 CHAPTER IV A night encampment. And so Hobson had not been mistaken about the point of rupture. It was the Ithmus which had yielded in the shock of the earthquake. Not a trace was to be seen of the American Continent. Not a single cliff, even the volcano on the west, had disappeared. Nothing but the sea everywhere. The island on this side ended in a cape, coming to an almost sharp point. And it was evident that the substratum of ice, fretted by the warmer waters of the current, and exposed to all the fury of the elements, must rapidly dissolve. The explorers resumed their march, following the course of the fracture, which ran from west to east, in an almost straight line. Its edges were not jagged or broken, but clear cut, as if the division had been made with a sharp instrument. And here and there the conformation of the soil could easily be examined. The banks, half ice, half sand and earth, rose some ten feet from the water. They were perfectly perpendicular, without the slightest slope, and in some places there were traces of recent landslips. Sergeant Long pointed to several small blocks of ice, floating in the offing, and rapidly melting, which had evidently been broken off from their island. The action of the warm surf would, of course, soon eat away the new coastline, which time had not yet closed, with a kind of cement of snow and sand, such as covered the rest of the beach. And altogether the state of things was very far from reassuring. Before taking any rest Mrs. Barnett, Hobbson and Long, were anxious to finish their examination of the southern edge of the island. There would be plenty of daylight, for the sun would not set until eleven o'clock p.m. The brilliant orb of day was slowly advancing along the western horizon, and its oblique rays cast long shadows of themselves before the explorers, who conversed at intervals after Long silent pauses, during which they gazed at the sea, and thought of the dark future before them. Henson intended to encamp for the night at Washburn Bay. When there, eighteen miles, would have been traversed, and if he were not mistaking, half his circular journey would be accomplished. After a few hours repose, he meant to return to Fort Hope, along the western coast. No fresh incident marked the exploration of the short distance between Walrus's Bay and Washburn Bay, and at seven o'clock in the evening the spot chosen for the encampment was reached. A similar change had taken place here. Of Washburn Bay nothing remained but the curve formed by the coastline of the island, and which was once its northern boundary. It stretched away without a break for seven miles to the Cape they had named Cape Michael. The side of the island did not appear to have suffered at all in consequence of the rupture. The thickets of pine and birch, massed a little behind the Cape, were in their fullest beauty at this time of the year, and a good many-ferred animals were just porting themselves on the plain. A halt was made at Washburn Bay, and the explorers were able to enjoy an extended view on the south, although they could not see any great distance on the north. The sun was so low on the horizon that its rays were intercepted by the rising ground on the west, and did not reach the little bay. It was not, however, yet night, nor could it be called twilight as the sun had not set. "'Lieutenant,' said Long, if by some miracle a bell were now to ring, what would you suppose it would mean?' "'That it was suppertime,' replied Hobson, "'don't you agree with me, Mrs. Barnett?' "'Hinted I do,' replied the lady-addressed. "'And as our cloth is spread for us, let us sit down. This mass, although slightly worn, will suit us admirably, and was evidently intended for us by Providence.' The bag of provisions was opened, some salt-meat, a hair-paté from Mrs. Jolie's larder, with a few biscuits, formed their frugal supper. The meal was quickly over, and Hobson returned to the southwest angle of the island, whilst Mrs. Barnett rested at the foot of a low fir tree, and Sergeant Long made ready the night quarters. The lieutenant was anxious to examine the piece of ice which formed the island, to ascertain, if possible, something of its structure. A little bank produced by a landslip enabled him to step down to the level of the sea, and from there he was able to look closely at the steep wall which formed the coast. Where he stood the soil rose scarcely three feet above the water. The upper part consisted of a thin layer of earth and sand, mixed with crushed shells, and the lower of hard, compact, and if we may so express it, metallic ice, strong enough to support the upper soil of the island. The layer of ice was not more than one foot above the sea-level. In consequence of the recent fracture it was easy to see the regular disposition of the sheets of ice piled up horizontally, and which had evidently been produced by successive frosts in comparatively quieter waters. We know that freezing commences on the surface of liquids, and as the cold increases the thickness of the crust becomes greater, the solidification proceeding from the top downwards. That at least is the case in waters that are at rest. It has, however, been observed that the very reverse is the case in running waters, the ice forming at the bottom, and subsequently rising to the surface. It was evident, then, that the flow which formed the foundation of Victoria Island had been formed in calm waters on the shores of the North American continent. The freezing had evidently commenced on the surface, and the thaw would begin at the bottom, according to a well-known law, so that the ice field would gradually decrease in weight as it became thawed by the warmer waters through which it was passing, and the general level of the island would sink in proportion. This was the great danger. As we have just stated, Hobbeson noticed that the solid ice, the ice field properly so called, was only about one foot above the sea level. We know that four-fifths of a floating mass of ice are always submerged. For one foot of an iceberg, or ice field above the water, there are four below it. It must, however, be remarked that the density, or rather, specific weight of floating ice varies considerably according to its mode of formation or origin. The ice masses, which proceed from sea water, porous, opaque, and tinted with blue or green, according as they are struck by the rays of the sun, are lighter than ice formed from freshwater. All things considered, and making due allowance for the weight of the mineral and vegetable layer above the ice, Hobbeson concluded it to be about four or five feet thick below the sea level, the different declavities of the island. The little hills and rising ground would, of course, only affect the upper soil, and it might reasonably be supposed that the wandering island was not immersed more than five feet. This made Hobbeson very anxious, only five feet, setting aside the causes of dissolution to which the ice field might be subjected, would not the slightest shock cause a rupture of the surface, might not a rough sea or gale of wind cause a dislocation of the ice field, which would lead to its breaking up into small portions, and to its final decomposition. Oh, for the speedy arrival of winter, with its bitter cold, would that the column of mercury were frozen in its cistern. Nothing but the rigor of an arctic winter could consolidate and thicken the foundations of their island, and establish a means of communication between it and the Continent. Hobbeson returned to the halting place, little cheered by his discoveries, and found long busy making arrangements for the night, for he had no idea of sleeping beneath the open sky. Although Mrs. Barnett declared herself quite ready to do so, he told the Lieutenant that he intended to dig a hole in the ice big enough to hold three persons, in fact to make a kind of snow hut in which they would be protected from the cold night air. In the land of the Eskimo, he said, nothing is wiser than to do as the Eskimo do. Hobbeson approved, but advised the sergeant not to dig too deeply, as the ice was not more than five feet thick. Long set to work. With the aid of his hatchet and ice-chisel, he soon cleared away the earth, and hollowed out a kind of passage, sloping gently down to the crust of ice. He next attacked the brittle mass, which had been covered over with sand and earth for so many centuries. It would not take more than an hour to hollow out a subterranean retreat, or rather a burrow with walls of ice, which would keep in the heat, and therefore serve well for a resting place during the short night. Whilst Long was working away like a white ant, Hobbeson communicated the result of his observations to Mrs. Barnett. He did not disguise from her that the construction of Victoria Island rendered him very uneasy. He felt sure that the thinness of the ice would lead to the opening of ravines on the surface before Long, where it would be impossible to foresee, and of course it would be equally impossible to prevent them. The wandering island might at any moment settle down in consequence of a change in its specific gravity, or break up into more or less numerous islets, the duration of which must necessarily be ephemeral. He judged, therefore, that it would be best for the members of the colony to keep together as much as possible, and not to leave the fort, that they might all share the same chances. Hobbeson was proceeding further to unfold his views when cries for help were heard. Mrs. Barnett started to her feet, and both looked round in every direction, but nothing was to be seen. The cries were now redoubled, and Hobbeson exclaimed, "'The Sergeant, the Sergeant!' and followed by Mrs. Barnett, he rushed towards a burrow, and he had scarcely reached the opening of the snow-house before he saw Sergeant Long clutching with both hands at his knife, which he had struck in the wall of ice, and calling out loudly, although with the most perfect self-possession. His head and arms alone were visible. Whilst he was digging, the ice had given way suddenly beneath him, and he was plunged into water up to his waist. Hobbeson merely said, "'Keep hold!' and, creeping through the passage, he was soon at the edge of the hole. The poor Sergeant seized his hand, and he was soon rescued from his perilous position. "'Good God, Sergeant!' exclaimed Mrs. Barnett, "'What has happened?' "'Nothing,' replied Long, shaking himself like a wet spaniel, except that the ice gave way under me, and I took a compulsory bath. "'You forgot what I told you about not digging too deeply then,' said Hobbeson. "'Big pardons, sir. I hadn't cut through fifteen inches of the ice, and I expect there was a kind of cavern where I was working. The ice did not touch the water. It was just like going through a ceiling. If I hadn't been able to hang on by my knife, I should have slipped under the island like a fool, and that would have been a pity, wouldn't it, madam?' "'A very great pity, my brave fellow,' said Mrs. Barnett, pressing his hand.' Long's explanation was correct. For some reason or another, most likely, from an accumulation of air, the ice had formed a kind of vault above the water, and of course it soon gave way under the weight of the sergeant and the plows of his chisel. The same thing might happen in other parts of the island, which was anything but reassuring. Where could they be certain of treading on firm ground? Might not the earth give way beneath their feet at any minute. What heart, however brave, could not have sunk at the thought of the thin partition between them and the awful gulf of the ocean. Sergeant Long, however, thought but little of his bath, and was ready to begin mining in some other place. This Mrs. Barnett would not allow. A night in the open air would do her no harm. The shelter of the coppers near would be protection enough for them all, and Sergeant Long was obliged to submit. The camp was, therefore, moved back some thirty yards from the beach to a rising ground on which grew a few clumps of pines and wellows which could scarcely be called a wood. Towards ten o'clock the disc of the sun began to dip below the horizon, and before it disappeared for the few hours of the night a crackling fire of dead branches was blazing at the camp. Long had now a fine opportunity of drying his legs, of which he gladly availed himself. He and Hobson talked together earnlessly until twilight set in. Mrs. Barnett occasionally joined in the conversation, doing the best she could to cheer the