Part 34 (1/2)

Nae cotillion brent new frae France, But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels, Put life and mettle in their heels.”

But these were not the only amus.e.m.e.nts the crew went in for, on the snow-clad ice, for while Conal and Frank were one day visiting those great bergs, the inventive genius of the latter was once more shown.

They found that a great portion of one side of the biggest berg was quite on the slope, and covered with frozen snow.

”Hurrah!” cried Frank, ”I've got another.”

”Another what?”

”Why, another idea. This iceberg is just suited for tobogganing.”

”Now,” he added, ”we sha'n't say a word to anybody till we try it ourselves first.”

They, however, took the carpenter into their confidence, and he made them tiny sledges to sit upon. The slide was on a pretty gradual slope and altogether was about a hundred yards long from the top. Steps were cut at one side to make the getting up easy, and Frank himself was the first to make the descent.

”It is simply glorious!” This was his report.

”Flying,” he added, ”isn't in it.”

And Conal himself confirmed this statement as soon as he himself had gone rus.h.i.+ng down.

After this the great toboggan slide was in daily request, and the sound that came from the big berg was like the roaring of stones on a Scottish curling pond.

But high above the rus.h.i.+ng noise, came the shouting and laughter of the merry-makers.

Poor Viking could not understand it, and I suppose he came to the conclusion that his human friends had all lost hold of the tiny supply of common-sense, which human beings can boast of.

But what with these games and dances, and then fun on board, the health of the crew continued excellent, though ever around the galley-fire at night (I mean before bed-time or at the tea hour) the men talked of home.

I myself, like most seafarers,--well, call us sailors if that sounds better,--dearly love

”A life on the ocean wave And a home on the rolling deep, Where the scattered waters rave And the winds their revels keep”.

Yet wherever in this world I have been there always seemed to be a magnetic needle in my heart, and it always pointed to Home.

”Where'er we roam, whatever lands we see Our hearts untramelled fondly turn to thee * * * * *

Such is the patriot's boast; where'er we roam, Our first, best country, ever is at home.”

On the whole, during their long imprisonment, the officers and crew of the good barque _Flora M'Vayne_ kept up their hearts.

At long last the sun came nearer and nearer the northern horizon. For days before he rose there was a twilight of about two hours. Then a galaxy of the loveliest clouds were lit up, but still no sun.

Before noon on the day after, however, Frank and Conal, who seemed now to be inseparable, climbed to the top of the tobogganing berg, and soon after caught a glimpse of the glorious sun.

Neither could speak for a time, and indeed tears were trickling down Frank's face, which he took no trouble to hide. For, as we have seen before, he was a very impressionable lad.