'd them
splash into the water."

"That's right," said Stanley; "we shall have something fresh for the
kettle to-night. And, by the way, we'll need all we can kill, for we
haven't much provision to depend on, and part of it must be reserved in
case of accidents, so that if Frank does not do his duty, we shall have
to live on birch bark, Massan."

"That would be rayther tough. I'm afeerd," replied the steersman,
laughing. "I've tried the tail o' a deer-skin coat afore now, an' it
wasn't much to boast of; but I niver tried a birch-bark steak. I doubt
it would need a power o' chewin?"

By this time the two large canoes had drawn gradually nearer to the
leading one. As they approached, Frank ordered his men to cease
paddling.

"Well, Frank, what success?" said Stanley, as they came up.

"There's our supper," cried Frank, tossing a large duck into the canoe;
"and there's a bite for the men," he added, sending a huge gray goose
into the midst of them. "I saw a herd of reindeer on the other side of
the point; but the ice closed up the passage, and prevented me from
getting within range. It will stop our further progress for to-night
too; so I waited to advise you to camp here."

"There it comes!" cried Dick Prince. "Jump out on the ice, lads, and
unload as fast as you can."

As Dick spoke he sprang on to a field of ice which was attached to the
shore, and drawing the canoe alongside, began hastily to remove the
cargo. His example was instantly followed by the men, who sprang over
the gunwales like cats; and in less than five minutes the cargoes were
scattered over the ice. Meanwhile, the breeze which Massan had observed
continued to freshen, and the seaward ice bore rapidly down on the
shore, gradually narrowing and filling up the lanes of water among which
the travellers had been hitherto wending their way. Dick Prince's
sudden action was caused by his observing a large, solid field, which
bore down on them with considerable rapidity. His warning was just in
time, for the goods were scarcely landed and the three canoes lifted out
of the water, when the ice closed in with a crash that would have ground
the frail barks to pieces, and the passage was closed up. So completely
was every trace of water obliterated, that it seemed as though there
never had been any there before.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SHOWS HOW THE PARTY MADE THEMSELVES AT HOME IN THE BUSH--TALK ROUND THE
CAMP FIRE--A FLASH OF TEMPER--TURNING I