disheartened lieutenant. The sky was bright with stars, and the holy influence of the night could not fail to calm his troubled spirit. The wind murmured softly amongst the pines, even the sea appeared to be wrapped in slumber, its bosom slightly heaving with the swell, which died away upon the beach with a faint rippling sound. All creation was hushed, not even the wail of a seabird broke upon the ear. The crisp crackling of the dead branches was exchanged for a steady flame, and nothing but the voices of the wanderers broke the sublime, the awful silence of the night. "'Who would imagine,' said Mrs. Barnett, that we were floating on the surface of the ocean. It really requires an effort to realize it. For the sea which is carrying us along in its fatal grasp appears to be absolutely motionless.' "'Yes, madam,' replied Hobson, and if the floor of our carriage were solid, if I did not know that sooner or later the keel of our boat will be missing, that some day its hull will burst open, and finally, if I knew where we were going, I should rather enjoy floating on the ocean like this.' "'Well, Lieutenant,' rejoined Mrs. Barnett, could there be a pleasanter mode of travelling than ours? We feel no motion. Our island has exactly the same speed as the current which is bearing it away. Is it not like a balloon voyage in the air? What could be more delightful than advancing with one's own house, garden, park, etc. A wandering island, with a solid insubmersible foundation, would really be the most comfortable and wonderful conveyance that could possibly be imagined. I have heard of hanging gardens. Perhaps some day floating parks will be invented which will carry us all over the globe. Their size will render them insensible to the action of the waves. They will have nothing to fear from storms, and perhaps with a favourable wind they might be guided by means of immense sails. What marvels of vegetation would be spread before the eyes of the passengers when they passed from temperate to torrid zones. With skillful pilots, well acquainted with the currents, it might be possible to remain in one latitude and enjoy a perpetual spring. Hobbson could not help smiling at Mrs. Barnett's fancies. The brave woman ran on with such an easy flow of words. She talked with as little effort as Victoria Island moved. And was she not right? It would have been a very pleasant mode of travelling, if there had been no danger of their conveyance, melted and being swallowed up by the sea. The night passed on, and the explorers slept a few hours. At daybreak they breakfasted and thoroughly enjoyed their meal. The warmth and rest had refreshed them, and they resumed their journey at about six o'clock a.m. From Kate Michael to the former Port Barnett the coast ran in an almost straight line from south to north for about eleven miles. There is nothing worthy of note about it. The shores were low and pretty even all the way, and seemed to have suffered no alteration since the breaking of the isthmoth. Long in obedience to the lieutenant made benchmarks along the beach that any further change might easily be noted. Hobbson was naturally anxious to get back to Fort Hope the same day, and Mrs. Barnett was also eager to return to her friends. It was, of course, desirable under the circumstances that the commanding officer should not be long absent from the fort. All haste was therefore made, and by taking a short cut they arrived at noon at the little promontory which formerly protected Port Barnett from the east winds. It was not more than eight miles from this point to Fort Hope, and before four o'clock p.m. the shouts of Corporal Jolive welcomed their return to the factory. Part II. CHAPTER V. From July 25 to August 20. Hobbson's first care on his return to the fort was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony. No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but as subsequently appeared the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, while still retaining its motion towards the west. It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast. The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobbson's annoyance, towards the dreaded Bering Strait. It was now only the twenty-fourth of July, and a current of average speed, would carry it in another month through the Strait and into the heated ways of the Pacific, where it would melt like a lump of sugar in a glass of water. Thomas Barnett acquainted Madge with the result of the exploration of the island. She explained to her the arrangement of the layers of earth and ice at the part where the isthmith had been broken off. Told her that the thickness of the ice below the sea-level was estimated at five feet, related the accident to Sergeant Long. In short, she made her fully understand the reasons there were to fear the breaking up or sinking of the ice-field. The rest of the colony had, however, no suspicion of the truth. A feeling of perfect security prevailed. It never occurred to any of the brave fellows that Fort Hope was floating above an awful abyss, and that the lives of all its inhabitants were in danger. All were in good health, the weather was fine, and the climate pleasant and bracing. The baby Michael got on wonderfully, and was beginning to toddle about between the house and the palace-aid. And Corporal Jolif, who was extremely fond of him, was already beginning to teach him to hold a gun, and to understand the duties of a soldier. Oh, if Mrs. Jolif would but present him with such a son! But alas! the blessing of children, for which he and his wife prayed every day, was as yet denied to them. Meanwhile, the soldiers had plenty to do. McNabb and his men, Peterson, Belche, Gary, Pond, and Hope, worked zealously at the construction of a boat, a difficult task likely to occupy them for several months. But as their vessel would be of no use until next year, after the thaw, they neglected none of their duties at the factory on its account. Hobbson let things go on as if the future of the factory were not compromised, and preserved in keeping the men in ignorance. This serious question was often discussed by the officer and his staff, and Mrs. Barnette and Maj differed from their chief on the subject. They thought it would be better to tell the whole truth. The men were brave and energetic, not likely to yield to despair, and the shock would not be great if they heard of it now, instead of only when their situation was so hopeless that it could not be concealed. But in spite of the justice of these remarks, Hobbson would not yield, and he was supported by Sergeant Long. Perhaps, after all, they were right. They were both men of long experience, and knew the temper of their men. And so the work of provisioning and strengthening the forge proceeded. The palisade and cant was repaired with new stakes, and made higher in many places, so that it really formed a very strong fortification. McNabb also put into execution, with his chief's approval, a plan he had long had at heart. At the corners, abutting on the lake, he built two little pointed sentry-boxes, which completed the defences, and Corporal Jolif anticipated with delight the time when he should be sent to relieve the guard. He felt that they gave a military look to the buildings, and made them really imposing. The palisade was now completely finished, and McNabb, remembering the sufferings of the last winter, built a new woodshed close up against the house itself, with a door of communication inside, so that there would be no need to go outside at all. By this contrivance the fuel would always be ready to hand. On the left side of the house, opposite the shed, McNabb constructed a large sleeping-room for the soldiers, so that the camp-bed could be removed from the common room. This room was also to be used for meals and work. The three married couples had private rooms walled off, so that the large house was relieved of them, as well as of all the other soldiers. A magazine for furs only was also erected behind the house, near the powder-magazine, leaving the loft free for stores, and the rafters and ribs of the ladder were bound with iron cramps, that they might be able to resist all attacks. McNabb also intended to build a little wooden chapel, which had been included in Hobbson's original plan of the factory, but its erection was put off until next summer. With what eager interest would the lieutenant have once watched the progress of his establishment? Had he been building on firm ground, with what delight he would have watched the houses, sheds, and magazines rising about him? He remembered the scheme of crowning Cape Bathurst with a re-doute for the protection of Fort Hope with a sigh. The very name of the factory, Fort Hope, made his heart sink within him, for should it not more truly be called Fort Despair? These various works took up the whole summer, and there was no time for Inui. The construction of the boat proceeded rapidly. McNabb meant it to be of about thirty tons measurement, which would make it large enough to carry some twenty passengers, several hundred miles, in the fine season. The carpenter had been fortunate enough to find some bent pieces of wood, so that he was able quickly to form the first ribs of the vessel. And soon the stern and stern post, fixed to the keel, were upon the dockyard at the foot of Cape Bathurst. Whilst the carpenters were busy with hatchets, saws, and adzes, the hunters were eagerly hunting the reindeer and polar hares, which abounded near the fort. The lieutenant, however, told Marbra and Sabine not to go far away, stating as a reason that until the buildings were completed, he did not wish to attract the notice of rivals. The truth was, he did not wish the changes which had taken place to be noticed. One day Marbra inquired, if it was not now time to go to Walrus's bay, and get a fresh supply of morse oil for burning, and Hobbson replied, rather hastily, no Marbra, it would be useless. The lieutenant knew only too well that Walrus's bay was two hundred miles away, and that there were no morses to be hunted on the island. It must not be supposed that Hobbson considered the situation desperate even now. He often assured Mrs. Barnett, mad and long, that he was convinced the island would hold together until the bitter cold of winter, should thicken its foundation, and arrest its course at one in the same time. After his journey of discovery, Hobbson estimated exactly the area of his new dominions. The island measured more than forty miles round, from which its superficial area would appear to be about one hundred and forty miles at the least. By way of comparison we may say that Victoria Island was rather larger than St. Helena, and its area was about the same as that of Paris, within the line of fortifications. If then it should break up into fragments, the separate parts might still be of sufficient size to be habitable for some time. When Mrs. Barnett expressed her surprise that a floating ice-field could be so large, Hobbson replied by reminding her of the observations of Arctic navigators. Perry, Penny and Franklin had met with ice-fields in the polar seas one hundred miles long and fifty broad. Captain Calais abandoned his boat on an ice-field measuring at least three hundred square miles, and what was Victoria Island compared to it? Its size was, however, sufficient to justify a hope that it would resist the action of the warm currents until the cold weather set in. Hobbson would not allow himself to doubt. His despair arose rather from the knowledge that the fruit of all his cares, anxieties, and dangers must eventually be swallowed up by the deep, and it was no wonder that he could take no interest in the works that were going on. Mrs. Barnett kept up a good heart through it all. She encouraged her comrades and their work, and took her share in it, as if she had still a future to look forward to. Seeing what an interest Mrs. Joliff took in her plants, she joined her every day in the garden. There was now a fine crop of sorrel and scurvy grass, thanks to the corporal's unwearying exertions, to keep off the birds of every kind, which congregated by hundreds. The taming of the reindeer had been quite successful. There were now a good many young and little Michael had been partly brought up on milk of the mothers. There were now some thirty-head in the herd, which grazed near the fort, and a supply of the herbage on which they fed was dried and laid up for the winter. These useful animals, which are easily domesticated, were already quite familiar with all the colonists, and did not go far from the incant. Some of them were used in sledges to carry timber backwards and forwards. A good many reindeer, still wild, fell into the trap halfway between the fort and Port Burnett. It will be remembered that a large bear was once taken in it, but nothing of the kind occurred this season. None fell victims but the reindeer, whose flesh was salted and laid by for future use. Twenty at least were taken, which in the ordinary course of things would have gone down to the south in the winter. One day, however, a reindeer trap suddenly became useless, in consequence of the confirmation of the soil. After visiting it as usual, the hunter Marbra approached Hobson, and said to him in a significant tone, �I have just paid my daily visit to the reindeer trap, sir. Well, Marbra, I hope you have been as successful to-day as yesterday, that have caught a couple of reindeer.