Some of the dramatis personae Introduced—Retrospective Glances—Causes of Future Effects—Our Hero’s Early Life at Sea—A Pirate—A Terrible Fight and its Consequences—Buzzby’s Helm Lashed Amidships—A Whaling Cruise Begun.

Departure of the Pole Star for the Frozen Seas—Sage reflections of Mrs Bright, and sagacious remarks of Buzzby—Anxieties, fears, surmises, and resolutions—Isobel—A search proposed—Departure of the Dolphin for the Far North.

The voyage—The Dolphin and her Crew—Ice Ahead—Polar Scenes—Masthead Observations—The First Whale—Great Excitement.

The Chase and the Battle—The Chances and Dangers of Whaling War—Buzzby dives for his Life and saves it—So does the Whale and loses it—An Anxious Night which terminates happily, though with a Heavy Loss.

Miscellaneous Reflections—The Coast of Greenland—Uppernavik—News of the Pole Star—Midnight Day—Scientific Facts and Fairy-like Scenes—Tom Singleton’s opinion of Poor Old Women—In Danger of a Squeeze—Escape.

The Gale—Anchored to a Berg which proves to be a Treacherous one—Dangers of the “Pack”—Beset in the Ice—Mivins shows an Enquiring Mind—Walrus—Gale freshens—Chains and Cables—Holding on for Life—An Unexpected Discovery—A “Nip” and its Terrible Consequences—Yoked to an Iceberg.

New characters introduced—An Old Game under Novel Circumstances—Remarkable Appearances in the Sky—O’Riley meets with a Mishap.

Fred and the doctor go on an excursion, in which, among other strange things, they meet with red snow and a white bear, and Fred makes his first essay as a sportsman.

The Dolphin gets beset in the Ice—Preparations for Wintering in the Ice—Captain Guy’s Code of Laws.

Beginning of winter—Meetuck effects a remarkable change in the men’s appearance—Mossing, and working, and plans for a winter campaign.

A Hunting Expedition, in the Course of which the Hunters meet with many Interesting, Dangerous, Peculiar, and Remarkable Experiences, and make Acquaintance with Seals, Walrus, Deer, and Rabbits.

A Dangerous Sleep interrupted—A Night in a Snow-Hut, and an Unpleasant Visitor—Snowed up.

Journey resumed—The Hunters meet with Bears and have a Great Fight, in which the Dogs are Sufferers—A Bear’s Dinner—Mode in which Arctic Rocks travel—The Ice-belt.

Departure of the Sun—Effects of Darkness on Dogs—Winter Arrangements in the Interior of the Dolphin.

Strangers appear on the Scene—The Esquimaux are hospitably entertained by the Sailors—A Spirited Traffic—Thieving Propensities and Summary Justice.

The Arctic Theatre enlarged upon—Great Success of the First Play—The Esquimaux submit and become Fast Friends.

Expeditions on Foot—Effects of Darkness on Dogs and Men—The first Death—Caught in a Trap—The Esquimaux Camp.

The Hunting Party—Reckless Driving—A Desperate Encounter with a Walrus, etcetera.

The Northern Party—A Narrow Escape, and a Great Discovery—Esquimaux again, and a Joyful Surprise.

Keeping it Down—Mutual Explanations—Death—New-Year’s Day.

First Gleam of Light—Trip to welcome the Sun—Bears and Strange Discoveries—O’Riley is Reckless—First View of the Sun.

“The Arctic Sun”—Rats! Rats! Rats!—A Hunting-Party—Out on the Floes—Hardships.

Unexpected Arrivals—The Rescue-Party—Lost and Found—Return to the Ship.

Winter ends—The First Insect—Preparations for Departure—Narrow Escape—Cutting out—Once more Afloat—Ship on Fire—Crew take to the Boats.

Escape to Uppernavik—Letter from Home—Meetuck’s Grandmother—Dumps and Poker again.

The return—The surprise—Buzzby’s Sayings and Doings—The Narrative—Fighting Battles o’er again—Conclusion.