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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Ice Queen, by Ernest Ingersoll
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Ice Queen
+
+
+Author: Ernest Ingersoll
+
+
+
+Release Date: March 20, 2012  [eBook #39210]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ICE QUEEN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 39210-h.htm or 39210-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39210/39210-h/39210-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39210/39210-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "JIM GOT IN AT LEAST ONE GOOD BLOW."]
+
+
+THE ICE QUEEN
+
+by
+
+ERNEST INGERSOLL
+
+Author of
+"Friends Worth Knowing," "Knocking Round the Rockies," etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by
+Harper & Brothers,
+In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
+
+All rights reserved.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+      CHAP.
+         I. THROWN UPON THEIR OWN RESOURCES
+        II. "THE YOUNGSTER'S" PLAN
+       III. FITTING OUT THE "RED ERIK"
+        IV. MAKING A START
+         V. COMFORT IN A LOG CABIN
+        VI. NORSE TALES
+       VII. THE FIRST DAY ON THE LAKE
+      VIII. JIM'S REBELLION
+        IX. SKATING BY COMPASS
+         X. AN UGLY FERRIAGE
+        XI. CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL
+       XII. SNOWED UNDER
+      XIII. SAVED FROM STARVATION
+       XIV. THE ARCTIC VISITORS
+        XV. CHRISTMAS BIRD-CATCHING
+       XVI. HOW TUG MADE "TWITCH-UPS"
+      XVII. THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE
+     XVIII. RESCUING THE WANDERERS
+       XIX. ADRIFT ON AN ICE RAFT
+        XX. A NIGHT IN AN OPEN BOAT
+       XXI. THE ESCAPE TO THE SHORE
+      XXII. REX FIGHTS UNKNOWN ENEMIES
+     XXIII. EXPLORING THE ISLAND
+      XXIV. THE WILD DOGS AGAIN
+       XXV. THE PERILS OF A MIDNIGHT SEARCH
+      XXVI. FINDING SNOW-BIRDS AND LOSING THE CAPTAIN
+     XXVII. ANOTHER ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD DOGS
+    XXVIII. THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINED
+      XXIX. DECIDING UPON A NEW MOVE
+       XXX. KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS
+      XXXI. ABANDONING THE ISLAND
+     XXXII. AN ASTONISHED FARMER
+    XXXIII. THE "TIMES" CORRESPONDENT
+     XXXIV. A HAPPY CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+    "JIM GOT IN AT LEAST ONE GOOD BLOW"
+    DISCUSSING THE PLAN
+    "A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF"
+    SUPPER IN THE LOG CABIN
+    "LAY ON!"
+    CROSSING THE HUMMOCK
+    JIM AND KATY BRINGING THE RUSHES TO CAMP
+    "THE LITTLE FIRE WAS SOON BLAZING MERRILY"
+    CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL
+    "A SHARP REPORT WAS HEARD"
+    KATY TRAPPING THE SNOW-BUNTINGS
+    SETTING THE NEW TRAPS
+    "REX STRUCK OUT AND SWAM ACROSS"
+    "THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAG HIS LIFELESS FORM OUT UPON THE ICE"
+    "TRY TO STEADY HER"
+    THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND
+    ATTACKED BY THE DOGS
+    "DON'T CRY, KATY!"
+    "'IS HE DEAD?' ASKED JIM"
+    REPAIRING THE OLD SCOW
+    "'WA'AL, I DECLARE!'"
+
+
+
+
+THE ICE QUEEN.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter I.
+
+THROWN UPON THEIR OWN RESOURCES.
+
+
+The early dusk of a December day was fast changing into darkness as
+three of the young people with whose adventures this story is
+concerned trudged briskly homeward.
+
+The day was a bright one, and Aleck, the oldest, who was a skilled
+workman in the brass foundry, although scarcely eighteen years of age,
+had given himself a half-holiday in order to take Kate and The
+Youngster on a long skating expedition down to the lighthouse. Kate
+was his sister, two years younger than he, and The Youngster was a
+brother whose twelfth birthday this was.
+
+The little fellow never had had so much fun in one afternoon, he
+thought, and maintained stoutly that he scarcely felt tired at all.
+The ice had been in splendid condition, the day calm, but cloudy, so
+that their eyes had not ached, and they had been able to go far out
+upon the solidly frozen surface of the lake.
+
+"How far do you think we have skated to-day, Aleck?" asked The
+Youngster.
+
+"It's four miles from the lower bridge to the lighthouse," spoke up
+Kate, before Aleck could reply, "and four back. That makes eight
+miles, to begin with."
+
+"Yes," said Aleck, "and on top of that you must put--let me see--I
+should think, counting all our twists and turns, fully ten miles more.
+We were almost abreast of Stony Point when we were farthest out, and
+they say that's five miles long."
+
+"Altogether, then, we skated about eighteen miles."
+
+"Right, my boy; your arithmetic is your strong point."
+
+"Well, _I_ should say his feet were his strong point to-day," Kate
+exclaimed, in admiration of her brother's hardihood.
+
+"It wasn't a bad day's work for a _girl_ I know of, either," remarked
+Aleck, as he took the key from his pocket and opened the door of their
+house, which was soon bright with lamplight and a crackling fire of
+oak and hickory.
+
+The house these three dwelt in was a small cottage in an obscure
+street of the village, but it was warm and tight. Kate was
+housekeeper, and The Youngster--whose real name was James, contracted
+first into Jim, and then into Jimkin--was man-of-all-work, and
+maid-of-all-work too, sometimes, when Kate needed his help.
+
+While these two are getting tea, and Aleck is carefully wiping the
+skates and putting them away where no rust can have a chance at the
+blades, or mice gnaw the straps, let me tell you a few things about
+the family.
+
+Jim could remember his father only vaguely, but Kate and Aleck could
+tell us all about him. His name was Kincaid, and he was a
+master-builder of houses. He had bought and fitted up the cottage, and
+had put savings in the bank, though Mrs. Kincaid was sick much of the
+time, so that money was spent that would have been laid by "for a
+rainy day" if she had been strong and well.
+
+Unfortunately, the rain came sooner than any one thought for. One day,
+about five years before the beginning of our little history, papa was
+brought home hurt by falling from a scaffold at the top of a house. He
+was not dead, and all thought he would be well again in a few weeks at
+most; but instead he grew slowly worse, and after a time died.
+
+Then the poor mother, always weak, did the best she could, and Kate
+tried to help her, while Aleck stopped his school-going, and went to
+work in the brass foundry. At first, though, he could earn but a
+little, and Mr. Kincaid's savings slowly melted away until almost
+nothing was left. Then the tired and desolate mother, never strong,
+bade her children that long farewell that seems so terribly hopeless
+to all of us when we are young, and the three "mitherless bairns" were
+thrown upon their own resources.
+
+The question arose as to what they should do. Jim was now eight years
+old, and going to school. Kate had not neglected to do some studying,
+and a great deal of reading, too, though she had always been so busy;
+and a few weeks before her mother's death she had begun to study
+regularly with a lady who lived near, whom Katy repaid by picking
+various small fruits as they matured in the lady's large garden.
