Part 43 (2/2)

They steamed along this land or sh.o.r.e for many miles, although lighted only by the bright silvery stars and the gleaming Aurora. They came at length to a small landlocked bay or gulf, entirely filled with flat ice.

The s.h.i.+p was stopped, and all hands ordered away to a clear a pa.s.sage by means of ice-saws and torpedoes. After many hours of hard work this was successfully accomplished, and the vessel was warped in till she lay close under the lee of the braeland, that rose steeply up from the surface of the sea. Those braes were to the north and west of them, and would help to shelter the s.h.i.+p from at least one of the coldest winds.

”Well, boys,” said McBain that day as they sat down to dinner, and he spoke more cheerfully than he had done since the departure of the _Scotia_,--”well, boys, here we are safe and snug in winter quarters.

How do you like the prospect of living here for three months without ever catching a blink of the sun?”

”I for one don't mind it a bit,” said Allan. ”It'll do us all good; but won't we be glad to see the jolly visage of old Sol again, when he peeps over the hills to see whether we are dead or alive!”

”I'm sure,” said Rory, ”that I will enjoy the fun immensely.”

”What fun?” asked Ralph.

”Why, the new sensation,” replied Rory; ”a winter at the Pole.”

”You're not quite there yet,” said Ralph; ”but as for me, I think I'll enjoy it too, though of course winter in London would be more lively.

Why, what is that green-looking stuff in those gla.s.ses, doctor?”

”That's your dram,” said Sandy.

”Why it's lime-juice,” cried Rory, tasting his gla.s.s and making a face.

”So it is,” said Ralph. ”Where are the sugar-plums, doctor?”

”Yes,” cried Rory; ”where are the plums? Oh!” he continued, ”I have it--a drop of Silas Grig's green ginger, steward, quick.”

And every day throughout the winter, when our heroes swallowed their dose of lime-juice, they were allowed a tiny drop of green ginger to put away the taste, and as they sipped it, they never failed to think and talk of honest Silas.

And lime-juice was served out by the surgeon to all hands. They knew well it was to keep scurvy at bay, so they quietly took their dose and said nothing.

The sea remained open for about a week longer, and scores of bears were bagged. [These animals are said to bury themselves in the snow during winter, and sleep soundly for two or three months. This, however, is doubtful.] This seemed, indeed, to be the autumn home of the King of the Ice. Then the winter began to close in in earnest, and all saving the noonday twilight deserted them. The sky, however, remained clear and starry, and many wonderful meteors were seen almost nightly shooting across the firmament, and for a time lighting up the strange and desolate scene with a brightness like the noon of day. The Aurora was clearer and more dazzling after the frost came, so that as far as light was concerned the sun was not so much missed.

On going on deck one morning our heroes were astonished to find a light gleaming down upon them from the maintop, of such dazzling whiteness that they were fain, for the moment, to press their hands against their eyes.

It was an electric candle, means for erecting which McBain had provided himself with before leaving the Clyde. So successful was he with his experiment that the sea of ice on the one hand, and the braeland on the other, seemed enshrouded in gloom. Rory gazed in ecstasy, then he must needs walk up to McBain and shake him enthusiastically by the hand, laughing as he remarked,--

”'Deed, indeed, captain, you're a wonderful man. Whatever made you think of this? What a glorious surprise. Have you any more in store for us? Really! sir, I don't know what your boys would do without you at all at all.”

Thus spoke impulsive young Rory, as McBain laughingly returned his hand-shake, while high overhead the new light eclipsed the radiance of the brightest stars. But what is that strange, mournful cry that is heard among the hills far up above them? It comes nearer and still more near, and then out from the gloom swoops a gigantic bird. Attracted by the light, it has come from afar, and now keeps wheeling round and round it. Previously there had not been a bird visible for many days, but now, curious to relate, they come in hundreds, and even alight close by the s.h.i.+p to feed on the refuse that has been thrown overboard.

”It is strange, isn't it, sir?” said Rory.

”It is, indeed,” replied McBain, adding, after a pause, ”Rory, boy, I've got an idea.”

”Well,” said Rory, ”I know before you mention it that it is a good one.”

”Ah! but,” said McBain, ”I'm not going to mention it yet awhile.”

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