Ever since they had been in the hut, the Doctor had remarked Duk's strange behavior. The animal kept running in and out, and going round and round a heap of snow and ice, giving occasionally a low bark and wagging his tail impatiently, with an inquiring look at his master.
Clawbonny could not understand what ailed the dog, but at last came to the conclusion that his restlessness was caused by the sight of Simpson's corpse, which there had not been time yet to bury. He resolved to have it interred that very day, as they were to set off next morning as soon as it was light.
Bell undertook to assist, and the two, provided with mattocks, set off together to dig a deep hole in the bottom of the ravine. The heap round which Duk kept watch seemed the most favorable spot, and they proceed to lift off the ice and snow, which seemed lying in layers. After removing the snow, they attacked the ice; but at the third stroke the Doctor's mattock encountered some hard substance, which proved to be a fragment of a wine bottle. Bell, who was at work on the opposite side, turned up that same instant a crumpled-up bag, in which were some pieces of biscuit in a perfect state of preservation.
"Heigho!" exclaimed the Doctor. "What's this, I wonder?"
He called out to Hatteras, who came up immediately.
Duk still kept on barking, and scratching at the ice with his paws.
"Can we have come upon a depot of provisions?" asked the Doctor.
"Possibly," said Bell.
Hatteras advanced no opinion, but simply said:
"Go on digging."
More fragments of food soon appeared, and then a case of pemmican about a quarter full.
"If it is a depot, the bears have certainly been here before us, for see, nothing is whole!" said Hatteras.
"It is to be feared that is the case," replied Clawbonny, "for———"
He did not finish his sentence, for he was interrupted by an exclamation from Bell, and looking across, saw he had uncovered a human leg!
"A corpse!" cried the Doctor.
