In the Great White Land by Gordon Stables

Yes, everybody was busy. From the captains themselves down to Jack and Gill, the Shetland ponies, and the little mongrel seal that the boys had made a pet of.

The Eskimo dogs had got their summer clothes on; the Eskimos themselves, especially Slap-dash, were very lively. The bears wanted to go on prowl at once. Gruff, Grumpey, Growley, and Meg were excited by the shimmer of the snow. It reminded them of their dear native land.

Sheelah and Taffy were exceedingly gay and droll. But they were useful. When they had some lessons in cooking, Sheelah excelled the cook, and Dr. Wright turned Taffy into a really good and practical nurse.

The ships were just as one at present. But a camp was being formed on shore in a ravine betwixt two hills to the north of Mount Murchison, so the forces would soon be divided.

A whole month was to be spent in this camp making preparations for the grand dash into the interior.

This was imperative; both Curtis and Dr. Wright insisted on it.

These officers had to consider what men and animals were to be included in the land expeditionary force. Oh, it wasn't to be all fun, I do assure you.

There was an excellent landing here, for they had found a fiord, a deep arm of the sea, that the scientists believed would be more open as summer advanced, and form an excellent harbour where the _Walrus_ could lie in open water as the base of the undertaking, and if ice-bound in autumn, it would be but pancake -- so they thought -- through which they could saw their way to clear water.

As for the _Sea Elephant_, she would remain at sea and continue to explore.

Ingomar was not certain in his own mind whether he had not been guilty of an act of cruelty in bringing the Shetland ponies into Polar waters. They had been on shore many times, it is true, and had never been a day ailing; but, on the whole, they had not had very much exercise.

Well, the camp here was commenced. It was to be only a trial one, for those whom Ingomar and his brave companions should leave behind there when they made their dash, would live on board ship.

Everything to be taken into the interior was to be light, but strong; and during their many months of camping out here, they would doubtless gain experience of what would be wanted.

There were sledges of "burden and baggage," that were to be drawn by the bears, under the care of Slap-dash; the Shetland ponies, with a good man, would greatly assist the heavy work. The dog-sledges would be driven by some of Slap-dash's men. These sleighs would carry light baggage and camp-gear. They were called the "dash-aways."

The whole was put under the charge of Dr. Wright. He was a hardy, bold fellow, and determined to make all the rest like him.

"I'll make you all athletes before you start," he said; "every man Jack of you. And you won't need any dumb-bells or chest-developers either."

"They shall all do as you tell them," said Lieutenant Curtis. "They shall, indeed, doctor."

"By Gordon! " cried Wright, flinging his brawny right arm straight out from the shoulder, as only a good pugilist can. "And don't you say ‘they' again, old man, Curtis. Say ‘_we_ will do all that you tell us, doctor. ' 'Cause I'm your medical manager. Just you look after your meteorological apparatus -- your lenses, your magnetic machinery, your anemometers, your thingummyometers, and all the rest of your paraphernalia, and leave all other matters to me -- Dr. Wright of Edinboro toon."

"Bravo, my friend! " cried Ingomar, coming up at the time. "Just you keep Curtis under and well in hand, Wright. Curtis would kick over the traces if Curtis could, you bet."

So Dr. Wright proclaimed martial law; and soon the portable bungalow and the tents were up and ready.

There is a lot to be done in camps even by the seashore in old England, and in regularity alone, combined with method, lies their comfort.