ship were lowered. Provisions,
masts, sails, and oars, etcetera, were thrown in. The few remaining
dogs, among whom were Dumps and Poker, were also embarked, and the crew,
hastily leaping in, pushed off. They were not a moment too soon. The
fire had reached the place where the gunpowder was kept and, although
there was not a great quantity of it, there was enough, when it
exploded, to burst open the deck. The wind, having free ingress, fanned
the fire into a furious blaze, and in a few moments the _Dolphin_ was
wrapped in flames from stem to stern. It was a little after sunset when
the fire was discovered; in two hours later the good ship was burned to
the water's edge; then the waves swept in, and, while they extinguished
the fire, they sank the blackened hull, leaving the two crowded boats
floating in darkness on the bosom of the ice-laden sea.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

ESCAPE TO UPPERNAVIK--LETTER FROM HOME--MEETUCK'S GRANDMOTHER--DUMPS AND
POKER AGAIN.

For three long weeks the shipwrecked mariners were buffeted by winds and
waves in open boats, but at last they were guided in safety through all
their dangers and vicissitudes to the colony of Uppernavik. Here they
found several vessels on the point of setting out for Europe, one of
which was bound for England; and in this vessel the crew of the
_Dolphin_ resolved to ship.

Nothing of particular interest occurred at this solitary settlement
except _one_ thing, but that one thing was a great event, and deserves
very special notice. It was nothing less than the receipt of a letter
by Fred from his cousin Isobel! Fred and Isobel, having been brought up
for several years together, felt towards each other like brother and
sister.

Fred received the letter from the pastor of the settlement shortly after
landing, while his father and the captain were on board the English brig
making arrangements for their passage home. He could scarcely believe
his eyes when he beheld the well-known hand, but, having at last come to
realise the fact that he actually held a real letter in his hand, he
darted behind one of the curious, primitive cottages to read it. Here
he was met by a squad of inquisitive natives; so, with a gesture of
impatience, he rushed to another spot; but he was observed and followed
by half a dozen Esquimaux boys, and in despair he sought refuge in the
small church near which he chanced to be. He had not been there a
second, however, when two old