� Hobson replied. �No, no, sir� replied Marbra, with some embarrassment. �Your trap has not yielded its ordinary contingent, then? �No, sir, and if any animal had fallen in, it would certainly have been drowned.� �Drowned?� cried the lieutenant, looking at the hunter, with an anxious expression. �Yes, sir� replied Marbra, looking attentively at his superior. �The pit is full of water.� �Ah!� said Hobson, in the tone of a man who attached no importance to that. �You know your pit was partly hollowed out of ice. Its walls have melted with the heat of the sun, and then... � �Beg pardon for interrupting you, sir� said Marbra, �but the water cannot have been produced by the melting of ice.� �Why not, Marbra?� �Because if it came from ice it would be sweet, as you explained to me once before. Now the water in our pit is salt.� Master of himself as he was, Hobson could not help, changing countenance slightly, and he had not a word to say. �Besides� added Marbra, �I wanted to sound the trench to see how deep the water was, and to my great surprise I can tell you I could not find the bottom.� �Well, Marbra� replied Hobson hastily. �There is nothing so wonderful in that. Some fracture of the soil has established a communication between the sea and the trap. So don�t be uneasy about it, my brave fellow, but leave the trap alone for the present, and be content with setting snares near the fort.� Marbra touched his cap respectfully, and turned on his heel, but not before he had given his chief a searching glance. Hobson remained very thoughtful for a few moments. Marbra�s tidings were of grave importance. It was evident that the bottom of the trench gradually melted by the warm waters of the sea had given way. One at once called the sergeant, and having acquainted him with the incident, they went together, unnoticed by their companions, to the beach at the foot of Cape Bathurst, where they had made the benchmarks. They examined them carefully, and found that since they lasted so, the floating island had sunk six inches. We are sinking gradually, murmured Sergeant Long, the ice is wearing away. �Oh, for the winter! the winter!� cried Hobson, stamping his foot upon the ground. But as yet alas! there is no sign of the approach of the cold season. The thermometer maintained a mean height of fifty-nine degrees Fahrenheit, and during the few hours of the night the column of mercury scarcely went down three degrees. Preparations for the approaching winter went on apace, and there was really nothing wanting to fort hope, although it had not been revictualed by Captain Creventy's detachment. The long hours of the Arctic night might be awaited in perfect security. The stores were, of course, carefully husbanded. There still remained plenty of spirits, only small quantities having been consumed, and there was a good stock of biscuits which once gone could not be replaced. Fresh venison and salt-meat would be had in abundance, and with some anti-scorbutic vegetables the diet was mostly healthy, and all the members of the little colony were well. A good deal of timber was cut in the woods, clothing the eastern slopes of Lake Barnett. Many were the birch-trees, pines, and furs which fell beneath the axe of McNabb, and were dragged to the house by the tamed reindeer. The carpenter did not spare the little forest, although he cut his wood judiciously, for he never dreamt that timber might fail him, imagining as he did Victoria Island to be a peninsula, annoying the districts near Cape Michael to be rich in different species of trees. Many a time did the unconscious carpenter congratulate his lieutenant on having chosen a spot so favoured by heaven. Woods, game, furred animals, a lagoon teeming with fish, plenty of herbs for the animals, and, as Corporal Jolief would have added, double pay for the man. Was not Cape Bathurst a corner of privileged land, the like of which was not to be found in the whole Arctic region? Truly Hobson was a favourite of heaven, and ought to return thanks to Providence every day for the discovery of this unique spot. Ah, McNabb, you little knew how you wrung the heart of your master when you talked in that strain. The manufacturer of winter garments was not neglected in the factory. Mrs. Burnett, Maj, Mrs. McNabb, Mrs. Ray, and Mrs. Jolief, when she could leave her fires, were alike indefatigable. Mrs. Burnett knew that they would all have to leave the fort in the depth of winter, and was determined that every one should be warmly clothed. They would have to face the bitterest cold for a good many days during the polar night, if Victoria Island should halt far from the Continent. Boots and clothes ought indeed to be strong and well made, for crossing some hundreds of miles under such circumstances Mrs. Burnett and Maj devoted all their energies to the matter in hand, and the furs which they knew it would be impossible to save were turned to good account. They were used double so that the soft hair was both inside and outside of the clothes, and when wearing them the whole party would be as richly attired as the grandest princesses or the most wealthy ladies. Those not in the secret were rather surprised at the free use made of the company's property. But Hobbson's authority was not to be questioned, and really Martins, Polkats, Musgrats, Beavers, and Foxes multiplied with such rapidity near the fort that all the furs used could easily be replaced by a few shots, with a setting of a few traps. And when Mrs. McNabb saw the beautiful earmine coat which had been made for her baby, her delight was unbounded, and she no longer wondered at anything. So passed the days until the middle of the month of August. The weather continued fine, and any mists which were gathered on the horizon were quickly dispersed by the sunbeams. Every day Hobbson took the bearings, taking care, however, to go some distance from the fort that suspicions might not be aroused. And he also visited different parts of the island, and was reassured by finding that no important changes appeared to be taking place. On the 16th August, Victoria Island was situated in 167 degrees, 27 minutes west longitude, and 70 degrees, 49 minutes north latitude. It had therefore drifted slightly to the south, but without getting any nearer to the American coast, which curved considerably. The distance traversed by the island since the fracture of the ith smith, or rather since the last thaw, could not be less than eleven or twelve hundred miles to the west. But what was this distance compared to the vast extent of the ocean? Had not boats been known to be drifted several thousands of miles by currents? Was not this the case with the English ship Resolute or the American brig Advance, and with the Fox, all of which were carried along upon ice-fields until the winter arrested their advance? From the 17th to the 20th August the weather continued fine, and the temperature moderate. The mists on the horizon were not resolved into clouds, and altogether the weather was exceptionally beautiful for such an elevated position. It will be readily understood, however, that Hobson could take no pleasure in the fineness of the climate. On the 21st August, however, the barometer gave notice of an approaching change. The column of mercury suddenly fell considerably, the sun was completely hidden at the moment of culmination, and Hobson was unable to take his bearings. The next day the wind changed, and blew strongly from the northwest, torrents of rain falling at intervals. Meanwhile, however, the temperature did not change to any sensible extent, the thermometer remaining at fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately the proposed works were now all finished, and McNabb had completed the carcass of his boat, which was planked and ribbed. Hunting might now be neglected a little as the stores were complete, which was fortunate, for the weather became very bad. The wind was high, the rain incessant, and thick fogs rendered it impossible to go beyond the incant of the fort. What do you think of this change in the weather, Lieutenant? inquired Mrs. Barnett On the morning of the 27th August, might it not be in our favour? I should not like to be sure of it, madam. Replied Hobson, but anything is better for us than the magnificent weather we have lately had, during which the sun made the waters warmer and warmer. Then, too, the wind from the northwest is so very strong that it may perhaps drive us nearer to the American continent. Unfortunately, observed long, we can't take our bearings every day now. It's impossible to see either sun, moon, or stars in this fog. Fancy attempting to take an altitude now. We shall see well enough to recognize America if we get anywhere near it, said Mrs. Barnett. Whatever land we approach will be welcome. It will most likely be some part of Russian America, probably Western Alaska. You are right, madam, said Hobson. For, unfortunately, in the whole Arctic Ocean there is not an island, an islet, or even a rock to which we could fasten our vessel. Well, rejoined Mrs. Barnett, why should not our conveyance take us straight to the coast of Asia? Might not the currents carry us past the opening of Bering Strait and land us on the shores of Siberia? No, madam, no, replied Hobson. Our ice-field would soon meet the Kamchatka current and be carried by it to the northwest. It is more likely, however, that this wind will drive us towards the shores of Russian America. We must keep watch, then, said Mrs. Barnett, and ascertain our position as soon as possible. We shall indeed keep watch, replied Hobson, although this fog is very much against us. If we should be driven on to the coast, the shock will be felt, even if we cannot see. Let's hope the island will not fall to pieces in this storm. That is, at present, our principal danger. Well, when it comes we shall see what there is to be done, and meanwhile we must wait patiently. Of course this conversation was not held in the public room, where the soldiers and women worked together. It was in their own room, with the window looking out on the court, that Mrs. Barnett received at visitors. It was almost impossible to see indoors even in the daytime, and the wind could be heard rushing by outside like an avalanche. Fortunately Kate Bathurst protected the house from the northeast winds, but the sand and earth from its summit were hurled down upon the roof with a noise like the pattering of hail. McNabb began to feel fresh uneasiness about his chimneys, which it was absolutely necessary to keep in good order. With the roaring of the wind was mingled that of the sea, as its huge waves broke upon the beach, the storm had become a hurricane. In spite of the fury of the gale, Hobson determined on the morning of the 28th of August to climb to the summit of Kate Bathurst in order to examine the state of the horizon, the sea and the sky. He therefore wrapped himself up, taking care to have nothing about him likely to give hold the wind, and set out. He got to the foot of the cape without much difficulty. The sand and earth blinded him, it is true, but protected by the cliff he had not as yet actually faced the wind. The fatigue began when he attempted to climb the almost perpendicular sides of the promontory, but by clutching at the tufts of herbs with which they were covered he managed to get to the top. But there the fury of the gales was such that he could neither remain standing nor seated. He was therefore forced to fling himself upon his face behind the little corpus and cling to some shrubs, only raising his head and shoulders above the ground. The appearance