Tinned meat was all they now had to depend upon, and there was very little of that; so they must go on short allowance at once.
The men were far less cheerful after this, and the summer, that but yesterday had appeared so near at hand, was now apparently an illimitable distance away.
Another expedition was made to the caves among the hills, in the endeavour to find another bear.
All in vain.
Hope now sunk in every heart. Even the doctor himself, who had struggled so long, began to feel that the time was not far distant when he too must succumb, must lie down and—die.
It was April, another month, another long, long four weeks—and early summer and sunshine would come and bring back with them the birds—the grebe, the auk, the wild duck and guillemot.
Two more had been added to the list of the dead.
The boy Bounce fell ill.
“We are not going to let the boy die,” said one of the men. “It is food he wants. Let us make a subscription.”
The subscription was made. Everybody gave a morsel of something for the poor boy, and his allowance came to be double instead of half Big Byarnie even gave up his blanket, and just slept a little closer to the fire and hugged Fingal.