come round them everywhere. They tried all they could to get away; they rowed, they tugged, they hoisted all their sails, but in vain. The huge masses of ice closed round them, the ship creaked and groaned, went first over on one side and then on the other, as though it would burst and split, and fall asunder. When evening came they were immovably fixed, with the ice for miles and miles around, and hundreds of miles from any human being to help them. What was to be done? In this terrible hour everybody looked to Heemskerk and Barends. These noble men had worked as hard as the rest, directing the united efforts, running up the mast to get a better view, or flying from bow to stern to encourage the men; but it was all of no avail. The night was passed in anxious watching, the ice groaning and creaking and wedging closer. Part of the company had lugged the boats on to the ice with some barrels of biscuits and wine. Over these they were obliged to watch all night, and burn a large fire, as the bears were prowling round, ready to seize them all. Next morning their last hope died away. The ice had become like a rock, and the ship was not to be moved, There was nothing for it but to build a hut and pass the winter, until warmer weather should come and liberate the ships. To pass more than half a year in the company of bears without seeing any friends, or hearing any music save the creaking of the ice-to live in this glaring wilderness of whiteness, with no food but biscuits and salted meat, seemed indeed

a horrible idea!

But not a murmur was heard.

Heemskerk cheered them up, and told them that

now their it was God's will, and that it was duty to do the best under the circumstances. So they set about building their hut. Happily enough a couple of men who had gone inland reported that about two miles further on there were large quantities With incredible of fallen trees which they could use. labour and diligence they dragged these trees over four miles of rock, snow, and ice on rude sledges to their ship, and began to build their hut. It was made large enough for the whole party, with very thick walls and floor. An empty barrel was put on the top for a chimney, and the berths for sleeping were made as cosy as possible.

Heemskerk pointed out that it would be well to make some large space for their firewood inside the hut, as they might possibly be snowed in altogether for days. When the men heard this they looked at each other in blank amazement, but they acted on the suggestion, and it was well that they did so. Heemskerk also managed to turn their enemies the These monsters were bears to some good use. always lurking about the ship and hut, to seize any of the men unawares, so that they were all compelled to work with their arms lying beside them, ready to fly to each other's assistance. Hitherto they had merely killed the animals and preserved the hides, but as Heemskerk saw that the days would become very short and the nights very long, and that the oil

could not last for ever, he showed them how to preserve the bears' grease and use it for the lamps. When the men found out that these animals might be made useful, they went out in large parties and hunted them; and had on more than one occasion the most terrible fights.

It was now October, and the cold was becoming awful. Each man had to put on three or four suits of clothes and run about to keep himself warm. Half the ship had been broken up to cover the hut, and as it was now very evident that they would never be able to use the ship again, everything had been fetched out and put in the hut. They employed their time in making coats from the bear-skins and repairing their shoes, in setting traps for the foxes, and in playing at quoits and golf on the ice. But gradually the days became shorter and shorter, and on the 4th of November they woke up from their sleep, and enquiring of each other in the darkness. what time it might be, found out that it was mid-day. One of them ran to the door, and opened it; but there was only just enough light to show him that the sun had not risen. It never rose again for eleven weeks, during all which time they were in perpetual darkness, and had to do their reading and work by lamp-light. There was one comfort in this-that the white bears remained away from that very day; but a tremendous storm buried their hut entirely under the snow, which was packed so closely that they were not able to dig an opening for several days.

C