of sea and sky was indeed terrible. The spray dashed over the lieutenant's head, and half a mile from the cape water and clouds were confounded together in a thick mist. Low-jagged rain clouds were chased along the heavens with giddy rapidity, and heavy masses of vapor were piled upon the zenith. Every now and then an awful stillness fell upon the land, and the only sounds were the breaking of the surf upon the beach and the roaring of the angry billows. But then the tempest recommenced with redoubled fury, and Hobson felt the cape tremble to its foundations. Sometimes the rain poured down with such violence that it resembled grapeshot. It was indeed a terrible hurricane from the very worst quarter of the heavens. This northeast wind might blow for a long time and cause all manner of havoc. Yet Hobson, who would generally have grieved over the destruction around him, did not complain. On the contrary, he rejoiced, for if, as he hoped, the island held together, it must be driven to the south-west by this wind, so much more powerful than the currents. And the south-west meant land, hope, safety. Yes, for his own sake, and for that of all with him, he hoped that the hurricane would last until it had flung them upon the land, no matter where. That which would have been fatal to a ship was the best thing that could happen to the floating island. Over a quarter of an hour, Hobson remained crouching upon the ground, clutching at the shrubs like a drowning man at a spar, lashed by the wind, drenched by the rain and the spray. Struggling to estimate all the chances of safety, the storm might afford him. At the end of that time he let himself slide down the cape, and fought his way to Fort Hope. Hobson's first care was to tell his comrades that the hurricane was not yet at his height, and that it would probably last a long time yet. He announced these tidings with the manner of one bringing good news, and everyone looked at him in astonishment. Their chief officer really seemed to take a delight in the fury of the elements. On the thirtieth Hobson again braved the tempest, not this time climbing the cape, but going down to the beach. What was his joy at noticing some long weeds floating on the top of the waves, a kind which did not grow on Victoria Island? Christopher Columbus's delight was not greater when he saw the seaweed which told him of the proximity of land. The lieutenant hurried back to the fort, and told Mrs. Barnette and Sergeant Long of his discovery. He had a good mind to tell everyone the whole truth now, but a strange presentment kept him silent. The occupants of the fort had plenty to amuse them in the long days of compulsory confinement. They went on improving the inside of the various buildings, and dug trenches in the court to carry away the rainwater. McNabb, a hammer in one hand and a nail in the other, was always busy at a job, in some corner or another, and nobody took much note of the tempest outside in the daytime. But at night it was impossible to sleep. The wind beat upon the buildings like a battering ram. Between the house and the cape sometimes whirled a huge waterspout of extraordinary dimensions. The planks cracked, the beams seemed about to separate, and there was the danger of the whole structure tumbling down. McNabb and his men lived in a state of perpetual tread, and had to be continually on the watch. Meanwhile, Hobson was uneasy about the stability of the island itself, rather than that of the house upon it. The tempest became so violent, and the sea so rough, that there was really a danger of the dislocation of the ice field. It seemed impossible for it to resist much longer, diminished as it was in thickness, and subject to the perpetual action of the waves. It is true that its inhabitants did not feel any motion, on account of its vast extent, but it suffered from it nonetheless. The point at issue was simple. Would the island last until it was flung upon the coast, or would it fall to pieces before it touched firm ground? There could be no doubt that thus far it had resisted, as the lieutenant explained to Mrs. Barnett, had it already been broken, had the ice field already divided into a number of islets, the occupants of the fort must have noticed it. For the different pieces would have been small enough to be affected by the motion of the sea, and the people on any one of them would have been pitched about like passengers on a boat. This was not the case, and in his daily observations, Lieutenant Hobson had noticed no movement or whatever, not so much as a trembling of the island, which appeared as firm and motionless as when it was still connected by its isthmus with the mainland. But the breaking up which had not yet taken place might happen at any minute. Hobson was most anxious to ascertain whether Victoria Island, driven by the northwest wind out of the current, had approached the continent. Everything, in fact, depended on this, which was their last chance of safety. But without sun, moon or stars, instruments were, of course, useless, as no observations could be taken, and the exact position of the island could not be determined. If then they were approaching the land, they would only know it when the land came in sight, and Hobson's only means of ascertaining anything in time to be of any service was to get to the south of his dangerous dominions. The position of Victoria Island, with regard to the cardinal points, had not sensibly altered all the time. Kate Bathurst still pointed to the north as it did when it was the advanced post of North America. It was therefore evident that if Victoria Island should come alongside the continent, it would touch it with its southern side. The communication would, in a word, be re-established by means of the broken isthmus. It was therefore imperative to ascertain what was going on in that direction. Hobson determined to go to Kate Michael, however terrible the storm might be, but he meant to keep the real motive of his reconnaissance a secret from his companions. Sergeant Long was to accompany him. About four o'clock p.m. on the thirty-first August, Hobson sent for the sergeant in his own room that they might arrange together for all eventualities. Sergeant Long, he began, it is necessary that we should, without delay, ascertain the position of Victoria Island and above all, whether this wind has, as I hope, driven it near to the American continent. I quite agree with you, sir, replied Long, and the sooner we find out, the better. But it will necessitate her going down to the south of the island. I am ready, sir. I know, sergeant, that you are always ready to do your duty, but you will not go alone. Two of us ought to go, that we might be able to let our comrades know if any land is in sight, and besides I must see for myself we will go together. When you're like Lieutenant, just when you think best, we will start this evening at nine o'clock when everybody else has gone to bed. Yes, they would all want to come with us, said Long, and they must not know why we go so far from the factory. No, they must not know, replied Hobson, and if I can, I will keep the knowledge of our awful situation from them until the end. It is agreed then, sir? Yes. You will take a tinder-box and some touchwood, footnote, a fungus used as tinder, polyporous, ignarius, with you, so that we can make a signal if necessary, if land is in sight in the south, for instance. Yes, sir. We shall have a rough journey, sergeant. What does that matter, sir? But by the way, the lady? I don't think I shall tell her. She would want to go with us. And she could not, said the sergeant, a woman could not battle with such a gale. Just see how its fury is increasing at this moment. Indeed, the house was rocking, to such an extent that it seemed likely to be torn from its foundations. No, said Hobson, courageous as she is, she could not. She ought not to accompany us. But on second thought it will be best to tell her of our project. She ought to know, in case any accident should befall us. Yes, replied Long. We ought not to keep anything from her. And if we do not come back. At nine o'clock, then, sergeant. At nine o'clock. And with a military salute, sergeant Long retired. A few minutes later, Hobson was telling Mrs. Barnett of his scheme. As he expected, the brave woman insisted on accompanying him and was quite ready to face the tempest. Hobson did not dissuade her by dwelling on the dangers of the expedition. He merely said that her presence was necessary at the fort during his absence, and that her remaining would set his mind at ease. If any accident should happen to him, it would be a comfort to know that she would take his place. Mrs. Barnett understood and said no more about going, but only urged Hobson not to risk himself unnecessarily. To remember that he was the chief officer, that his life was not his own, but necessary to the safety of all. The lieutenant promised to be as prudent as possible, but added that the examination of the south of the island must be made at once, and he would make it. The next day Mrs. Barnett merely told her companions that the lieutenant and sergeant had gone to make a final reconnaissance before the winter set in. CHAPTER VII. A FIRE AND A CRY. The lieutenant and the sergeant spent the evening in the large room of the fort, where all were assembled except the astronomer, who still remained shut up in his cabin. The men were busy over their various occupations, some cleaning their arms, others mending or sharpening their tools. The women were stitching away industriously, and Mrs. Paulina Barnett was reading aloud. But she was often interrupted not only by the noise of the wind which shook the walls of the house like a battering-ram, but by the cries of the baby. Corporal Jolif, who had undertaken to amuse him, had enough to do. The young gentleman had ridden upon his playmate's knees until they were worn out, and the corporal at last put the indefatigable little cavalier on the large table where he rolled about to his heart's content until he fell asleep. At eight o'clock prayers were read as usual. The lamps were extinguished, and all retired to rest. When everyone was asleep, Hobbson and Long crept cautiously across the large room, and gained the passage, where they found Mrs. Barnett, who wished to press their hands once more. "'Till to-morrow,' she said to the lieutenant. "'Yes,' replied Hobbson, to-morrow, madam, without fail. "'But if you are delayed?' "'You must wait patiently for us,' replied the lieutenant. "'For if, in examining the southern horizon, we should see a fire, which is not unlikely this dark night, we should know that we were near the coasts of New Georgia, and then it would be desirable for me to ascertain our position by daylight. In fact, we may be away forty-eight hours. If, however, we can get to Kate Michael before midnight, we shall be back at the fort to-morrow evening, so wait patiently, madam, and believe that we shall incur no unnecessary risk. "'But,' added the lady, "'Suppose you don't get back to-morrow. Suppose you are away more than two days!' Then we shall not return at all,' replied Hobbson simply. The door was opened. Mrs. Barnett closed it behind the lieutenant, and his companion, and went back to her own room, where Madge awaited her, feeling anxious and thoughtful. The horizon and long made their way across the inner court, through a whirlwind, which nearly knocked them down. But clinging to each other, and leaning on their iron-bound staffs, they reached the post and gates, and set out between the hills and the eastern bank of the lagoon. A faint twilight enabled them to see their way. The moon, which was new the night before, would not appear above the horizon, and there was nothing to lessen the gloom of the darkness, which would, however, last but a few hours longer. The wind and rain were as violent as ever. The lieutenant and his companions wore impervious boots and waterproof cloaks, well pulled in at the waist, and the hood completely covering their heads. Thus protected they got along at a rapid pace, for the wind was behind them, and sometimes drove them on faster than they cared to go. Talking was quite out of the question, and they did not attempt it, for they were deafened by the hurricane, and out of breath with the buffeting they received. Hobbson did not mean to follow the coast, the windings of which would have taken him a long way around, and have brought him face to face with the wind, which swept over the sea with nothing to break its fury. His