The Field of Ice

reaching the top, which he found terminated abruptly in a sort of truncated cone. From this elevation there was an extensive view over a vast tract of country, which was all dis

red and ripe for execution. He lost no time in going back t

ink of constructing a lighthouse on

se!" they a

be a beacon to guide us in distant excursions, and also ser

tamont, "of its utility; but ho

e lanterns out

will you feed your l

ly sufficient light. It would sca

try to make gas ou

not be strong enough; and, worse sti

amont; "I'm at a lo

ullet, and the ice lens, and Fort Providence. I beli

s what your light is to

ied Clawbonny. "I mean t

ectric

you a galvanic batter

es

in producing an electric light, and that

Johnson; "let us se

l. In an hour we can raise a pillar of ic

lantern. The conducting wires were properly adjusted within it, and the pile with which they communicated

omplete success. An intense brilliant light streamed from the l

apping his hands, half be

lawbonny," he exclaimed

everything, you know," wa

a minute, and the whole party were glad enough to get ind

nture outside the hut at all, and it was not till the Saturday after the installation, that a day came that was favourable enough for a hu

rmed with a double- barrelled gun and plenty o

e bright rays of the electric light did duty for the glorious orb of day, and in truth was no b

A few snow birds, however, darting to and fro announced the approach of spring and the return of the animal creation. The sea was still entirely frozen over, but it was evident from the open breathing holes in the ice, that the seals had been quite recently on the surface. In one part the holes were so numerous, that the Doctor said to his companions that he had no doubt that when summ

or skin that they

hem as a piece of the flesh, dipped in the blood and oil. After all, cooking has a good deal to do with it, and I'l

said Bell, "and I'll eat as m

your voracity would never equal the Green-landers', for

!" said Bell. "

endure starvation quite as well as abundance. When an Esquimaux sits down to dinner he is quite thin, and by the time he has finis

iar to the inhabitants of co

t only one of the conditions of strength, but of existence. The Hudson's Bay Company always reck

egimen, certain

zzles like that can't do a whit better day's work than a

as they are, then

two mind - devoured a quarter of a buffalo in one morning. They cut the meat in long narrow strips, and the mode of eating was either for the one to bite off as much as his mouth could

ed Bell, "what d

hion of dining," remarked

" said th

se latitudes, it quite accounts for all the journals of

ot only from the necessity of full diet, but from the extreme difficulty sometimes in procuring it.

t seem to need such substantial fare. Milk diet is their staple food, with eggs, and bread made of the bar

s were transplanted to Greenland, they would learn to eat like the Esquimaux by the second or third generation. Even if we ourselv

e me feel hungry with talking so m

al. But, stop, I do believe we are going to have the chance of a dinner off one, for

ed the Doctor. "Be quiet,

nters separated, going in different directions, so as to surround the animal and cut off all retreat. They crept along c

fell upon him with his hatchet, and cut off his dorsal fins. He made a desperate resistance,

a good deal for the oil; but the hunters contented themselves with cutting off the most sa

t Providence. The moon had not yet risen, but the sky was serene a

ccessful; but still, if a man has found something for his supper, he need not grumble. Let us go

king, they found themselves no nearer Doctor's House, and it was evident that they must have lost their way. The question was raised whet

rong. His instinct can dispense with star an

t light appeared in the horizon almost like a star glim

ghthouse!" excl

t is, Mr. Clawb

earer they approached, and soon they were walking in a bright lumino

rward, and in another half hour they wer