+Aleck, as I have said, was working steadily, and getting enough wages
+to keep them all in fair comfort, since they owned the house and
+enough garden to give them plenty of vegetables. So, after talking the
+prospect over, they decided to stay in their little house and live
+together. A letter was written to Uncle Andrew, in Cleveland, who had
+offered Kate and Jimmy a home, telling him they would try it alone a
+while before burdening any of their friends.
+
+This decision had been made almost four years before my story opens,
+and it had not been regretted. They had even saved some money, but the
+larger part of this had been spent in repairing the house, and in
+fitting up a new boat for Jim and one of his friends, who thought they
+knew a way to make a little money in the summer vacation if they had a
+good boat. This boat had been completed only in time to prove how
+good it was, before the winter had closed the river with ice at an
+unusually early date, and now the pretty craft was safely stored in a
+warehouse at the schooner-landing, a mile below the town.
+
+All slept very soundly after their skating holiday--even Rex, the
+great Newfoundland dog, who was a member of the family by no means to
+be overlooked; but their ears were not stopped so tight that the
+clangor of the church bells about midnight failed to arouse them with
+its dreadful alarm of fire. Hastening to an upper window, one glance
+at the blaze-reddened heavens showed our friends that the group of
+factories in the southern part of the town was burning, and one of
+these was the brass foundry where Aleck worked.
+
+Aleck hurried away, and they did not see him until after sunrise, when
+he came home tired, wet, and soot-blackened. The whole shop had burned
+to the ground, he reported, and it was only by great risk and exertion
+that he had been able to rescue his father's precious chest of tools.
+
+"I didn't think," said the young man, as he sat wearily down to Katy's
+hot coffee, "that my job would be so short when McAbee told me
+yesterday I could work there 'as long as the foundry lasted.'"
+
+During that day and the next Aleck tried every possible chance of
+employment in the village, but found nothing; and by the time evening
+came he had made up his mind that no regular employment equal to his
+old place was to be had there for months to come.
+
+There was no doubt about it. The time had arrived when they must avail
+themselves of Uncle Andrew's kindness, and seek in his hospitable
+house at least a temporary home.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter II.
+
+"THE YOUNGSTER'S" PLAN.
+
+
+"You see," said Aleck, "though I've about seventy-five dollars ahead,
+yet when we have bought what we shall need, there will not be more
+than forty dollars left. Now, if we go to Cleveland in the cars and
+take our things with us, it'll cost us twenty-five dollars or more,
+and leave us almost nothing to get started with there."
+
+"S'posin'," said Jimkin the Wise, "s'posin' we don't go in the cars.
+Cleveland's on the lake, and the lake's all ice; let's skate down to
+uncle's!"
+
+"Humph!" grunted Aleck.
+
+"Pshaw!" said Kate.
+
+"Didn't we skate eighteen miles yesterday, and couldn't we have gone
+farther?" persisted Jim, unabashed.
+
+"It's more than a hundred miles to Cleveland. Think you could do that
+in one day? Besides, how would you know the way?"
+
+"Didn't say I could do it in one day. But couldn't we go ashore and
+stop at night? That's the way the Hall boys did, who skated up to
+Detroit last winter."
+
+"I read in the newspaper yesterday," said Kate, "that the lake was
+frozen uncommonly hard, and was solid ice all the way along the shore
+as far as the headlands of Ashtabula."
+
+"If we could be sure of that," Aleck admitted, "there might be some
+use in trying; but one can't be sure. Besides, how could we take along
+our baggage?"
+
+"Pull it on a sled," said Kate, "the way they do in the arctic
+regions. Men up there just live on the ice, sleep at night and cook
+their food and travel all day, and they don't have skates either.
+Gracious! Who can that be?"
+
+No wonder Katy was astonished, for there came echoing through the
+house a noise as if somebody was pounding the wall down with a stone
+maul. Aleck hastened to put a stop to it by opening the door.
+
+He was greeted by the grinning face of a round-headed, chunky lad
+nearly his own age, named Thucydides Montgomery; but as this was too
+long a name for the Western people, it had been cut down very early in
+life to "Tug," which everybody saw at once was the right word, on
+account of the lad's strength and toughness. The mammas of the village
+thought him a bad boy, getting their information from the small boys
+of the public school, whom, in his great fondness for joking, he would
+sometimes frighten and tease.
+
+Aleck knew him better, and knew how brave and goodhearted he was. Jim
+had good cause to be fond of him, for, in behalf of The Youngster,
+during his first week at school, Tug had soundly thrashed a bullying
+tyrant; while Kate gratefully remembered various heavy market-baskets
+he had carried for her, since he lived near by. A closer tie between
+our little family and their visitor, however, was the fact that, like
+them, he was an orphan, and, like them, had relatives in Cleveland,
+whom he had often thought he should like to be with better than
+staying with his aunt here in Monore.
+
+When Tug had joined the circle gathered before the big fireplace, and
+had begun to talk about the brass-works, he was promptly hushed by
+Aleck.
+
+"Put that up now, and attend to me. This urchin here, who has become
+very cheeky since he began to go to school--"
+
+"And came under my care," Tug interrupted, loftily.
+
+"Yes, no doubt. Well, The Youngster finds we all want to go to
+Cleveland, but can't afford the railway fare, and so he coolly
+proposes that we skate there."
+
+"Well, why don't you do it? I'll go with you," said Tug, quietly.
+
+Jim shouted with triumph. Kate laughed, and clapped her hands at the
+fun of beating her big brother, and Aleck looked as though he thought
+he was being quizzed.
+
+"Do you mean it?" he asked.
+
+"Of course I do. I want to go down as badly as you do. I haven't any
+stamps, and the walking, I'm told, isn't good. I prefer to skate."
+
+"Katy says we might drag our luggage on sleds, as they do in the
+arctic regions; but supposing the ice should break up, or we should
+come to a big crack?"
+
+"I have read," Kate remarks again, "that they carry boats on their
+sledges, and pack their goods in the boats, so that they will float if
+the ice gives way."
+
+"Take my boat!" screamed Jim, eagerly.
+
+"That would call for a big sled."
+
+"Well, didn't you two fellows build a pair of bobs last winter big
+enough to carry that boat?"
+
+"Doubtful," answered Aleck. But when they brought out the plan of the
+boat, and then measured the bobs, which were stored in the woodshed,
+they found them plenty wide, and Tug was sure they were sufficiently
+strong.
+
+Kate looked at them rather dubiously, and said she had never read of
+arctic boats mounted on heavy bobs, but that they always seemed in the
+pictures to have long, light runners under them; but Jim reminded her
+curtly that "girls didn't know everything," so she kept still, and the
+planning and talking went on.
+
+Young people who are under no necessity to ask permission of older
+persons, and, besides, are pushed by circumstances, decide quickly on
+a plan which looks forward to adventure. Generally, I fear, they come
+to grief, and learn some good lessons rather expensively; but
+sometimes their energy and fearlessness carry them safely through what
+the caution of old age would have stopped short of trying to perform.
+
+[Illustration: DISCUSSING THE PLAN.]
+
+They sat up pretty late discussing the plan, but before Tug went to
+what he said he "s'posed he must call home," they had determined to
+try it if the weather held firm.
+
+This was on Friday. They hoped to get away early in the coming week.