idea was to cut in a straight line from Kate Bathurst to Kate Michael, and he was provided, with a pocket compass with which to ascertain his bearings. He hoped by this means to cross the ten or eleven miles between him and his gall, just before the twilight faded, and gave place to the two hours of real darkness. Bent almost double, with rounded shoulders and stooping heads, the two pressed on. As long as they kept near the lake they did not meet the gale full face. The little hills crowned with trees afforded them some protection. The wind howled fearfully as it bent and distorted the branches, almost tearing the trunks up by the roots. But it partly exhausted its strength, and even the rain when it reached the explorers was converted into impalpable mist, so that about four miles they did not suffer half as much as they expected to. But when they reached the southern skirts of the wood, where the hills disappeared, and there were neither trees nor rising ground, the wind swept along with an awful force, and involuntarily they paused for a moment. They were still six miles from Kate Michael. We're going to have a bad time of it, shouted Lieutenant Hobson in the sergeant's ear. Yes, the wind and rain will conspire to give us a good beating, answered long. I'm afraid that now and then we shall have hail as well, answered Hobson. It won't be as deadly as grapeshot, replied Long Cooley, and we have both been through that, and so forwards, forwards, my brave comrade. It was then, ten o'clock, the twilight was fading away, dying as if drowned in the mists or quenched by the rain and wind. There was still, however, some light, and the Lieutenant struck his flint, and consulted his compass, passing a piece of burning touchwood over it, and then, drying his cloak more closely around him, he plunged after the sergeant across the unprotected plain. At the first step both were flung violently to the ground, but they managed to scramble up, and clinging to each other with their backs bent like two old crippled peasant, they struck into a kind of ambling trot. There was a kind of awful grandeur in the storm, to which neither was insensible. Jagged masses of mist and ragged rain-clouds swept along the ground. The loose earth and sand whirled into the air, and flung down again like grapeshot, and the lips of Hobson and his companions were wet with salt spray, although the sea was two or three miles distant at least. During the rare brief pauses in the gale, they stopped and took breath, whilst the Lieutenant ascertained their position as accurately as possible. The tempest increased as the night advanced. The air and water seemed to be absolutely confounded together, and low down on the horizon was formed one of those fearful waterspouts which can overthrow houses, tear up forests, and which the vessels, whose safety they threatened, attack with artillery. It really seemed as if the ocean itself was being torn from its bed, and flung over the devoted little island. Hobson could not help wondering how it was that the ice-field which supported it was not broken in a hundred places in this violent convulsion of the sea, the roaring of which could be distinctly heard where he stood. Presently Long, who was a few steps in advance, stopped suddenly, and turning round managed to make the Lieutenant hear the broken words. Not that way! Why not? The sea! What? The sea? We cannot possibly have got to the southeast coast. Look, look, Lieutenant! It was true, a vast sheet of water was indistinctly visible before them, and large waves were rolling up and breaking at the Lieutenant's feet. Hobson again had recourse to his flint, and with the aid of some lighted touch wood consulted the needle of his compass very carefully. No, he said, the sea is farther to the left. We have not yet passed the wood between us and Cape Michael. Then it is—it's a fracture of the island, cried Hobson, as both were compelled to fling themselves to the ground before the wind. Either a large portion of our land has been broken off, and drifted away, or a gulf has been made, which we can go around. They struggled to their feet, and turned to the right, towards the center of the island. For about ten minutes they pressed on in silence, fearing, not without reason, that all communication with the south of the island would be found to be cut off. Presently, however, they no longer heard the noise of the breakers. It is only a gulf, screamed Hobson, in the sergeant's ear, let us turn around. Then they resumed their original direction towards the south. But both knew only too well that they had a fearful danger to face, for that portion of the island on which they were was evidently cracked for a long distance, and might at any moment separate entirely. Should it do so under the influence of the waves they would inevitably be drifted away, whether they knew not. Yet they did not hesitate, but plunged into the mist, not even pausing, to wonder if they should ever get back. What anxious forebodings must, however, have passed upon the heart of the lieutenant. Could he now hope that the island would hold together until the winter had not the inevitable breaking up already commenced? If the wind should not drive them on to the coast, were they not doomed to perish very soon, to be swallowed up by the deep, leaving no trace behind them? What a fearful prospect for all the unconscious inhabitants of the fort. But through it all the two men, upheld by the consciousness of a duty to perform, bravely struggled on, against the gale, which nearly tore them to pieces, along the new beach, the foam sometimes bathing their feet, and presently gained the large wood which shut in, Kate Michael. This they would have to cross to get to the coast by the shortest route, and they entered it in complete darkness, the wind thundering among the branches over their heads. Everything seemed to be breaking to pieces around them. The dislocated branches intercepted their passage, and every moment they ran a risk of being crushed beneath a falling tree, or they stumbled over a stump they had not been able to see in the gloom. The noise of the waves on the other side of the wood was a sufficient guide to their steps, and sometimes the furious breakers shook the weakened ground beneath their feet. Holding each other's hands, lest they should lose each other, supporting each other, and the one helping the other up when he fell over some obstacle, they at last reached the point for which they were bound. But the instant they quitted the shelter of the wood, a perfect whirlwind tore them asunder, and flung them upon the ground. "'Sergeant, sergeant, where are you?' cried Hobson, with all the strength of his lungs. "'Here, here!' roared Long in reply. And creeping on the ground, they struggled to reach each other, but it seemed as if a powerful hand riveted them to the spot on which they had fallen, and it was only after many futile efforts that they managed to reach each other. Having done so, they tied their belts together to prevent another separation. Then crept along the sand to a little rising ground, crowned by a small clump of pines. Once there they were a little more protected, and they proceeded to dig themselves a hole in which they crouched in a state of absolute exhaustion and prostration. It was half past eleven o'clock p.m. For some minutes neither spoke. With eyes half closed they lay in a kind of turpor, whilst the trees above them bent beneath the wind, and their branches rattled like the bones of a skeleton. But yet again they roused themselves from this fatal lethargy, and a few mouthfuls of rum from the sergeant's flask revived them. "'Let us hope these trees will hold,' at last observed Hobson. "'And that our hole will not blow away with them,' added the sergeant, croaching in the soft sand. "'Well,' said Hobson, here we are at last a few feet from Kate Michael, and as we came to make observations, let us make them. I have a presentiment, sergeant, only a presentiment, remember, that we are not far from firm ground.' Had the southern horizon been visible, the two adventurers would have been able to see two-thirds of it from the position. But it was too dark to make out anything, and if the hurricane had indeed driven them within sight of land, they would not be able to see it until daylight, unless a fire should be lighted on the continent. As the lieutenant had told Mrs. Barnett, fishermen often visited that part of North America, which is called New Georgia, and there are a good many small native colonies, the members of which collect the teeth of mammoths, these fossil elephants being very numerous in these latitudes. A few degrees further south, on the island of Sitka, rises New Archangel, the principal settlement in Russian America, and the headquarters of the Russian fur company, whose jurisdiction once extended over the whole of the Aleutian Islands. The shores of the Arctic Ocean are, however, the favorite resort of hunters, especially since the Hudson's Bay Company took a lease of the districts formerly in the hands of the Russians, and Hobson, although he knew nothing of the country, was well acquainted with the habits of those who were likely to visit it at this time of the year, and was justified in thinking that he might meet fellow countrymen, perhaps even members of his own company, or failing them some native Indians scouring the coasts. But could the lieutenant reasonably hope that Victoria Island had been driven towards the coast? Yes, a hundred times yes, he repeated to the sergeant again and again, for seven days a hurricane has been blowing from the northeast, and although I know that the island is very flat, and there is not much for the wind to take hold of, still all these little hills and woods spread out like sails must have felt the influence of the wind to a certain extent. Moreover, the sea which bears us along feels its power, and large waves are certainly running inshore. It is impossible for us to have remained in the current which was dragging us to the west. We must have been driven out of it, and towards the south. Last time we took our bearings we were two hundred miles from the coast, and in seven days. Your reasonings are very just, lieutenant, replied the sergeant, and I feel that whether the winds help us or not, God will not forsake us. It cannot be his will that so many unfortunate creatures should perish, and I put my trust in him. The two talked on, in broken sentences, making each other here above the roaring of the storm, and struggling to pierce the gloom which closed them in on every side, but they could see nothing, not a ray of light, broke the thick darkness. About half-past one a.m. the hurricane ceased for a few minutes, whilst the fury of the sea seemed to be redoubled, and the large waves, lashed into foam, broke over each other with a roar like thunder. Suddenly Hobbson, seizing his companion's arm, shouted, Sergeant, do you hear? What? The noise of the sea. Of course I do, sir, replied Long, listening more attentively, and the sound of the breakers seems to me not exactly the same, isn't it, Sergeant? Listen, listen. It is like the sound of surf. It seems as if the waves were breaking against rocks. Hobbson and the sergeant now listened intently. The monotonous sounds of the waves dashing against each other in the offing was certainly exchanged for the regular, rolling sound produced by the breaking of water against a hard body. They heard the reverberating echoes which told of the neighborhood of rocks, and they knew that along the whole of the coast of their island there was not a single stone, and nothing more sonorous than the earth and sand of which it was composed. Could they have been deceived? The sergeant tried to rise to listen better, but he was immediately flung down by the hurricane, which recommended with renewed violence. The lull was over, and again the noise of the waves was drowned in the shrill whistling of the wind, and the peculiar echo could no longer be made out. The anxiety of the two explorers will readily be imagined. They again crouched down in their hole, doubting whether it would not perhaps be prudent to leave even this shelter, for they felt the sand giving way beneath them, and the pines cracking at their very roots. They persevered, however, in gazing towards the south. Every nerve strained to the utmost in the effort to distinguish objects through the darkness. The first gray of twilight of the dawn might soon be expected to appear, and a little before half-past