The bear was a monster, and Jack set about removing its skin, which froze hard before they reached the ship with it.
That night they had fresh bear steaks for supper.
The next morning they were arranging the sled, ready to depart, with the bear skin covering the articles carried, when Tom came rushing from the cabin, where he had remained.
“Fire! Fire!” he cried, wildly; “the ship is on fire!”
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE YOUNG EXPLORERS.
Tom’s carelessness with a lamp had precipitated a catastrophe, and the Albatross was soon enveloped in flames.
It was fortunate that the stores ready for the journey were outside on the sled, else the loss would have been a serious one.
The fire showed how frail the stability of Arctic home life was to those unused to it. Had they depended on the ship as a shelter, the present disaster would have made them entirely homeless.
They, however, were thinking of the expedition down the coast which had preceded them.