Thanks to the Norwegians, too, who proved to be very ingenious in watching the seals so as to find suitable places, plenty of fish were caught, making a most agreeable addition to their diet.
At last the captain announced to the men that there was no necessity for more walrus or seal hunts to be carried out, for the cargo was sufficient, and that now they were to occupy their time more with hunting and exploring, so as to make their stores of venison and dried and salted fish so ample that they could set the winter at defiance.
“Then you really think that we shall have to stay here all the winter, sir?” cried Steve.
“I have not a doubt about it now, my boy,” replied the captain. “We came to help at first; now we are badly in want of help ourselves.”
“It doesn’t much matter, does it?” said Steve. “We are all very happy and strong; and if we stop through the winter, we shall be here ready for the breaking up of the ice.”
“Yes, Steve, quite ready,” said the captain, rather sadly; “but I did not mean to be caught like this.”
“We’ve got months yet, haven’t we, before the real winter comes?”
“Not up in this latitude,” said the captain, smiling. “According to my calculations, we are as far north as any expedition has been. Did you notice anything this morning when you first got up?”
“No, only that it was rather cold for August.”
“Yes, my lad, more than rather, for there was a thin film of ice on the fiord till the sun touched it. Only a very thin film, but a suggestion of how soon winter sets in up here.”