two a.m. long suddenly exclaimed, I see it! What? A fire! A fire? Yes, there, over there! And he pointed to the south-west. Was he mistaken? No. For Hobson also made out a faint glimmer in the direction indicated. Yes, he cried. Yes, Sergeant, a fire. There is land there. Unless it is a fire on board ship, replied Long. A ship at sea in this weather exclaimed Hobson, impossible. No, no, there is land there, land, I tell you, a few miles from us. Well, let us make a signal. Yes, Sergeant, we will reply to the fire on the mainland by a fire on our island. Of course neither Hobson nor Long had a torch, but above their heads rose resinous pines distorted by the hurricane. Your flint, Sergeant, said Hobson. Long at once struck his flint, lighted the touch wood, and creeping along the sand, time to the foot of the thicket of firs, where he was soon joined by the lieutenant. There was plenty of dead wood about, and they piled it up at the stems of the trees. Set fire to it, and soon the wind helping them, they had the satisfaction of seeing the whole thicket in a blaze. Ha, said Hobson, as we saw their fire they will see ours. The firs burnt with a lurid glare like a large torch. The dried resin in the old trunks aided the conflagration, and they were rapidly consumed. At last the crackling ceased, the flames died away, and all was darkness. Hobson and Long looked in vain for an answering fire. Nothing was to be seen. For ten minutes they watched, hoping against hope, and were just beginning to despair, when suddenly a cry was heard, a distinct cry for help. It was a human voice, and it came from the sea. Hobson and Long, wild with eager anxiety, let themselves slide down to the shore. The cry was not, however, repeated. The daylight was now gradually beginning to appear, and the violence of the tempest seemed to be decreasing. Soon it was light enough for the horizon to be examined, but there was no land in sight. Sea and sky were still blended in one unbroken circle. CHAPTER VIII Mrs. Polina Barnett's Excursion The whole morning, Hobson and Sergeant Long wandered about the coast. The weather was much improved. The rain had ceased, and the wind had veered round to the southeast, with extraordinary suddenness, without unfortunately decreasing in violence, causing fresh anxiety to the lieutenant, who could no longer hope to reach the mainland. The southeast wind would drive the wandering island further from the continent, and fling it into the dangerous currents which must drift it to the north of the Arctic Ocean. How could they even be sure that they had really approached the coast during the awful night just over? Might it not have been merely a fancy of the lieutenants? The air was now clear, and they could look round a radius of several miles. Yet there was nothing in the least resembling land within sight. Might they not adopt the sergeant's suggestion that a ship had passed the island during the night, that the fire and cry were alike signals of sailors in distress? And if it had been a vessel, must it not have founded in such a storm? Whatever the explanation, there was no sign of a wreck to be seen either in the offing or on the beach, and the waves now driven along by the wind from the land were large enough to have overwhelmed any vessel. Well, Lieutenant, said Sergeant Long, what is to be done? We must remain upon our island, replied the lieutenant, pressing his hand to his brow. We must remain on our island and wait for winter. It alone can save us. It was now midday, and Hobson, anxious to get back to Fort Hope before the evening, at once turned towards Cape Bathurst. The wind, being now on their backs, helped them along as it had done before. They could not help feeling very uneasy, as they were naturally afraid that the island might have separated into two parts in the storm. The gulf observed the night before might have spread further, and if so, they would be cut off from their friends. They soon reached the wood they had crossed the night before. Numbers of trees were lying on the ground with some broken stems, others torn up by the roots from the soft soil which had not afforded them sufficient support. The few which remained erect were stripped of their leaves. Their naked branches creaked and moaned as the southeast wind swept over them. Two miles beyond this desolated forest, the wanderers arrived at the edge of the gulf they had seen the night before without being able to judge of its extent. They examined it carefully and found that it was about fifty feet wide, cutting the coastline straight across near Cape Michael, and what was formerly Fort Burnett, forming a kind of estuary running more than a mile and a half inland. If the sea should again become rough in a fresh storm, this gulf would widen more and more. Just as Hobbson approached the beach, he saw a large piece of ice separate from the island and float away. Ah! murmured long, that is the danger. Both then turned hurriedly to the west and walked as fast as they could round the huge gulf, making direct for Fort Hope. They noticed no other changes, by the way, and towards four o'clock they crossed the court and found all their comrades at their usual occupations. Hobbson told his men that he had wished once more before the winter to see if there were any signs of the approach of Captain Creventy's convoy, and that his expedition had been fruitless. Then, sir, observed Marbra, I suppose we must give up all idea of seeing our comrades from Fort Reliance for this year at least. I think you must, replied Hobbson simply, re-entering the public room. Mrs. Barnett and Maj. were told of the two chief events of the exploration—the fire and the cry. Hobbson was quite sure that neither he nor the sergeant were mistaken. The fire had really been seen, the cry had really been heard, and after a long consultation every one came to the conclusion that a ship in distress had passed within sight during the night, and that the island had not approached the American coast. The southeast wind quickly chased away the clouds and mists, so that Hobbson hoped to be able to take his bearings the next day. The night was colder and a fine snow fell which quickly covered the ground. This first sign of winter was hailed with delight by all who knew of the peril of their situation. On the second September the sky gradually became free from vapors of all kinds, and the sun again appeared. Patiently the lieutenant awaited its culmination. At noon he took the latitude, and two hours later a calculation of our angles gave him the longitude. The following were the results obtained. Latitude seventy degrees fifty-seven minutes, longitude one hundred and seventy degrees thirty minutes, so that in spite of the violent hurricane the island had remained in much the same latitude, although it had been drifted somewhat further west. They were now abreast of bearing straight, but four hundred miles at least, north of Cape's East and Prince of Wales, which shut out on either side at the narrowest part of the passage. The situation was, therefore, more dangerous than ever, as the island was daily getting nearer to the dangerous Kamchukta Current, which, if it once seized it in its rapid waters, might carry it far away to the north. Its fate would now soon be decided. It would either stop where the two currents met, and there be shut in by the ice of the approaching winter, or it would be drifted away and lost in the solitudes of the remote hyperborean regions. Hobson was painfully moved on ascertaining the true state of things, and being anxious to conceal his emotion, he shut himself up in his own room, and did not appear again that day. With his chart before him he racked his brains to find some way out of the difficulties with which he was beset. The temperature fell some degrees further the same day, and the mists which had collected above the Southeastern horizon the day before resolved themselves into snow during the night, so that the next day the white carpet was two inches thick, winter was coming at last. On September 3 Mrs. Barnett resolved to go a few miles along the coast towards Cape Eskimo. She wished to see for herself the changes lately produced. If she had mentioned her project to the lieutenant he would certainly have offered to accompany her, but she did not wish to disturb him, and decided to go without him, taking match with her. There was really nothing to fear. The only formidable animals, the bears, seemed to have quite deserted the island after the earthquake, and two women might, without danger, venture on a walk of a few hours without an escort. Magic read at once to Mrs. Barnett's proposal, and without a word to any one they set out at eight o'clock a.m., provided with an ice-chisel, a flask of spirits, and a wallet of provisions. After leaving Cape Bathurst they turned to the west. The sun was already dragging its slow course along the horizon. For at this time of year it would only be a few degrees above it, at its culmination. But its oblique rays were clear and powerful, and the snow was already melting here and there beneath their influence. The coast was alive, with flocks of birds of many kinds—tarmigans, guillemons, puffins, wild geese, and ducks of every variety fluttered about, uttering their various cries, skimming the surface of the sea or of the lagoon, according as their tastes led them to prefer salt or fresh water. Mrs. Barnett had now a capital opportunity of seeing how many furred animals haunted the neighbourhood of Fort Hope. Martins, earmines, muskrats, and foxes were numerous, and the magazines of the factory might easily have been filled with their skins. But what good would that be now? The inoffensive creatures, knowing that hunting was suspended, went and came fearlessly, venturing close up to the palisade, and becoming tamer every day. Their instinct doubtless told them that they and their old enemies were alike prisoners on the island, and a common danger bound them together. It struck Mrs. Barnett, as strange, that the two enthusiastic hunters, Marbra and Sabine, should obey the lieutenant's orders to spare the furred animals without remonstrance or complaint, and appear not even to wish to shoot the valuable game around them. It was true the foxes and others had not yet assumed their winter robes, but this was not enough to explain the strange indifference of the two hunters. Whilst walking at a good pace, and talking over their strange situation, Mrs. Barnett and Maj carefully noted the peculiarities of the sandy coast. The ravages recently made by the sea were distinctly visible. Fresh landslips enabled them to see new fractures in the ice distinctly. The strand, fretted away in many places, had sunk to an enormous extent, and the waves washed along a level beach when the perpendicular shores had once checked their advance. It was evident that parts of the island were now only on a level with the ocean. Oh, Maj! exclaimed Mrs. Barnett, pointing to the long, smooth tracks on which the curling waves broke in rapid succession. Our situation has indeed become aggravated by the awful storm. It is evident that the level of the whole island is gradually becoming lower. It is now only a question of time. Will the winter come soon enough to save us? Everything will depend on that. The winter will come, my dear girl, replied Maj, with her usual unshaken confidence. We have already had two falls of snow. Ice is beginning to accumulate, and God will send it us in time, I feel sure. You are right, Maj. We must have faith, said Mrs. Barnett. We women who do not trouble ourselves about the scientific reasons for physical phenomena can hope when men who are better informed perhaps despair. This is one of our blessings which our lieutenant, unfortunately, does not share. He sees the significance of facts. He reflects. He calculates. He reckons up the time still remaining to us, and I see that he is beginning to lose all hope. He is a brave and energetic man for all that, replied Maj. Yes, added Mrs. Barnett, and if it be in the power of man to save us, he will do it. By nine o'clock the two women had walked four miles. They were often obliged to go inland for some little distance, to avoid parts of the coast already invaded by the sea. Here and there the waves had encroached half a mile beyond the former high water line, and the thickness of the ice field had been considerably reduced. There was danger that it would soon yield in many places, and that new bays would be formed all along the coast. As they got