+Then all three went to bed, Jim jubilant, and looking forward to a
+long frolic; Kate half doubtful whether it was best, but hopeful;
+Aleck sure that, for himself, he didn't care, hating to put his sister
+and brother to any risk, yet seeing no better way of resisting
+poverty; Tug resolute, and bound to stand by his friends, whatever
+happened. So they slept, and bright and early next morning the quiet
+preparations began, Tug declining to answer any questions as to how he
+arranged the matter of his going with his aunt.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter III.
+
+FITTING OUT THE "RED ERIK."
+
+
+The first thing was to settle upon their preparations.
+
+"What will you want to take, Tug?"
+
+"Precious little, I guess. Besides my clothing, which won't make much
+of a bundle, I don't own much except my shot-gun, and my weasel-trap,
+and my odds-and-ends chest, and some hooks and lines. I'm going to
+sell all the rest of my duds."
+
+"Who'll buy 'em?" asked Jim, doubtfully.
+
+"Never you mind who, infant. 'This stock must be closed out below
+cost,' as the old-clo' men say. I can put all my baggage in a
+nail-keg."
+
+"Then that's fixed," Aleck remarked. "Now for _you_, Katy?"
+
+"I think the little trunk that was mamma's, and my handbag for brush
+and comb and such things, will hold all that belongs to me--that is,
+of my own _own_," she replied, laughing. "Of course, the cooking
+things, and so on, belong to all of us."
+
+"Well, Jim, your traps and mine will go into the other little chest, I
+think--at any rate, they must. Now for the general list."
+
+The general outfit was then talked over for more than an hour, when,
+looking at his watch, Aleck said:
+
+"Now this plan all depends on what luck I have in renting the house. I
+heard yesterday that Mr. Porter (the owner of the burned factory)
+would have to leave the hotel, and wanted to find a small furnished
+house. I am going to see if I can't let ours to him."
+
+So Aleck went off, and Tug and Jim started down to examine the boat,
+study how much she would hold, and see what would be the best way of
+mounting her upon the bobs, which they spoke of as "the sledge." They
+were not back until afternoon, and found that Aleck had just come in,
+full of success. Mr. Porter would rent the house, and would allow them
+a closet in which to store all the small goods they wished to leave
+behind.
+
+"Now, what about the boat?" he asked, as he concluded the story.
+
+"She'll do beautifully. Jim and I think we'd better deck her over from
+the mast forward, and cover it with painted canvas, so as to make a
+water-tight place to stow the provisions."
+
+"That's a good idea."
+
+"We thought you'd say so, and so we took exact measurements, and can
+make a deck here, and fasten it on down there."
+
+"All right; now, how do you think we'd better fasten the boat to the
+sledge?"
+
+"That's where we want you to help us decide. I don't believe its
+weight is great enough to hold it firm."
+
+"It's the first thing to be arranged," said Aleck, "and after dinner I
+guess we'll have to go down to the wharf."
+
+An hour later the three boys were standing beside the boat, gazing
+first at it and then at the pair of strong bobs they had brought
+along.
+
+"We must take that coasting-board off the bobs and put in a heavy
+reach-pole pretty near as long as the boat, that's certain," said Tug.
+
+"And," spoke up Jimmy, "we've got to prop her up on the sledge so
+she'll stand even, and won't tip."
+
+"Yes, you're both right," Aleck agreed. "The best way is to saw chairs
+out of two-inch plank which will just fit her bottom, and in which she
+will sit solidly."
+
+"But," Tug broke in, "that won't hold her firm in the racket she has
+to go through. She must be bound down to that sledge, and I reckon the
+best way is to draw bands of stout canvas--big straps would cost too
+much--over the boat, from one side of the sledge to the other."
+
+They examined and re-examined, but could none of them see any better
+plan; so they measured, and on their way home bought enough of the
+heaviest duck to make three bands, each three inches wide.
+
+This transaction brought out a bit of Tug's loyalty. As Aleck took out
+his purse to pay for the canvas, Tug pushed his hand away and laid a
+dollar bill on the counter.
+
+"You can just put up your cash," he cried. "This is my affair. If you
+fellows furnish the boat and sledge and all the rest, I'm going to
+pay, myself, for what new stuff we have to buy. It's little enough I
+can do, anyhow."
+
+With this view there was no use of arguing, and Tug had his way that
+day and during all the rest of the preparation, spending the whole of
+his savings and the money received from the sale of his books and
+"contraptions."
+
+While Tug sawed out the chairs, and screwed and spiked them firmly to
+the sledge that evening, the other two boys worked at the bands, and
+Katy sewed. They all sat in the kitchen, in order to be where Tug
+could work, and before they went to bed both tasks were nearly done.
+
+The next day was Sunday.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On Monday the sledge was finished, and the boat was set upon it.
+Tacking tightly over it the canvas bands, two in front and one towards
+the stern, the whole affair proved almost as stiff and firm as though
+formed of one piece.
+
+"What was the boat's name?" you may feel like interrupting me to ask.
+
+It had not been christened yet, but when, as they sat by the fire on
+Sunday evening, Katy read aloud the story of "Red Erik," they all
+agreed that that was the name they wanted.
+
+Now the _Red Erik_ was fitted to carry one mast, which passed through
+a hole in the forward thwart, and was stepped into a block underneath.
+The sail carried by this mast was a square sail of pretty good size,
+supported by a gaff at the top and a boom at the bottom. When it was
+not in use it was rolled around the mast, the gaff and boom being laid
+lengthwise along with it; and by wrapping the sheet around, the whole
+was lashed into a bundle, which lay very snugly upon the thwarts under
+one gunwale, where a couple of leather gaskets were buckled about it
+to keep it from sliding. There was also a jib-sail.
+
+While they were overhauling this gear, the question of what they were
+to do for a tent came up, and Katy asked whether the sails could not
+be made useful for that purpose.
+
+Certainly, the mainsail was large enough to form a very decent shelter
+when stretched over a low ridge-pole, but it needed loops of rope at
+the ends in order to be pegged to the ground and thus held in place.
+
+"But there ain't any ground, and you can't drive wooden pegs into
+ice," objected Katy, at this point of the planning.
+
+"Then," said Aleck, "we shall have to get half a dozen iron pegs, and
+I have some railway spikes that will be just the thing."
+
+"That's so," said Tug. "Take 'em along. Now, the next thing is poles.
+The gaff will do for one, but the other one we'll have to make,
+because we want to use the boom for a ridge-pole."
+
+"Then I'll tell you how we'll fix it," Aleck explained. "We'll put an
+eye-bolt in the far end of the boom, and call that the front end of
+the tent. We'll make a front upright post out of hickory, and have the
+lower end of it shod with iron, so as to stick in the ice--"
+
+"Hold up! I've a better idea than that even," Tug exclaimed. "I
+suppose you want to save carrying any more timber than you can help.
+Well, let's cut off the handle of the boat-hook--that's hickory--until
+it is the right length, and its iron point will stick in the ice, or
+the ground (if we set her up ashore) first-rate. Then we'll go to the
+blacksmith, and have a cap made with a spike in it to go through the
+eye in the end of the boom. When we want to use the boat-hook we can
+take the cap off."
+
+"That's a good way; but how about the gaff?"
