Part 70 (1/2)
”The shortest day, my boy! Well, why don't you look pleased? What are you thinking about?”
”I was thinking,” said Steve as he started out of a reverie, ”that it would be the longest night”
”Well, take it that way, then: the longest night, and the shortest day
To-morrow the sun will have started on the backward journey, so co to their feet, for a terrific report so roar as of thunder, and with one consent they hurried on deck and out into the snow
All was silent by then, but a fewsound, evidently on the steep h which they had been in the habit oftheir way to the open sea
”An avalanche of ice and rocks,” said the captain
”Yes, sir,” said Johannes, as the rushi+ng sound stopped ”The frostrock, and this started the others in falling”
Here was soh a few hours too soon, my lads We've reached the shortest day, and it's time to be active once o and see what the ice avalanche has done”
The men returned to their quarters, but it was in a dull, spiritless hich Steve could not help noticing, but he said nothing then
”Take guns, sir?” he asked, as they reached the cabin
”We h I don't think there will be anything to shoot”
Steve was ready first, and went out on deck, to see theand uncouth in their hooded fur coats and loo for orders Steve peered about, but could not see the face he sought, and he turned to Hamish, as close at hand
”Where's Watty?” he said
”In her bunk, sir,” said the man surlily
”In his bunk? Why didn't you rouse hiood to coht to try and walk as far as we're going to-day”
”Na, let them be, sir,” said the man ”Better let the puir chiels dee in peace”
”For sha about dying in peace?”
”Only that she may as weel lee doon and ket it ower, sir She'll neffer see Scotia acain”
”Ha fellow like you What are you thinking about?”
”She thinks it wass a sha us all oop here to dee”
There was a lowthe h hiious But he brightened up the next htly:
”This doesn't sound very brave;” and he pushed by theat the di from one of the beah he knew the jubilant sound of his voice was forced; ”lying down? How are the pipes?”
”The pipes are froze hard, Meester Stevey, an' she'll hae them put wi'
her in the hole in the snow”