[Garble-users] E hospitably pressed Archy to partake. Hun

[Fothergill M. <rou...@vi...>]

Ck, Archy accompanying
his friend. After climbing over a
number of huge masses of ice, they made their way to the opposite
floe, which was now firmly united to the one it had struck. Here they
found a quantity of the wreck scattered about, as well as several
casks of meat and biscuits, and wedged
between two slabs, the smallest
boat, which had hung at the stern. The carpenter, on examining her,
expressed his hopes that by fastening canvas

round her, he could make her float sufficiently to enable them to
pass
from one floe to another, should they meet any open channels in their
course. This discovery raised their spirits. The party immediately
hastened back
to their companions with the news. It was agreed that they should

at once move across to the floe, with
the tents and provisions,

and forming a new encampment, go on with the work of preparing
the sledges. Frequently as they went backwards and forwards, they
looked out for
the return of the party who had gone in pursuit of the mutineers. The
latter

had got far out of sight before they could

have been overtaken. What had become of the pursuers no one could
say. Some supposed that the two parties had united
and gone on together, while others fancied that they
had fought, and that those who had been defeated had been left alone
on the ice, while the victors had
pushed on with the boats. The whole day was occupied in moving to the
new encampment, and it was nearly dark before their tents were
erected and other preparations made for passing the night. The wind
had latterly increased greatly, and clouds had been collecting to the
north. Scarcely had they got under shelter when the snow began to
fall heavily, and the
sharp wind swept across the icy
plain
with terrific force. "Archy, we may be thankful that we are not with
those poor fellows who deserted us," observed Andrew as they sat
together round
the fire in their tent. "It will be a

mercy if any of them escape