youth who had been sent for the Captain's sextant and
other philosophical instruments arrived with them all--thermometers,
barometers, chronometers, wind and water gauges, pendulums, etcetera,
safe and sound.

As the instruments reached _Cup Valley_, (so Benjy had styled Makitok's
home), in the morning, it was too early for taking trustworthy
observations. The Captain therefore employed the time in erecting an
observatory. For this purpose he selected, with Makitok's permission,
the truncated cone close to the recluse's dwelling. Here, after taking
formal possession and hoisting the Union Jack, he busied himself, in a
state of subdued excitement, preparing for the intended observations.

"I'll fix the latitude and longitude in a few hours," he said.
"Meantime, Leo, you and Benjy had better go off with the rifle and fetch
us something good for dinner."

Leo and Benjy were always ready to go a-hunting. They required no
second bidding, but were soon rambling over the slopes or wading among
the marshes of the island in pursuit of game.

Leo carried his repeater; Benjy the shot-gun. Both wore native Eskimo
boots as long as the leg, which, being made of untanned hide, are, when
soaked, thoroughly waterproof. (See Note.)

Oolichuk and Butterface carried the game-bags, and these were soon
filled with such game as was thought best for food. Sending them back
to camp with orders to empty the bags and return, Leo and Benjy took to
the uplands in search of nobler game. It was not difficult to find.
Soon a splendid stag was shot by Leo and a musk-ox by Benjy.

Not long after this, the bag-bearers returned.

"You shoots mos' awful well, Massas," said Butterface; "but it's my
'pinion dat you bof better go home, for Captain Vane he go mad!"

"What d'you mean, Butterface?" asked Leo.

"I mean dat de Capp'n he's hoed mad, or suffin like it, an' Massa Alf
not mush better."

A good deal amused and surprised by the negro's statement, the two
hunters hastened back to Makitok's hut, where they indeed found Captain
Vane in a state of great excitement.

"Well, uncle, what's the news?" asked Leo; "found your latitude higher
than you expected?"

"Higher!" exclaimed the Captain, seizing his nephew by both hands and
shaking them. "Higher! I should think so--couldn't be _higher_.
There's neither latitude nor longitude here, my boy! I've found it!
Come--come up, and I'll show you the exact spot--the _North Pole
itself_!"