CROSS A CHANNEL AND GETTING ON AN OPPOSITE FLOE, BUILD A
SNOW-HUT; BUT THE WATER RISING, LEAVE IT, AND BUILD ANOTHER, WHICH ALSO
IS WASHED AWAY. BUILD A THIRD, AND ARE AWOKE BY A BEAR.--TWO MEN FROST
BITTEN ARE LEFT BEHIND.
As the sun was about to set, a shout escaped Archy's lips. "Land,
land!" he cried out. All gazed eagerly in the direc
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