+
+"Set a short spike in the far end to stick in the ice, and let the
+ridge-pole rest in the jaws of the gaff; the canvas will hold her
+steady."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. You're an inventor, Tug. Go down to-morrow and get
+the irons made."
+
+Meanwhile, as I said, loops were sewed on the sail, and it was thus
+arranged to serve as a tent. It had a queer shape when set up in the
+yard on trial, for the sail was broader at one end than the other,
+though it did very well indeed. An end piece was lacking; but this was
+supplied by putting on tapes so as to tie the broad foot of the jib to
+one edge of the rear of the tent, while the sharp top end was folded
+around on the outside and tied to one of the side pegs. For the front
+they could do no better than hang up a shawl or something of that
+kind, if needed, since they decided that a few yards square of spare
+canvas which they had must be kept for a carpet upon the ice floor.
+
+This done, there remained to screw into the forward end of the sledge
+two eye-bolts, to which the ropes were to be attached for dragging the
+boat. Each of these ropes was about twelve feet long, and had at one
+end an iron hook, so as to be put on and taken off very quickly. Three
+of them were prepared, but, as you will see, it was rare that more
+than two were ever in use at once on the march. They could easily be
+hooked together into one long line, however; two of them would serve
+as end-stays when the tent was set up; and they were often of the
+greatest importance to the young adventurers, in enabling them to
+overcome difficulties, or to extricate themselves from some perplexing
+or dangerous situation.
+
+All these arrangements, by hard work, were finished on Tuesday
+evening, the very last task being the making of a box with
+double-hinged covers, which should fit snugly under the stern-thwart.
+This was to be the kitchen chest or mess kit, holding the cooking
+utensils and dishes. When its two covers were spread out and propped
+up it formed a low table.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IV.
+
+MAKING A START.
+
+
+Katy, meanwhile, had been looking after clothing and provisions. On
+Tuesday evening, when Tug came in after tea, she was ready to read to
+him a full list, as follows:
+
+BOAT OUTFIT.--Sailing and rowing gear complete; one piece of spare
+canvas three yards square; one oil lantern and a gallon of oil; one
+compass; a locker under the stroke-thwart, containing calking-iron,
+oakum, putty, copper nails, gimlet, screw-driver, screws, sail needle,
+thread, wax, etc.
+
+CAMP OUTFIT.--Tent (_made out of the sails_), pegs, poles, etc.; one
+axe; one hatchet; one small handsaw; one shovel; one clothes-line; one
+mess chest, containing the fewest possible dishes, tin cups, knives,
+forks, etc., also a skillet, a coffee-pot, etc.; one iron kettle; one
+covered copper pail.
+
+PERSONAL BAGGAGE.--One trunk for Aleck's and Jim's clothing; one trunk
+for Katy's clothing; Tug's box (_clothing, and what he says are
+"contraptions"_); small valise for Katy's toilet necessaries and other
+small articles.
+
+BEDDING (_tied up in close rolls_).--For Aleck, three blankets and a
+thick quilt.
+
+For Jim, the same.
+
+For Tug, three blankets and a piece of old sail-cloth.
+
+For Katy, a buffalo-robe trimmed square, two flannel sheets, three
+blankets, and a heavy shawl.
+
+Thick woollen nightcaps or hoods for all.
+
+FOOD (_enough to last two weeks, it is supposed, and consisting
+chiefly of the first seven articles named_).--Corn-meal, coffee,
+sugar, crackers, dried beef, bacon, and ham; also small quantities of
+potatoes, beans, dried corn, tea, chocolate, maple sugar, buckwheat
+flour, and condiments. (Katy did not count the luxuries of the first
+day's evening meal.)
+
+All these supplies, as far as possible, were put into bags made of
+strong cloth or of heavy paper, or into wooden boxes, and then were
+stowed under the forward deck. To carry them and the rest of the
+luggage down to the wharf, a box was fastened upon Jim's hand-sled,
+and several trips were made.
+
+At last Wednesday afternoon came, and the preparations for the
+adventurous journey were complete. All the morning had been spent by
+Tug and Jim in packing away goods in the boat, while Aleck and Kate
+finished the home-leaving, bringing down a final sled-load with them
+about two o'clock. Besides this, Katy's arms were full of
+"suspicious-looking" bundles, as Tug noticed, the contents of which
+she refused to let any one know before night.
+
+The boat lay hidden underneath the warehouse wharf, and of the few who
+knew of their intentions nobody seemed to have let out the secret;
+moreover, the day was unusually cold and somewhat windy, so that few
+skaters were out, at least, so far down the river. Thus they were not
+annoyed by inquisitive visitors. Ten minutes after Aleck and Kate
+arrived the final package had been stowed, the mantle of canvas spread
+over, the oars and rolled-up tent laid on top, and Tug announced
+everything ready.
+
+"Then let's be off," said Aleck, as he buckled the last strap of his
+left skate, and stood up.
+
+"Not till you give the word of command, Captain."
+
+"Captain!" echoed Jim, standing very straight.
+
+"Captain!" Kate caught up the word, and made a funny girlish imitation
+of an officer's salute. "Not till you give the order, sir!"
+
+"Oho!" laughed Aleck. "That's election by acclamation, I should say!
+All right; only, if I'm to be Captain, remember you must do as I say
+at once, and save any arguing about it until afterwards. When you get
+tired you can vote me out as you voted me in. Will you agree?"
+
+"Yes--agreed!" cried all three.
+
+"Then my first order is 'Forward!'" and so saying he seized a
+drag-rope and sent the sledge-boat spinning out upon the smooth ice
+far from under the shadow of the wharf, showing how easily it could be
+run in spite of its weight, which was not less than five hundred
+pounds.
+
+[Illustration: "A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF."]
+
+A moment later they were off on the first strokes of a trip that
+proved far more eventful than any of them anticipated--Aleck with the
+drag-rope, Tug by his side, Jim pulling his sled, Rex leaping and
+barking, and Kate bringing up the rear with her hands on the
+stern-rail of the boat. Two or three boys and men called after them,
+and one followed a little way, but he was sent back with short
+answers, and in a few moments the church spires, the big, bell-crowned
+cupola of the High School, and the lofty spans of the railway bridge
+had been left far behind. Not much was said, for even heedless Jim
+felt that this was a serious undertaking, and the pleasant scenes they
+had known so long might never be revisited.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter V.
+
+COMFORT IN A LOG CABIN.
+
+
+The pain of this farewell did not long cloud their faces. Tug and Jim
+had had no luncheon, and were growing anxious for something to eat.
+Down at the mouth of the river stood a small cabin, often occupied in
+early spring by the sportsmen who went for a day's duck-shooting in
+the great marshes that spread right and left on both sides of the
+stream. It was buried among big cottonwood and sycamore trees, and was
+pretty snug. Besides, it had a fireplace, into which somebody had
+stuck a long iron bolt pulled out of some bit of wreckage on the
+beach, and which served as a great convenience in the rude cooking of
+the sportsmen.
+
+At this cabin our party proposed to spend the first night. They
+thought it would be an easy letting down from sleeping in their beds
+at home to the tenting they feared they might have to do afterwards.
+Katy had been the one to suggest this, and Tug had earnestly supported
+the idea.