further from the fort Mrs. Barnett noticed that the number of furred animals decreased considerably. The poor creatures evidently felt more secure near a human habitation. The only formidable animals which had not been led by instinct to escape in time from the dangerous island were a few wolves, savage beasts which even a common danger did not conciliate. Mrs. Barnett and Maj saw several wandering about on the plains, but they did not approach, and soon disappeared behind the hills on the south of the lagoon. What will become of all these imprisoned animals, said Maj, when all food fails them, and they are famished with hunger in the winter? They will not be famished in a hurry, Maj, replied Mrs. Barnett, and we shall have nothing to fear from them. All the margins, ear-minds, and polar hairs which we spare will fall an easy prey to them, that is not our danger. The brittle ground beneath our feet, which may at any moment give way, is our real peril. Only look how the sea is advancing here. It already covers half the plain, and the waves, still comparatively warm, are eating away our island, above and below at the same time. If the cold does not stop it very soon, the sea will shortly join the lake, and we shall lose our lagoon, as we lost our river and our port. Well, if that should happen it will indeed be an irreparable misfortune, exclaimed Maj. Why, asked Mrs. Barnett, looking inquiringly at her companion, we shall have no more fresh water, replied Maj. Oh, we shall not want for fresh water, Maj, said Mrs. Barnett, the rain, the snow, the ice, the icebergs of the ocean, the very ice-field on which we float. We'll supply us with that. No, no, that is not our danger. About ten o'clock Mrs. Barnett and Maj had readied the rising ground above Cape Eskimole, but at least two miles inland, for they had found it impossible to follow the coast, worn away as it was by the sea. Being rather tired with the many detours they had to make, they decided to rest a few minutes before setting off on their return to Fort Hope. A little hill, crowned by a clump of birch trees, and a few shrubs afforded a pleasant shelter, and a bank covered with yellow moss, from which the snow had melted, served them as a seat. The little wallet was opened, and they shared their simple repast, like sisters. Half an hour later Mrs. Barnett proposed that they should climb along the promontory to the sea, and find out the exact state of Cape Eskimole. She was anxious to know if the point of it had resisted the storm, and Maj declared herself ready to follow her dear girl wherever she went. But at the same time reminded her that they were eight or nine miles from Cape Bathurst already, and that they must not make Lieutenant Hobbson uneasy by too long an absence. But some presentiment made Mrs. Barnett insist upon doing as she proposed, and she was right as the event proved it would only delay them half an hour after all. They had not gone a quarter of a mile before Mrs. Barnett stopped suddenly, and pointed to some clear and regular impressions upon the snow. These marks must have been made within the last nine or ten hours, or the last fall of snow would have covered them over. What animal has passed along here, I wonder, said Maj. It was not an animal, said Mrs. Barnett, bending down to examine the marks more closely. Not a quadruped, certainly, for its four feet would have left impressions very different from these. Look, Maj, they are the footprints of a human person. But who could have been here, inquired Maj. None of the soldiers or women have left the fort, and we are on an island, remember. You must be mistaken, my dear, but we will follow the marks and see where they lead us. They did so, and fifty paces further on, both again, paused. Look, Maj, look! cried Mrs. Barnett, seizing her companion's arms, and then say if I am mistaken. Look at the footprints with the marks of a heavy body, having been dragged along the snow, and the impression of a hand. It is the hand of a woman, or a child, cried Maj. Yes, replied Mrs. Barnett, a woman or a child has fallen here exhausted, and risen again to stumble on. Look at the footprints again, and farther on more falls. Who could it have been, exclaimed Maj. How can I tell, replied Mrs. Barnett, some unfortunate creature, imprisoned like ourselves, for three or four months, perhaps, or some shipwrecked wretch, flung upon the coast in a storm. You remember the fire and the cry which Sergeant Long and the Lieutenant Hobbson spoke? Come, come, Maj, there must be someone in danger for us to save. And Mrs. Barnett, dragging Maj with her, ran along following the traces, and further on found that they were stained with blood. The brave, tender-hearted woman had spoken of saving someone in danger, had she then forgotten that there is no safety for any upon the island, doomed sooner or later to be swallowed up by the ocean. The impressions on the ground led towards Cape Eskimo, and the two carefully traced them, but the footprints presently disappeared, whilst the blood stains increased, making an irregular pathway along the snow. It was evident the poor wretch had been unable to walk further, and had crept along, on hands and knees, here and there fragments of torn clothes were scattered about, bits of seal-skin and fur. Come, come, cried Mrs. Barnett, whose heart beat violently. Maj followed her. They were only a few yards from Cape Eskimo, which now rose only a few feet above the sea-level, against the background of the sky, and was quite deserted. The impressions now led them to the right of the Cape, and running along they soon climbed to the top, but there was still nothing, absolutely nothing to be seen. At the foot of the Cape, where the slight ascent began, the traces turned to the right, and led straight to the sea. Mrs. Barnett was turning to the right also, but just as she was stepping on to the beach, Maj, who had been following her and looking about uneasily, caught hold of her hand and exclaimed, Stop, stop, no Maj, no! cried Mrs. Barnett, who was drawn along by a kind of instinct, in spite of herself. Stop, stop and look! cried Maj, tightening her hold on her mistress's hand. On the beach about fifty paces from Cape Eskimo, a large white mass was moving about and growling angrily. It was an immense polar bear, and the two women watched it with beating hearts. It was pacing round and round a bundle of fur on the ground, which it smelt at every now and then, lifting it up and letting it fall again. The bundle of fur looked like the dead body of a walrus. Mrs. Barnett and Maj did not know what to think, whether to advance or to retreat. But presently, as the body was moved about, a kind of hood fell back from the head, and some long locks of brown hair were thrown over the snow. It's a woman! It's a woman! cried Mrs. Barnett, eager to rush to her assistance and find out if she were dead or alive. Stop! repleted Maj, holding her back, the bear won't harm her, and indeed the formidable creature merely turned the body over and showed no inclination of tearing it with its dreadful claws. It went away and came back, apparently uncertain what to do. It had not yet perceived the two women who were so anxiously watching it. Suddenly a loud crack was heard. The earth shook, and it seemed as if the whole of Cape Eskimo was about to be plunged into the sea. A large piece of the island had broken away, and a huge piece of ice, the center of gravity of which had been displaced, by the alteration in its specific weight, drifted away, carrying with it the bear and the body of the woman. Mrs. Barnett screamed, and would have flung herself upon the broken ice. Before it floated away, if Maj had not clutched her hand firmly, saying quietly, Stop! Stop! at the noise produced by the breaking off of the piece of ice, the bear started back with a fearful growl, and, leaving the body, rushed to the side where the fracture had taken place. But he was already some forty feet from the coast, and in his terror he ran round and round the islet, tearing up the ground with his claws, and stamping the sand and snow about him. Presently he turned to the motionless body, and to the horror of the two women, seized it by the clothes with his teeth, and carrying it to the edge of the ice, plunged with it into the sea. Being a powerful swimmer, like the whole race of Arctic bears, he soon gained the shores of the island. With a great exertion of strength, he managed to climb up the ice, and having reached the surface of the island, he quietly lay down the body he had brought with him. Mrs. Barnett could no longer be held back, and shaking off Maj's hold, she rushed to the beach, never thinking of the danger she ran in, facing a formidable, carnivorous creature. The bear, seeing her approach, reared upon his heightened legs, and came towards her. But at about ten paces off he paused, shook his great head, and turning round with a low growl, quietly walked away towards the center of the island, without once looking behind him. He too was evidently affected by the mysterious fear which had tamed all the wild animals on the island. Mrs. Barnett was soon bending over the body, stretched about the snow. A cry of astonishment burst from her lips. Maj! Maj! Come! she exclaimed. Maj! approached, and looked long and fixedly at the inanimate body. It was the young Eskimo girl, Kalumaha. CHAPTER IX This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Fur Country by Jules Verne. CHAPTER IX Kalumaha's Adventures Kalumaha on the floating island, two hundred miles from the American coast, it was almost incredible. The first thing to be ascertained was whether the poor creature still breathed. Was it possible to restore her to life? Mrs. Barnett loosened her clothes and found that her body was not yet quite cold. Her heart beat feebly, but it did beat. The blood they had seen came from a slight wound in her hand. Maj! bound it up with her handkerchief, and the bleeding soon ceased. At the same time Mrs. Barnett raised the poor girl's head and managed to pour a few drops of rum between her parted lips. She then bathed her forehead and temples with cold water and waited. A few minutes passed by, and neither of the watchers were able to utter a word. So anxious were they, lest the faint spark of life remaining to the young eskimo should be quenched. But at last Kalumaha's breast heaved with a faint sigh. Her hands moved feebly, and presently she opened her eyes. And recognizing her preserver she murmured, Mrs. Barnett, Mrs. Barnett! The lady was not a little surprised at hearing her own name. Had Kalumaha voluntarily sought the floating island, and did she expect to find her old European friends on it? If so, how had she come to know it? And how had she managed to reach the island two hundred miles from the mainland? How could she have guessed that the ice-field, as bearing Mrs. Barnett, and all the occupants of Fort Hope away from the American coast? Really it all seemed quite inexplicable. "'She lives, she will recover,' exclaimed Maj, who felt the vital heat, and pulsation, returning to the poor bruised body. "'Poor child, poor child,' said Mrs. Barnett, much affected. She murmured my name when she was at the point of death. But now Kalumaha again half opened her eyes, and looked about her with a dreamy, unsatisfied expression. Presently, however, seeing Mrs. Barnett, her face brightened. The same name again burst from her lips, and painfully, raising her hand, she let it fall on that of her friend. The anxious care of the two women soon revived Kalumaha, whose extreme exhaustion arose not only from fatigue, but also from fear. She had eaten nothing for forty-eight hours. Some pieces of cold venison and a little rum refreshed her, and she soon felt able to accompany her newly found friends to the fort. Before starting, however, Kalumaha seated on the sand between Mrs. Barnett and Maj, overwhelmed them with thanks and expressions of attachment. Then she told her story. She had not forgotten the Europeans of Fort Hope, and the thought of Mrs. Paulina Barnett had been ever present with her. It was not by chance, as we shall see, that she had come to Victoria Island. The following is a brief summary of what Kalumaha related to Mrs. Barnett. Our readers will remember the young Eskimos promise to come and see her friends at Fort Hope again in the fine season of the next year, the long polar night being over, and the month of May having come round, Kalumaha set out to fulfill her pledge. She left Russian America, where she had