A party of the Esquimaux accompanied them, and as a number of the natives from the other village had returned with Saunders and his men to the ship, the scene she presented, when all parties were united, was exceedingly curious and animated.

The Esquimaux soon built quite a little town of snow-huts all round the Dolphin, and the noise of traffic and intercourse was peculiarly refreshing to the ears of those who had long been accustomed to the death-like stillness of an Arctic winter.  The beneficial effect of the change on men and dogs was instantaneous.  Their spirits rose at once, and this, with the ample supply of fresh meat that had been procured, soon began to drive scurvy away.

There was one dark spot, however, in this otherwise pleasant scene—­one impending event that cast a gloom over all.  In his narrow berth in the cabin Joseph West lay dying.  Scurvy had acted more rapidly on his delicate frame than had been expected.  Despite Tom Singleton’s utmost efforts and skill, the fell disease gained the mastery, and it soon became evident that this hearty and excellent man was to be taken away from them.

During the last days of his illness, Captain Ellice was his greatest comfort and his constant companion.  He read the Bible to him, and when doubts and fears arose, as they sometimes did, he pointed him to Jesus, and spoke of that love from which nothing could separate him.

It was on Christmas day that West died.

“O sir,” said he to Captain Ellice just an hour before he breathed his last, “how much I regret the time that I have lost!  How I wish now that I had devoted more of my precious time to the study of the Word and to prayer!  How many opportunities of speaking a word for Jesus I have neglected.  Once, everything seemed of importance; now, but one thing is worthy of a thought.”

“True,” answered the captain, “‘the one thing needful.’  It is strange that we will scarce permit ourselves to think or speak of that till we come to die.  But you have thought on Jesus long ere now, have you not?”

“Yes,” answered West faintly, “I have; but I take no comfort from that thought.  When I think of my past life it is only with regret.  My hope is in the Lord.  What I have been, or might have been, is nothing.  One thing I know—­I am a sinner; and this I also know—­’Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!’”

These were the last words the dying man spoke.  Shortly after, he fell asleep.

Next day the body of Joseph West was put in a plain deal coffin, and conveyed to Store Island, where it was placed on the ground.  They had no instruments that could penetrate the hard rock, so were obliged to construct a tomb of stones, after the manner of the Esquimaux, under which the coffin was laid and left in solitude.