+
+"Things don't seem so hard when they come upon you gradually, as the
+kind-hearted man said when he cut off his dog's tail a little piece at
+a time, so the pup wouldn't mind it."
+
+The sun was just disappearing straight up the river behind them as the
+cabin came in sight; and before its half-closed door
+
+    "'All _bloody_ lay the untrodden snow,'"
+
+as Kate exclaimed, misquoting her "Hohenlinden" to suit the red glow
+of the rich evening light.
+
+"Hurrah for supper!" screamed Jim; and with an extra spurt they swung
+the boat up to the bank.
+
+A little sweeping with a broom made of an alder branch cleared the
+cabin of the snow that had blown into the cracks and fallen down the
+mud-and-stone chimney. This done, Aleck called to them to listen to
+his first orders, which he had written down in a note-book, and now
+read as follows:
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 1.--Any order given by the Captain must be
+     obeyed by the person to whom it is addressed, unless his reason
+     for not doing so will not keep till camping-time; merely _not
+     liking_ the duty is no excuse.
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 2.--The Captain will say when and where
+     camp shall be made, and immediately upon stopping to camp the
+     duties of each person shall be taken up as follows: the
+     Captain shall secure the boat, get out the tent, and proceed to
+     set it up; Tug shall take the axe and get fuel for the fire;
+     Kate shall see to the building of the fire and the preparation
+     of food; Jim shall help Kate, particularly in carrying articles
+     needed, and in getting water; and all, when these special
+     duties are finished, shall report to the Captain for further
+     duty.
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 3.--Any complaints or suggestions must be
+     made in council, which will commence after camp work is
+     completed and supper is over, and not before.
+
+"There," said Aleck, "do you agree to that?"
+
+"Yes--agreed!" shouted three voices in chorus.
+
+"Then pitch in, all of you; you know your work."
+
+At this Tug seized the axe, Aleck and Jim went to the sledge, and Katy
+began to kindle a little blaze on the hearth with some bits of dry
+wood she found lying about, so that when Tug had brought an armful of
+sticks, a good fire was quickly crackling. Then the iron pot, full of
+water, was hung upon the old spike, where the blaze began curling
+around its three little black feet in a most loving way.
+
+"Jimkin," called the girl to her brother, who was gazing with delight
+at the bright fire, "Jimkin, bring me all those paper packages at the
+stern of the boat, and be careful of the white one--it's eggs."
+
+"I guess there won't be much tent to set up to-night, Aleck," he
+remarked, as he found the Captain, who had hauled the sledge well up
+on the bank and tied it securely to a tree, now busy in dragging out
+the sail.
+
+"No," was the reply, "but the canvas'll come handy. Tell Tug I say
+he'd better get a big heap of wood together, for we're going to have a
+cold night. The wind has turned to the north, and is rising."
+
+When he had taken the canvas up to the cabin, he called Jim to help
+him, and they brought in the mess chest, the rolls of bedding, and the
+piece of spare canvas which had covered the prow. Then, telling Jim to
+take the little sled that had been dragged behind the boat, and haul
+to the door the wood Tug had cut among the trees not far away, Aleck
+seized the shovel and began heaping snow against the northern side of
+the house, where there were many cracks between the lower logs. But
+his hard work to shut them up in this way seemed to be in vain, for
+the wind, which was blowing harder and harder every minute, whisked
+the snow away about as fast as he was able to pile it up. Kate,
+stepping out to see what he was about, came to his rescue with a happy
+thought.
+
+"I read in Dr. Kane's book of arctic travels, that when they make
+houses of snow they throw water on them, which freezes, and holds them
+firm and tight. Couldn't you do that here? It's cold enough to freeze
+anything."
+
+Aleck thought he might, and bidding Kate go back to her fireside, he
+called the other boys to help him; then, while Jim stuffed the cracks
+with snow, Aleck and Tug alternately brought water from a hole cut in
+the river ice, and dashed it against the chinking. Some of the water
+splashed through, and a good deal was tossed back in their faces and
+benumbed their hands, so that it was hard, cold work; but before long
+a crust had formed over the snow-stuffed cracks, and Katy came to the
+door to say that she couldn't feel a draught anywhere. The roof was
+pretty good, and when, tired and hungry, but warm with their exercise
+(except as to their toes and fingers), the three lads went in and shut
+the door, they found their quarters very snug, and didn't mind how
+loud the gale howled among the trees outside. Rex, especially, seemed
+to enjoy it, curling down at the corner of the fireplace as though
+very much at home.
+
+Meanwhile Katy bustled about, setting out plates, knives, and forks on
+the top of the mess chest, which she had covered with the clean white
+paper in which her packages had been wrapped. She had put eight eggs
+to boil in the kettle, which were now done, and were carefully fished
+out, while the coffee-pot was bubbling on the coals, and letting
+fragrant jets of steam escape from under the loosely fitting cover. A
+cut loaf of bread lay on the table, and beside it a tumbler of currant
+jelly, "as sure as I am a Dutchman"--which was Tug's favorite way
+of putting a truth very strongly indeed, though he wasn't that kind of
+a man at all. The eagerness to taste this sweetmeat brought out the
+melancholy fact that by some accident there was only one spoon in the
+whole kit.
+
+[Illustration: SUPPER IN THE LOG CABIN.]
+
+"We'll fix that all right this evening," Aleck remarked. "I'll whittle
+wooden ones out of sycamore."
+
+"Shall I broil some mutton-chops, or will you save those for
+breakfast?"
+
+"Broil 'em now," cried Jim.
+
+"Hold your opinion, Youngster, till your elders are heard," was Tug's
+rejoinder. "I vote we save 'em."
+
+"So do I."
+
+"And I."
+
+"Done," says Captain Aleck. "Give us the chops for breakfast, Miss
+Housekeeper."
+
+"Then supper's all ready," she said, and took her seat on a stick of
+wood, pouring and passing the coffee, while the eggs and the bread and
+butter went round. By the time the meal was finished it had become
+dark, but this did not matter, since there was no need to go out of
+doors.
+
+"How shall I wash the dishes?" asked Katy, with a comical grin, as she
+rose from the table. "I couldn't bring a big pan."
+
+"Well," suggested Aleck, "you can clean out your kettle, refill it
+with water--Jim, there's business for you!--and then wash them in
+that."
+
+"That's a matter never bothered me much when _I_ was camping," added
+Tug, dryly. "I just scrubbed the plates with a wisp of grass, and
+cleaned the knives and forks by jabbing 'em into the ground a few
+times."
+
+While the dishes were washing Aleck opened the tent bundle, and laid
+the mast across two pegs that somebody had driven into the north wall
+of the room just under the ceiling beams, perhaps to hang
+fishing-poles on. Then, with Tug's aid, he tied to the mast the inner
+hem of the sail-cloth, which thus hung loosely against the wall, like
+a big curtain, shutting out every draught.
+
+"That's splendid!" cried Katy, watching them from the end of the room
+where the fire was.
+
+"So is _this_!" came a voice from overhead, making them all look up in
+surprise.
+
+It was Jim, who, unnoticed by any one, had clambered into the loft,
+which had been floored over about two thirds of the room, and who was
+now thrusting his red face down through the open part.
+
+"What do you think I've found?"