wintered, and accompanied by one of her brothers-in-law, started for the peninsula of Victoria. Six weeks later, towards the middle of June, she got to that part of British America, which is near Cape Bathurst. She at once recognized the volcanic mountains shutting in Liverpool Bay, and twenty miles further east she came to Walrus' Bay, where her people had so often hunted, morses and seals. But beyond the bay on the north there was nothing to be seen. The coast suddenly sank to the southeast in an almost straight line. Cape Eskimo and Cape Bathurst alike had disappeared. Kalumaha understood what had happened. Either the whole of the peninsula had been swallowed up by the waves, or it was floating away as an island no one knew wither. Kalumaha's tears flowed fast at the loss of those whom she had come so far to see. Her brother-in-law, however, had not appeared surprised at the catastrophe. A kind of legend or tradition had been handed down amongst the nomad tribes of North America that Cape Bathurst did not form part of the mainland, but had been joined on to it thousands of years before, and would sooner or later be torn away in some convulsion of nature. Hence the surprise at finding the factory founded by Hobson at the foot of the Cape. But with the unfortunate reserve characteristic of the race, and perhaps also under the influence of that enmity which all natives feel for those who settle in their country they said nothing to the lieutenant whose fort was already finished. Kalumaha knew nothing of this tradition which after all rested on no trustworthy evidence and probably belonged to the many northern legends relating to creation. This was how it was that the colonists of Fort Hope were not warned of the danger they ran in settling on such a spot. Had a word in season been spoken to Hobson he would certainly have gone further in search of some firmer foundation for his fort than this soil, certain peculiarities of which he had noticed at the first. When Kalumaha had made quite sure that all traces of Cape Bathurst was gone she explored the coast as far as the further side of Washburn Bay, but without finding any sign of those she sought, and at last there was nothing left for her to do but to return to the fisheries of Russian America. She and her brother-in-law left Walrus Bay at the end of June and following the coast got back to New Georgia towards the end of July after an absolutely fruitless journey. Kalumaha now gave up all hope of again seeing Mrs. Barnette and the other colonists of Fort Hope. She concluded that they had all been swallowed up by the ocean long ago. At this part of her tale the young Eskimo looked at Mrs. Barnette with eyes full of tears and pressed her hand affectionately, and then she murmured her thanks to God for her own preservation through the means of her friend. Kalumaha on her return home resumed her customary occupations and worked with the rest of her tribe at the fisheries near Icy Cape, a point a little above the seventieth parallel and more than six hundred miles from Cape Bathurst. Nothing worthy of note happened during the first half of the month of April, but towards the end the storm began which had caused Hobson so much uneasiness, and which had apparently extended its ravages over the whole of the Arctic Ocean and beyond Bering Strait. It was equally violent at Icy Cape and on Victoria Island, and as the lieutenant ascertained in his bearings the latter was then not more than two hundred miles from the coast. As Mrs. Barnette listened to Kalumaha, her previous information enabled her rapidly to find the key to the strange events which had taken place and to account for the arrival of the young native on the island. During the first days of the storm the Eskimo of Icy Cape were confined to their huts. They could neither get out nor fish, but during the night of the thirty-first August a kind of presentiment led Kalumaha to venture down to the beach, and braving the wind and rain in all their fury she peered anxiously through the darkness at the waves rising mountains high. Presently she thought she saw a huge mass driven along by the hurricane parallel with the coast, gifted with extremely keen sight as all these wandering tribes accustomed to the long dark polar nights, she felt sure that she was not mistaken. Something of this vast bulk was passing two miles from the coast, and that something could be neither a whale, a boat, nor at this time of the year even an iceberg. But Kalumaha did not stop to reason. The truth flashed upon her like a revelation, before her excited imagination rose the images of her friends. She saw them all once more, Mrs. Barnett, Maj, Lieutenant Thompson, the baby she had covered with kisses at Fort Hope. Yes, they were passing, born along in the storm on a floating ice field. Kalumaha did not doubt or hesitate a moment. She felt that she must tell the poor shipwrecked people, which she was sure they were, of the close vicinity of the land. She ran to her hut, seized a torch of tau and resin, such as the Eskimo used, when fishing at night, lit it and waved it on the beach at the summit of Icy Cape. This was the fire which Hobson and Long had seen, when croaching on Cape Michael, on the night of the thirty-first August. Imagine the delight of the young Eskimo, when a signal replied to hers, when she saw the huge fire lit by Lieutenant Hobson, the reflection of which reached the American coast, although he did not dream that he was so near it. But it quickly went out. The lull in the storm only lasted a few minutes, and the fearful gale, veering around to the southeast, swept along with redoubled violence. Kalumaha feared that her prey, so she called the floating island, was about to escape her, and that it would not be driven onto the shore. She saw it fading away, and knew that it would soon disappear in the darkness and be lost to her on the boundless ocean. It was indeed a terrible moment for the young native, and she determined at all hazards to let her friends know of their situation. There might yet be time for them to take some steps for their deliverance, although every hour took them further from the Continent. She did not hesitate a moment. Her kayak was at hand. The frail berk, in which she had more than once, braved the storms of the Arctic Ocean. She pushed it down to the sea, hastily laced on the sealskin jacket, fastened to the canoe, and, the long paddle in her hand, she plunged into the darkness. Mrs. Barnett here pressed the brave child to her heart, and mad shed tears of sympathy. When launched upon the roaring ocean, Kalumaha found the change of wind in her favour. The wave dashed over her kayak at its two, but they were powerless to harm the light boat, which floated on their crest like a straw. It was capsized several times, but a stroke of the paddle righted it at once. After about an hour's hard work, Kalumaha could see the wandering island more distinctly, and had no longer any doubt of effecting her purpose, as she was but a quarter of a mile from the beach. It was then that she uttered the cry which Hobson and Long had heard. But alas! Kalumaha now felt herself, being carried away towards the west by a powerful current which could take firmer hold of her kayak than of the floating island. In vain she struggled to beat back with her paddle. The light boat shot along like an arrow. She uttered scream after scream, but she was unheard. For she was already far away. And when the day broke, the coast of Alaska and the island she had wished to reach were but two distant masses on the horizon. Did she despair? Not yet. It was impossible to get back to the American continent in the teeth of the terrible wind which was driving the island before it at a rapid pace, taking it out two hundred miles in thirty-six hours, and assisted by the current from the coast. There was but one thing left to do—to get to the island by keeping in the same current which was drifting it away. But alas! the poor girl's strength was not equal to her courage. She was faint from want of food, and exhausted as she was she could no longer wield her paddle. For some hours she struggled on, and seemed to be approaching the island, although those on it could not see her, as she was but a speck upon the ocean. She struggled on until her stiffened arms and bleeding hands fell powerless, and, losing consciousness, she was floated along in her frail kayak at the mercy of winds and waves. She did not know how long this lasted. She remembered nothing more, till a sudden shock roused her. Her kayak had struck against something. It opened beneath her, and was plunged into cold water, the freshness of which revived her. A few moments later she was flung upon the sand in a dying state by a large wave. This had taken place the night before, just before dawn, that is to say about two or three o'clock in the morning. Kalumaha had then been seventy hours at sea, since she embarked. The young native had no idea where she had been thrown, whether on the continent or on the floating island, which she had so bravely sought, but she hoped the latter. Yes, hoped that she had reached her friends, although she knew that the wind and current had driven them into the open sea, and not towards the coast. The thought revived her, and shattered as she was, she struggled to her feet, and tried to follow the coast. She had, in fact, been providentially thrown on that portion of Victoria Island, which was formerly the upper corner of Walrus's Bay. But worn away as it was by the waves she did not recognize the land with which she had once been familiar. She tottered on, stopped, and again struggled to advance. The beach before her appeared endless. She had so often to go round where the sea had encroached upon the sand. And so, dragging herself along, stumbling and scrambling up again, she at last approached the little wood where Mrs. Barnett and Madge had halted that very morning. We know that the two women found the footprints left by Kalumaha in the snow not far from this very spot, and it was at a short distance further on that the poor girl fell for the last time. Exhausted by fatigue and hunger, she still managed to creep along, on hands and knees, for a few minutes longer. A great hope kept her from despair, for she had at last recognized Cape Eskimo at the foot of which she and her people had encamped the year before. She knew now that she was but eight miles from the factory, and that she had only to follow the path she had so often traversed when she went to visit her friends at Fort Hope. Yes, this Hope sustained her, but she had scarcely reached the beach when her forces entirely failed her, and she again lost all consciousness. But for Mrs. Barnett she would have died. But, dear lady, she added, I knew that you would come to my rescue and that God would save me by your means. We know the rest. We know the providential instinct which led Mrs. Barnett and Maj to explore this part of the coast on this very day, and the presentiment which made them visit Cape Eskimo after they had rested, and before returning to Fort Hope. We know, too, as Mrs. Barnett related to Kalumaha, how the piece of ice had floated away, and how the bear had acted under the circumstances. And after all, added Mrs. Barnett with a smile, it was not I who saved you, but the good creature, without whose aid you would never have come back to us, and if ever we see him again we will treat him with the respect due to your preserver. During this long conversation Kalumaha was rested and refreshed, and Mrs. Barnett proposed that they should return to the Fort at once, where she had already been too long away. The young girl immediately rose ready to start. Mrs. Barnett was indeed most anxious to tell the lieutenant of all that had happened during the night of the storm, when the wandering island had neared the American continent. But she urged Kalumaha to keep her adventure's secret, and to say nothing about the situation of the island. She would naturally be supposed to have come along the coast in fulfillment of the promise she had made to visit her friends in the fine season. Her arrival would tend only to strengthen the belief of the colonists that no changes had taken place in the country around Cape Bathurst, and to set at rest the doubts any of them might have entertained. It was about three o'clock when Magge and Mrs. Barnett, with Kalumaha hanging on her arm, set out towards the east, and before five o'clock in the afternoon they all arrived at the postion of the Fort.