The question as to how she had existed during her long absence from the ship was a difficult one to solve. At first it was surmised that she had attached herself to a pack of wolves; but this idea was scouted, as no tracks had been seen to lead us to believe that these animals existed in our neighbourhood. It is not probable that she obtained anything from the ship during the time she was missing, or that she picked up scraps from the other dogs, for on her appearance she was at once driven away by her old companions. The only probable conclusion that we could arrive at was that she had supported life by hunting and feasting on lemmings, for the traces of these little animals were the only indications that we had of the existence, outside our own circle, of animal life.
[1] Nelson served as a midshipman on board the “Carcass,” in Captain Phipps’ North Polar Expedition in 1773.
[2] Blanket wrappers were articles of wearing apparel.
[3] The name of the cook was Hunt.
CHAPTER XVI.
AN ARCTIC CHRISTMAS.
| “So now is come our joyful’st feast, Let every man be jolly, Eache roome with yvie leaves is drest, And every post with holly; Now all our neighbours’ chimneys smoke, And Christmas blocks are burning; Their ovens they with baked meats choke, And all their spits are turning. Without the door let sorrow lie, And if, for cold, it hap to die, We’ll bury’t in a Christmas pye, And ever more be merry.” Wither. |