+
+"Give it up. I knew of a man who died after asking conundrums all his
+life," answered Tug, gravely, "and I've fought shy of 'em since."
+
+"Tell us at once, Jimkin," called out Aleck.
+
+"_Straw!_" shouted Jim.
+
+"Pshaw!" was the next rejoinder heard.
+
+"No rhymes, Katy," Aleck admonished. "Is it clean, Youngster?"
+
+"Cleaner than he is, I should say, by his face," said Tug, and with
+some reason, for the loft was dusty.
+
+"Don't know; you can see for yourself," and down came a great yellow
+armful.
+
+It was pounced upon, and, proving dry and fresh, the delighted Jim was
+ordered to send down all he could find, which was laid on the floor,
+not far from the fire, and covered with the spare canvas. This made a
+soft sort of mattress, upon which each one could spread his blankets,
+and sleep with great comfort, since there was plenty for all.
+
+"Sha'n't have so good a bed as this another night," groaned Aleck.
+
+"Can't tell--maybe better!" said the cheerful Tug.
+
+The warmest place was set apart for Katy, and Aleck made a small
+screen, covered with a newspaper curtain, which separated her from the
+other three, who were to sleep side by side. These preparations made,
+the fire was heaped high with fresh wood, and then the little quartet
+took their ease, lounging on the springy straw before it, and
+indulging in a quiet talk over the busy day just finished, or what
+they were likely to meet on the morrow.
+
+Aleck said something about being able to travel by compass in case
+they were caught in a snow-storm, which was what he dreaded the most,
+when Jim asked him to explain the compass to him, leaving Katy's side
+and going over to where his big brother was stretched out at the other
+corner of the fireplace. The girl, thus deserted, went to the valise
+in which she kept her small articles, and came back with a book.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VI.
+
+NORSE TALES.
+
+
+"What are you reading?" asked Tug, who was the last boy in the world
+to be interested in a book, unless it was one about animals, but who
+had nothing else to do just then.
+
+"A book of old stories."
+
+"What about?--adventures, and things of that sort?"
+
+"Partly. Some of them are fairy stories--about queer little people,
+and animals that talk, and heavenly beings that help lost children,
+and people that have hard times."
+
+"Why, those are the very fellows we want to see. Let's hear about
+'em--mebbe we can give 'em a job."
+
+"Well, if you would like it, I'll read you this story I've just
+begun," said Katy, good-naturedly.
+
+"Much obliged. I think that would be tip-top."
+
+So Katy read to him, as he lounged on the straw and gazed into the
+bright fire, an old myth-story of the North Wind. How, away in a far
+corner of Norway, there once lived a widow with one son. It was
+midwinter, and she was weak, so the lad was obliged to go to the
+"safe" (or cellar dug near the house, where the food was kept) to
+bring the materials for the morning meal. The first time he went, and
+the second, and again, at the third attempt, the fierce North Wind
+blew the food out of his hands. These three losses vexed the lad
+greatly, and he resolved to go to the North Wind and demand the food
+back. After long travelling he found the home of the giant, far
+towards the pole, and made his demand. The North Wind heard him, and
+gave him a cloth which would serve all the finest dishes in the world
+whenever the boy chose to spread it and call for them. On his way home
+he stopped at a tavern for the night, and, spreading his cloth, had a
+feast. The landlady was astonished, as well she might be, and thinking
+what a useful thing such a tablecloth would be in a hotel, she stole
+it while the lad was asleep, and put in its place one that looked like
+it, but which had no secret power.
+
+The lad, not suspecting the change, went home, and boasted gleefully
+to his mother of what he had brought. But when he tried it, of course
+the false cloth could do nothing, and the old lady both laughed at him
+and scolded him. Vexed again, the lad hastened back, and accused the
+North Wind of fraud. So the giant gave him a ram which would coin
+golden ducats when commanded. Stopping at the tavern as before, the
+landlord exchanged this remarkable animal for one from his own common
+flock, and the lad found himself fooled a second time. Going back a
+third time, he told the story to the North Wind, who gave the angry
+lad a stout stick which, when it had been told to "lay on," would
+never cease striking till the lad bade it to stop.
+
+At the tavern, the landlord, thinking there was some useful
+enchantment in the stick, tried to steal it also, but the boy was wide
+awake. He shouted, "Lay on," and the landlord found himself being
+clubbed till he was nearly dead, and gave back all that he had taken.
+Then the boy went home, and he and his mother lived rich and happy
+ever afterwards.
+
+Tug's vigorous applause aroused the attention of the other two, who
+may have been listening a little, and Aleck asked what the book was.
+
+"Dr. Dasent's 'Norse Tales,'" Katy replied.
+
+"Who or what is 'Norse'?" Jim inquired.
+
+This was a question Tug had been wanting to ask too, but had felt
+ashamed to expose his ignorance--one of the few things not really mean
+which a boy has a right to be ashamed of.
+
+"The Norse people," Katy said, "are the people of Scandinavia (or the
+_Northmen_, as they were called in ancient times), and these stories
+are those that old people have told their children in Norway and
+Sweden for--oh! for hundreds of years. Many are about animals, and
+others--"
+
+"Give us one about an animal," Tug interrupted.
+
+Very well, here's one that tells why the bear has so short a tail:
+
+     One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a
+     string of fish he had stolen.
+
+     'Whence did you get these?' asked the Bear.
+
+     'Oh, my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing, and caught them,'
+     said the Fox.
+
+     So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox
+     tell him how he was to set about it.
+
+     'Oh, it's an easy craft for you,' said the Fox, 'and one soon
+     learned. You've only to go upon the ice, and cut a hole, and
+     stick your tail down into it; and so you must go on holding it
+     there as long as you can. You're not to mind if your tail
+     smarts a little; that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold
+     it, the more fish you'll get; and then, all at once, out with
+     it, with a cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too.'
+
+     Yes; the Bear did as the Fox said, and held his tail a long,
+     long time down in the hole, until it was fast frozen in. Then
+     he pulled it out with a cross pull, and it snapped short off.
+     That's why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail to this day.
+
+[Illustration: "LAY ON!"]
+
+When this short and stirring tale of a tail had been concluded, the
+Captain's voice was heard.
+
+"Now for bed!" he ordered, winding up his watch, whose golden hands
+pointed to nine o'clock.
+
+Partially undressing, they tucked themselves into their quilts and
+blankets on the crackling straw, and silence followed. Sleep was slow
+to close the eyes of the younger ones, who were kept awake by their
+strange situation; and Rex, lying at Katy's feet, frequently raised
+his head as the roaring wind shrieked through the tall trees outside,
+or rattled a loose board in the roof with a strange noise.
+
+The first one to awake next morning was Aleck, who looked at his watch
+by the glimmer of the coals, and was surprised to find it after eight
+o'clock, though only a gray light came through the little window of
+the cabin. Creeping out, he raked the embers together, laid on some
+fresh wood, and hung the kettle on the spike. Then he called his
+companions, who sat up and rubbed their eyes.
+
+"Katy, you lie still till the boys go off. We'll bring you some water,
+and then you can have the house to yourself for a while. Get out of
+this, you fellows! Jim, bring a pail of water for the cook. Tug, you
+and I will go and see how the boat has stood the night."
