be buried alive. Dick shared the snow-house; the other dogs remained outside, and after their supper they squatted down in the snow, which made them a blanket. The men were tired out with their day's walk, and soon slept. The doctor took his turn on guard at three o'clock in the morning. There was a tempest during the night, the gusts of which thickened the walls of the snow-house. The next day, at six o'clock, they set out again on their monotonous march. The temperature lowered several degrees, and hardened the ground so that walking was easier. They often met with mounds or cairns something like the Esquimaux hiding-places. The doctor had one demolished, and found nothing but a block of ice. "What did you expect, Clawbonny?" said Hatteras. "Are we not the first men who have set foot here?" "It's very likely we are, but who knows?" answered the doctor. "I do not want to lose my time in useless search," continued the captain; "I want to be quick back to my ship, even if we don't find the fuel." "I believe we are certain of doing that," said the doctor. "I often wish I had not left the _Forward_," said Hatteras; "a captain's place is on board." "Johnson is there." "Yes; but--well, we must make haste, that's all." The procession marched along rapidly; Simpson excited the dogs by calling to them; in consequence of a phosphorescent phenomenon they seemed to be running on a ground in flames, and the sledges seemed to raise a dust of sparks. The doctor went on in front to examine the state of the snow, but all at once he disappeared. Bell, who was nearest to him, ran up. "Well, Mr. Clawbonny," he called out in anxiety, "where are you?" "Doctor!" called the captain. "Here, in a hole," answered a reassuring voice; "throw me a cord, and I shall soon be on the surface of the globe again." They threw a cord to the doctor, who was at the bottom of a hole about ten feet deep; he fastened it round his waist, and his companions hauled him up with difficulty. "Are you hurt?" asked Hatteras. "Not a bit," answered the doctor, shaking his kind face, all covered with snow. "But how did you tumble down there?" "Oh, it was the refraction's fault," he answered laughing. "I thought I was stepping across about a foot's distance, and I fell into a hole ten feet deep! I never shall get used to it. It will teach us to sound every step before we advance. Ears hear and eyes see all topsy-turvy in this enchanted spot." "Can you go on?" asked the captain. "Oh, yes; the little fall has done me more good than harm."