As the summer glided on the great rampart of ice was patiently watched for tokens of melting, but these signs were few; and as the sun rose less high day by day, and there were once more hours of darkness, the prospect of their having to bear the winter where they were began to be discussed. But meanwhile there was a long expedition as often as the men had cleared away the quantities of seal and walrus blubber that were brought in and rendered down. These expeditions were made to embrace business and investigation; and their knowledge of the lay of the land increasing, they persevered in their search wherever it was possible to penetrate the valleys, while the coast to north and south was explored as far as the boats could go. But there was no sign of the lost crew, and as the time wore on it became evident that they were not in the region occupied by their friends. "Let us hope that they may have reached home by now," said the doctor one evening. "I think we have done everything we can to find them." "Everything," said the captain gravely; "but we cannot fight against fate." There began to be certain signs now of the short summer nearing its termination, beside the setting of the sun in the far north-west. The birds were not so plentiful, and whenever a flock approached as many ducks and geese as possible were shot, and placed in ice for use in the winter, when no doubt they would all have gone south. Thanks to the Norwegians, too, who proved to be very ingenious in watching the seals so as to find suitable places, plenty of fish were caught, making a most agreeable addition to their diet. At last the captain announced to the men that there was no necessity for more walrus or seal hunts to be carried out, for the cargo was sufficient, and that now they were to occupy their time more with hunting and exploring, so as to make their stores of venison and dried and salted fish so ample that they could set the winter at defiance. "Then you really think that we shall have to stay here all the winter, sir?" cried Steve. "I have not a doubt about it now, my boy," replied the captain. "We came to help at first; now we are badly in want of help ourselves." "It doesn't much matter, does it?" said Steve. "We are all very happy and strong; and if we stop through the winter, we shall be here ready for the breaking up of the ice." "Yes, Steve, quite ready," said the captain, rather sadly; "but I did not mean to be caught like this." "We've got months yet, haven't we, before the real winter comes?" "Not up in this latitude," said the captain, smiling. "According to my calculations, we are as far north as any expedition has been. Did you notice anything this morning when you first got up?" "No, only that it was rather cold for August." "Yes, my lad, more than rather, for there was a thin film of ice on the fiord till the sun touched it. Only a very thin film, but a suggestion of how soon winter sets in up here."