FRIENDS IN NEED. 641 



inspection of her hull was had. It was found that her 

 whole stern was cut from the six-foot mark down as far as 

 they could see. Thus it was evident that she was incapa- 

 ble of being repaired, at least with such facilities as were 

 at their command. 



Now it became needful to construct shelter, and timber 

 from the ship had to be brought into requisition, the 

 bulkheads, sails, spars, etc., serving quite handily the de- 

 sired purpose. This tearing away timbers of course made 

 still more vague the prospect of escape from their island 

 " home," but there was no alternative, and the men suc- 

 ceeded in constructing quite a comfortable house ; the walls 

 were of plank, jointed and made as far as possible impervious 

 to the piercing blasts of the Arctic winter ; the roof con- 

 sisted of two sails laid on top of a covering of heavy planks. 

 This " house " was twenty-two feet long, by fourteen wide, 

 and occupied about two days in its construction. A fire- 

 place was made in one end with a stove-pipe for a chimney. 

 A galley and store-room were also provided. The accom- 

 modations for sleeping consisted of berths arranged around 

 the walls. And in this primitive sort of abode Capt. Bud- 

 dington and his men passed the winter months. During 

 the winter darkness, it was necessary to keep oil-lamps con- 

 tinually burning, the oil being that of the walrus and seal. 

 But they had not been in winter quarters many days ere they 

 realized that shelter was not the sole desideratum to com- 

 fort in Arctic latitudes, and fortunately, just when most 

 needed, a party of Esquimaux came upon them unawares. 

 These, being kindly disposed, proved of great advantage to 

 the forlorn party. It had been deemed advisable to 

 build their house at some distance from the edge of the 

 shore, and our shipwrecked friends had been unable to 

 transport thither any considerable portion of the stores 

 from the Polaris, and now their Esquimaux visitors, ac- 

 cepting a few paltry " presents " as compensation, per- 

 formed this important service for them. 