+
+Two minutes later they were gone. After Jim had brought the fresh
+water (he was slow about it, because he had to rechop the well-hole)
+the girl sprang up to make herself neat, and was busy at breakfast
+when the boys pounded the door like a battering-ram with the
+axe-handle, "so as surely to be heard," and begged to know if they
+might come in.
+
+"Good-morning!" she greeted them. "How is the weather?"
+
+"Weather!" exclaimed Tug, spreading his hands before the fire, and
+working his ears out from underneath a huge red comforter just as I
+have seen a turtle slowly push his head beyond the folded skin of his
+neck. "Weather! It's the roughest day I ever saw. I don't believe old
+Zach himself could skate a rod against that wind."
+
+(Zach was a six-foot-three lumberman in Monore, who was noted for his
+great strength.)
+
+"Then how can we go on?" asked Katy, dropping eggshells into the
+coffee-pot.
+
+"I'm afraid we can't," Aleck said, soberly; "at least, until this gale
+goes down. It is very, very cold, and I'm sure we are much better off
+here. Don't you all think so?"
+
+"_You_ bet!" shouted Tug.
+
+"You _bet_!" Jim echoed.
+
+"Then I must worry about dinner," said Katy, with a pretended groan
+which made them all laugh.
+
+At breakfast came the promised chops. Then, while Katy and Jim set
+the cabin into neat shape, the older lads went after more wood, and,
+having done this, walked out to the neighboring marsh and cut great
+armfuls of wild rice and rushes, with which to make their straw beds
+thicker and softer. This, and other things, took up the morning, and
+then all came in to help and hinder Katy while she got dinner.
+
+When it had been set out they found half a boiled ham, potatoes, some
+fried onions ("arctic voyagers always need to eat onions to prevent
+scurvy, you know," Katy explained), and even bread and butter; but the
+last item represented almost the end of their only loaf.
+
+In the afternoon the wind moderated, the clouds that had made it so
+dark in the morning cleared away, and the sun came out. Under the
+shelter of the long wharf and breakwater they walked out on the ice to
+the lighthouse, where they had been so often in midsummer; but now it
+was shut up, for there would be no use in burning a signal-light on
+the lake after the cold weather of the fall had put a stop to
+navigation, until spring recalled the idle vessels.
+
+Supper was simple, but they had lots of fun over it, and then all set
+at work to help Aleck make straps of canvas to put over the shoulder
+and across the breast when they were hauling on the drag-rope. This
+contrivance saved chafing, and gave a better pull. Jim had pooh-poohed
+the taking of a sail-needle and some waxed twine along as
+unnecessary, but Aleck had persisted; and here was its service the
+very first day. Before the trip was through with, everybody wanted a
+hundred little articles they did not possess, worse than they would
+have missed this sail-needle had it not been brought.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII.
+
+THE FIRST DAY ON THE LAKE.
+
+
+No howling gale disturbed their rest that night, and on the next
+morning, which was Friday, the third day out, breakfast had been
+disposed of long before the hour of rising on the previous day. What
+had they for breakfast? Hot and tender buckwheat cakes, with syrup
+made from maple sugar melted in a tin cup. The boiled ham and some
+crackers were put where they could be got at easily for luncheon.
+
+The stowing of the loose goods in the boat took no longer than Katy
+required to get the mess kit packed after breakfast. As the day was
+fine, and the ice, as far as they could see to the southward, whither
+their course lay, was smooth and free from snow, the sled was loaded
+with cut wood and rushes, ready for making a fire, and Jim was
+appointed to drag it.
+
+As they were leaving the cabin, after a last look to see that nothing
+had been forgotten, Katy spoke up:
+
+"Why can't we take along some of this nice straw? It doesn't weigh
+anything to speak of."
+
+"Oh, we can't," says Jim, crossly. "Girls are always trying to do
+things they know nothing about."
+
+"May's well begin to rough it now as any time; can't expect a cabin
+and a straw mattress every night," was Tug's somewhat gruff remark as
+he went to the sledge.
+
+"But," the girl persisted, rather piqued when she saw how her
+suggestion had been received, "it might be very nice to spread it on
+the floor of the tent. Seems to me you might take it."
+
+She was talking to Aleck now, who, she knew by his face, opposed the
+plan; but he, seeing how much in earnest she was, went back, gathered
+up a big armful of the cleanest straw, and heaped it in the stern of
+the boat, while she brought a second bundle.
+
+This matter settled, Aleck and Tug put their heads through the new
+harness, and were soon rushing along at a stirring pace, while Katy
+skated behind, holding on to the stern of the boat to steady it; Jim
+followed with his sled, and Rex galloped here and there as suited him.
+
+The ice for miles together had been swept clean by the wind, and was
+like a vast, glaring sheet of plate-glass. Most of it was a deep,
+brilliant green. Here and there would be stretches of milky ice, and
+now and then great rounded patches would suddenly meet them, which
+were black or deep brown, and at first frightened them by making them
+believe a patch of open water suddenly yawned in their path. But, when
+they examined closely, they could see that this black ice was two or
+three feet thick, like all the rest on the open lake.
+
+They were never at any time more than a mile or so from the edge of
+the great marshes which bordered the low margin of the lake, and at
+noon they knew they had skated twelve miles, by reaching a certain
+island standing just in front of the reedy shallows.
+
+Thither they gladly turned for luncheon; skates were unbuckled, a big
+fire was built, the snow was cleared away, and the spare canvas spread
+down to sit upon, while Katy prepared to warm up the extra supply of
+coffee she had made in the morning for this purpose.
+
+Not much talking had been done on the march; breath was too badly
+needed to be wasted in that way; but now "tongues were loosed," and a
+rattling conversation kept time with the crackle of the dead sticks on
+the fire.
+
+"Captain," said Tug, "have you noticed how that ridge in the ice bends
+just ahead, and seems to stand across our course?"
+
+"Yes, I have, and I fear it will be troublesome to cross. Jimkin,
+you're nimble; climb that cottonwood, and tell us what you can see."
+
+"All right," said Jim, and was quickly in the tree-top.
+
+"It looks like a rough, broken ridge, stretching clear to shore. I
+guess we'll have to climb over it. I can't see any break."
+
+"Where do you think is the easiest place?"
+
+"About straight ahead, where you see that highest point. Right beside
+it is a kind o' low spot, I think."
+
+"Well, then," said the Captain, "we'll aim for that. Hurry up your
+lunch, Katy, and let's be off."
+
+Half an hour later they arrived at the bad place.
+
+"It must be a _hummock_," said Katy, "such as I have read about in Dr.
+Kane's book--only not so large, I suppose. He says that the ice-sheet,
+or floe, gets cracked and separated a little; then the two floes will
+come together again with such force that they lap over one another, or
+else grind together, and burst up edgewise along the seam."
+
+"That's just the way this is; but, hummock or no hummock, it must be
+crossed," said Aleck.
+
+"Mebbe I could find a better place," suggested Jim, "if I should go
+along a little way."
+
+"Well, try it, Youngster. And, Tug, suppose you take a scout in the
+other direction."
+
+Tug went off, but soon returned, reporting a worse instead of better
+appearance, and Aleck, who had climbed over, came back to say that the
+ridge was about twenty-five yards wide.
+
+"How does it look?" asked Katy.
