CHAPTER XIV. Departure of the sun--Effects of darkness on dogs--Winter arrangements in the interior of the "Dolphin." CHAPTER XV. Strangers appear on the scene--The Esquimaux are hospitably entertained by the sailors--A spirited traffic--Thieving propensities and summary justice. CHAPTER XVI. The Arctic Theatre enlarged upon--Great success of the first play--The Esquimaux submit, and become fast friends. CHAPTER XVII. Expeditions on foot--Effects of darkness on dogs and men--The first death--Caught in a trap--The Esquimau camp. CHAPTER XVIII. The hunting-party--Reckless driving--A desperate encounter with a walrus, etc. CHAPTER XIX. The northern party--A narrow escape, and a great discovery--Esquimaux again, and a joyful surprise. CHAPTER XX. Keeping it down--Mutual explanations--The true comforter--Death--New-Year's day. CHAPTER XXI. First gleam of light--Trip to welcome the sun--Bears and strange discoveries--O'Riley is reckless--First view of the sun. CHAPTER XXII. The "Arctic Sun"--Rats! rats! rats!--A hunting-party--Out on the floes--Hardships. CHAPTER XXIII. Unexpected arrivals--The rescue party--Lost and found--Return to the ship. CHAPTER XXIV. Winter ends--The first insect--Preparations for departure--Narrow escape--Cutting out--Once more afloat--Ship on fire--Crew take to the boats. CHAPTER XXV. Escape to Upernavik--Letter from home--Meetuck's grandmother--Dumps and Poker again. CHAPTER XXVI. The return--The surprise--Buzzby's sayings and doings--The narrative--Fighting battles o'er again--Conclusion. CHAPTER I. _Some of the "dramatis personæ" introduced--Retrospective glances--Causes of future effects--Our hero's early life at sea--A pirate--A terrible fight and its consequences--Buzzby's helm lashed amidships--A whaling-cruise begun._ Nobody ever caught John Buzzby asleep by any chance whatever. No weasel was ever half so sensitive on that point as he was. Wherever he happened to be (and in the course of his adventurous life he had been to nearly all parts of the known world) he was the first awake in the morning and the last asleep at night; he always answered promptly to the first call; and was never known by any man living to have been seen with his eyes shut, except when he winked, and that operation he performed less frequently than other men.