The World of Ice by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
page 133 of 284 (46%)
page 133 of 284 (46%)
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until he brought back the circulation.
"Dance, then, wid me," cried the Irishman, suiting his action to the word. "I've a mortial fear o' bein' bit wid the frost--for it's no joke, let me tell you. Didn't I see a whole ship's crew wance that wos wrecked in the Gulf o' St. Lawrence about the beginnin' o' winter, and before they got to a part o' the coast where there was a house belongin' to the fur-traders, ivery man-jack o' them was frost-bit more or less, they wor. Wan lost a thumb, and another the jint of a finger or two, and most o' them had two or three toes off, an' there wos wan poor fellow who lost the front half o' wan fut an' the heel o' the other, an' two inches o' the bone was stickin' out. Sure it's truth I'm tellin' ye, for I seed it wid me own two eyes, I did." The earnest tones in which the last words were spoken convinced his comrades that O'Riley was telling the truth, so having a decided objection to be placed in similar circumstances, they danced and beat each other until they were quite in a glow. "Why, what are you at there, Meetuck?" exclaimed Fred, pausing. "Igloe make," replied the Esquimau. "Ig--what?" inquired O'Riley. "Oh, I see!" shouted Fred, "he's going to make a snow-hut--igloes they call them here. Capital!--I never thought of that. Come along; let's help him!" Meetuck was indeed about to erect one of those curious dwellings of snow |
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