"Look here, Fred, your eyes are better than mine, see if you can make it out." Fred took it with a trembling hand, for a strange feeling of dread had seized possession of his heart, and he could scarcely bring himself to look upon it.

He summoned up courage, however; but at the first glance his hand fell down by his side, and a dimness came over his eyes, for the word "_POLE STAR_" was engraven on the handle.

He would have fallen to the ground had not Bolton caught him.
"Don't give way, lad, the ship may be all right.

Perhaps this is one o' the crew that died." Fred did not answer, but recovering himself with a strong effort, he said, "Pull down the stones, men." The men obeyed in silence, and the poor boy sat down on a rock to await the result in trembling anxiety.

A few minutes sufficed to disentomb the skeleton, for the men sympathized with their young comrade, and worked with all their energies.
"Cheer up, Fred," said Bolton, coming and laying his hand on the youth's shoulder; "it's _not_ your father.