"But what of the men frozen to death in the cabin?" asked Bob.
"Well, sir, we had built this kitchen, and the fireplace, and most of us in an evening would sit here and smoke.
"But dinner and supper was mostly taken in the cabin, where the big table was.
"It was the very bitterest of weather.
"Food at last there was none, except a lump of seal.
"It had been so awfully cold that none had dared venture out hunting.
"It was my day for being cook, and as soon as the joint was done we carried it into the cabin, which was warmed with a stove."
"Well, go on, man," exclaimed our hero, for the sailor had suddenly stopped in his narrative, as if some distant sound had caught his ear.
"Beg pardon, sir. Well, in spite of the stove, the meat was no sooner cut in slices than it was cold.
"I took mine back to the fire and rewarmed it.