“We are well equipped,” said Jack, “and cannot starve or freeze if we take proper care of ourselves.”
“Will you follow the coast to the ice hut?” asked Will.
“We may as well, and thence still keep along the shore.”
The sled was easily moved along the snow, and when one of the boys got very tired he was allowed a brief ride.
The second night after leaving the Albatross they camped in the ice house they had discovered the day they crossed to the main land.
From this spot they followed the water-way surrounding the island they had been cast away on originally.
Sometimes the route was irregular and difficult, but they made a steady progress.
They discovered no further trace of the party from the Albatross for nearly a week.
During that time they were compelled to build a temporary shelter each night. They suffered little from the cold now, as they had become used to it in a measure, and the weather was considerably milder than when they first left the Arctic.
At last, they one day came to what had evidently been an ice hut. It was now in ruins, but it showed they were on the right route.