Jack Marcy and the remainder of the party soon joined Hugo, and the
old boatswain surveyed the round heap that had been discovered with a
critical eye.
“It is an ice hut, sure enough,” he said, quite excitedly, “but it is
probably a long time since it was used. Let us get to work at it and
see if it is habitable.”
They scraped off what ice and snow there was, and then Jack cut a block
out of the side of the structure.
He crawled into the house and came out again with a pleased look on his
face.
“We’ll sleep warm to-night,” he said.
“Why?” asked Will, eagerly.
“Whoever occupied the hut before left quite a lot of things behind.
Creep in after me and see.”
The rest of the party did so, and found themselves in a hut much larger
than the one they had built on the island.
Upon the floor was a rudely constructed lamp, such as is in common use
among the Esquimaux.
By its side was a pouch or pail made of the skin of a bear or fox, and
containing frozen chunks of the blubber or fat of some animal.
The floor of the hut showed a long occupancy in the past, and was
discolored with grease and bits of meat and fish bones.
The discovery cheered all of the party, for it showed that the place
had once been visited, and that they might in time find some native
settlement.
At any rate the hut was a comfortable shelter for them.
Jack directed Hugo, Willis and Tom to get the hut in order, and he and
Will went out with the guns in search of food.
They saw some birds and animals, but could not get near to them.
Returning after a disappointing tramp, they made a second discovery
that later proved of the utmost importance.