AN HEROIC ADVENTURE. 249 



heard to the eastward, and he lowered his light 

 and pulled away in the direction whence the 

 call appeared to come. After rowing for a 

 short time the lantern was waved above again, 

 and this time an answering shout came from 

 close at hand. 



The two poor fellows were some distance in 

 the pack, and had got on the largest cake they 

 could find. They were sitting there helpless, 

 holding on each by one hand to the rough sur- 

 face of the ice, and with the other to their canoe 

 to keep it from being washed off. 



By the aid of the lantern held aloft, Comeau 

 saw there was a much larger cake of ice some 

 distance further in the pack. To this they 

 made their way with laborious trouble. Push- 

 ing one canoe as far ahead among the ice as pos- 

 sible, they would all three get into this, shove 

 the other in advance in the same way, and so 

 repeating the process till they reached the solid 

 field. Once safely on this, for the meantime, 

 secure place, food was partaken of and daylight 

 waited for. 



Soon, however, the intense cold began to 

 make itself felt, and drowsiness was fast taking 

 hold of the two men, and their great wish was 

 to be left alone and allowed to sleep. This 

 Comeau knew if indulged meant death, and it 

 took all his efforts to keep them awake and mov- 



