782 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



out, and the planks and boards removed. In a few days, a hut was constructed of 

 these planks, and roofed over with sails. Fortunately also, the party of Esquimaux 

 made their appearance ; and for a few bits of iron, and other things which to us seem 

 paltry, but which to them are more valuable than gold or silver, they engaged to help 

 in conveying the provisions, coal and stores from the vessel to the hut. Moreover, 

 they had been unusually successful in their hunting, and had an abundance of skins, 

 of which they were glad to dispose. These furnished materials from which warm, 

 though far from inodorous clothing might be fashioned. 



The long winter, during which their nineteen comrades were performing their mar- 

 velous drift on the ice, was passed with little actual discomfort. The snow, indeed, 

 fell furiously, but it served to bank up their hut, and exclude the cold. The Polaris 

 was a wood-pile ready at hand, sufficient to furnish fuel for a time. Water could be 

 had by melting the ice, of which the supply was unlimited. For a while, at least, 

 they had provisions. 



But all these supplies would in time be consumed ; after which, death would stare 

 them in the face. The great point came up, how they were to get away ; for it must 

 be borne in mind, they had no good reason to suppose that for another year at least, 

 any report of the probable loss of the Polaris, would reach the United States, and 

 therefore there was no likelihood that any expedition would be sent for their relief. 

 The boats had all been lost ; and they had no means of making an overland journey 

 over the rocks and ice. 



In great emergencies the right man sometimes comes to the front. So was it here. 

 The right man for this emergency was not Buddington, the commander ; it was not 

 Bessels, the scientist; it was not Bryan, the astronomer and chaplain. It was 

 Chester, the mate. He, with the aid of Coffin, the carpenter, undertook to build 

 a couple of boats, or rather scows, from the fragments of boards, pierced with nail- 

 holes, which had formed the lining of the cabins. Week after week the work went 

 slowly but surely on ; and as the brief summer drew near, the boats were finished. 



But now appears an enemy more formidable than even cold or darkness. The 

 scurvy made its appearance ; not, indeed, in a violent form, but there was, judging 

 from all that the experience of others had taught, every reason to apprehend the worst. 

 But here the teachings of the dead Hall, which he had learned during his long sojourn 

 in the Arctic regions, came into play. The men abandoned the use of salted food, 

 and betook themselves to raw walrus liver, and in a short time the dreaded enemy 

 was vanquished. 



Luckily, also, the season was unusually early. The ice began to give way about 

 the middle of June, and the party embarked in their frail boats. The chances were 

 fearfully against their ever being able to escape from the icy walls of their prison ; 

 and so, while the Juniata and Tigress were being fitted out to search for them, they 

 were on their way. 



By day they rowed along, and by night drew up their little craft upon the ice, and 

 prepared their only warm meal for the day. Their cooking apparatus was simply a 

 modification of the Esquimaux lamp. For fuel they had oil ; for wick, bits of rope ; 

 for fire-place, a piece of an iron kettle. At Hakluyt Island, they were detained for 

 several days by a violent snow-storm, which, however, proved to be a blessing in dis- 

 guise ; for the island is a breeding place for the auks, who were just hatching their 



