The Esquimaux happened to be well supplied with walrus-flesh, so the lamps were replenished, and the hiss of the frying steaks and dropping fat speedily rose above all other sounds.
Meanwhile, Fred and his father, having mutually recovered somewhat of their wonted composure, began to tell each other the details of their adventures since they last met, while the former prepared a cup of coffee and a steak for their mutual comfort.
"But, father," said Fred, busying himself at the lamp, "you have not yet told me how you came here, and what has become of the _Pole Star_, and how it was that one of your men came to be buried in the Esquimau fashion, and how you got your leg broken." "Truly, Fred, I have not told you all that, and to give it you all in detail will afford us many a long hour of converse hereafter, if it please God, whose tenderness and watchful care of me has never failed.
But I can give you a brief outline of it thus:-- "I got into Baffin's Bay and made a good fishing of it the first year, but was beset in the ice, and compelled to spend two winters in these regions.

The third year we were liberated, and had almost got fairly on our homeward voyage when a storm blew us to the north and carried us up here.

Then our good brig was nipped and went to the bottom, and all the crew were lost except myself and one man.

We succeeded in leaping from one piece of loose ice to another until we reached the solid floe and gained the land, where we were kindly received by the Esquimaux.

But poor Wilson did not survive long.