+
+"Why, it looks as though a lot of big cakes of ice had been piled up
+on edge, and then frozen into that rough shape, or lack of shape. I
+should say the ridge is ten feet high in the middle, and on the other
+side it is a straight jump down for about six feet. But it's worse
+everywhere else. We must take our skates off the first thing."
+
+This done, they stood up, ready to drag the boat as near to the
+hummock as possible. But it was hard pulling, for the slope was pretty
+steep and rough.
+
+"Where's that Jim, I wonder?" cried Aleck. "I'll teach The Youngster
+not to run off the minute any work is to be done. _Jim!_"
+
+But no boy answered the call, nor several others. Tug stood up on the
+boat, and Katy climbed to a high point of ice, but neither could see
+anything. Then they all became alarmed, fearing he might have fallen
+into one of those holes that here and there are found in the thickest
+ice, and always stay open. It is an easy matter to skate into one, but
+a very hard one to get out again. It was the thought of this that made
+Katy run in the direction whither Jim had started, but her brother
+called her back.
+
+"Wait, Katy. We'll put on our skates. Probably The Youngster's hiding,
+and I'll box his ears when I catch him. This is no time for fooling."
+
+With quick, nervous fingers they fastened their straps, and then
+rushed down along the foot of the hummock as though on a race, Tug
+carrying one of the drag-ropes. The tracks could be followed easily
+enough until they left the good ice and turned in towards the hummock,
+where they came to an end, which looked as though Jim might have taken
+off his skates. Here the boys hallooed, then climbed to the top of a
+great, upturned table of blue ice, and called again. But the most
+complete silence followed their words--such a silence as can never be
+known on land among the creaking trees or rustling grass; an absolute,
+painful stillness. Not even an echo came back.
+
+At this they were puzzled and frightened, and Katy wanted to cry, but
+fought back her tears. They descended, and went slowly onward, now and
+then getting upon elevated points, and calling. At last they stopped,
+utterly at their wits' end where or how to search next, and Katy's
+tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked.
+
+"Cheer up, Sis," said Aleck, and took her hand in his as they skated
+slowly onward; "cheer up! we'll try again on that big block ahead."
+
+This block overlooked a broader part of the hummock, and wasn't far
+from land. They struggled over the jagged border, and hoisted Katy
+upon it to see what she could see.
+
+"Nothing," was her report; "nothing but ice, and ice, and ice, and a
+gray edge of marsh. Oh, Jim! Jim! where are you?"
+
+"_Here--help me out._"
+
+Each looked at the other in amazement, for the voice, though faint,
+seemed right beside them.
+
+"_Here, down between the cakes--help me out._"
+
+The words came distinctly, and gave them a clew. Katy peeped over the
+farther edge of the block, and there she saw the little fellow's face
+peering up at her out of the greenish light of a sort of pit into
+which he had fallen. Two great cakes of ice had been thrown up side by
+side, leaving a space about two feet wide and ten feet deep between
+them. The blowing snow that filled most of the crevices of the hummock
+had here formed a bridge, which had let Jim through when he stepped
+upon it, never suspecting the chasm it concealed.
+
+"Hurt?" asked Tug.
+
+"Not a bit, but pretty well scared. I thought you fellows were never
+coming. I've been in here two hours."
+
+"Two hours! Oho, that's good! Twenty minutes would about fill the
+bill. You ain't tired so quick of a warm, snug place like that, are
+you?"
+
+"Just you try it, and see how you like its snugness. Drop me an end of
+that rope, will you?"
+
+"Give him the rope's end, Tug; he deserves it in another way, but we
+haven't time to-day. Now, then--yo-heave-o!" and up came the lost
+member, not much the worse for his adventure.
+
+Then began the difficult work of crossing the hummock. In front of the
+boat lay a steep slope of glassy ice, and beyond and above that a
+series of steps and jagged points, forming about such a plateau as a
+big heap of building-stone would make, only here the fragments were
+larger.
+
+All four, going to the top of the first slope, pulled the boat upward
+until the forward runners were just balanced on the crest. Then a hook
+on one of the ropes came loose; four young people fell sprawling; and
+the boat dropped backward with a rush to the very bottom of the ridge,
+where it upset.
+
+"Now," said Aleck, when they had set the boat upright again, and found
+nothing broken; "now let us take out all the loose stuff, and so
+lighten her as much as we can."
+
+This was done.
+
+"We three fellows," was the Captain's next order, "will drag her up
+again, and Katy must go behind with the boat-hook, and stick it into
+the ice behind the boat, to hold it, like a chock-block under a wagon
+wheel, whenever it shows any signs of slipping back. Now, everybody be
+careful."
+
+The steady pulling, with Katy's pushing and guiding, got the front
+runners safely over the edge of the sloping side, and gave them a
+chance to rest. But when they tried to move it forward enough to bring
+the stern up, the boat couldn't be budged, because the ice in front
+was so full of ruts and ridges.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VIII.
+
+JIM'S REBELLION.
+
+
+"I tell you what, boys," Tug cried, after a great effort, "there's no
+use trying any more till we have smoothed a road, and I think,
+Captain, you'd better set all hands at that."
+
+"I'm afraid that is so. Jim, please go back and get the axe, the
+hatchet, and the shovel. Now, while Tug and I dig at this road, you
+and Jim, Katy, can bring some of the freight up here, or perhaps take
+it clear across, and so save time. The small sled will help you."
+
+It was tedious labor all around, and the wind began to blow in a way
+they would have thought very cold had they not been so warm and busy
+with work. As fast as a rod or two of road was cleared, the four took
+hold and dragged the boat ahead. These slow advances used up so much
+time that when the plateau had been crossed, the sun, peering through
+dark clouds, was almost level with the horizon. It now remained to get
+down the sudden pitch and rough slope on the farther side. But this
+was a task of no small importance, and Aleck called a council on the
+subject.
+
+[Illustration: CROSSING THE HUMMOCK.]
+
+"My lambs," he began (the funny word took the edge off the unfortunate
+look of affairs, as it was intended to do)--"my lambs, it is growing
+late, and it's doubtful if we can get this big boat down that pair of
+stairs before dark. Don't you think I'd better order Jim and Katy to
+pack up the small sled with tent and bedding and kitchen-stuff?"
+
+"'Twon't hold it all!" interrupted Jim.
+
+"Then, Youngster, you can come back after the bedding. Take the
+cooking things first, and you and Katy go back to the island where we
+lunched, and make a fire. Tug and I--eh, Tug?--will stay here and chop
+away till dark, and then we'll go back to camp with you when you come
+after the blankets, and help you carry the tent."
+
+"Are you going to leave the boat here all night?" asked Jim, in alarm.
+
+"Why, of course; what'll harm it? Now be off, and make a big fire."
+
+So the younger ones departed, and by and by Jim returned for a second
+load. He found the two older boys cutting a sloping path through the
+little ice bluff on the farther side of the hummock, and pretty tired
+of it. They were not yet done--the shovel not being of much service in
+working the hard blue ice--but it was now getting too dark to do more,
+so they piled the snug bundles of blankets into Jim's sled box, and
+gave him the rope, while Tug and Aleck put their shoulders under
+opposite ends of the tent roll. Then together they all skated away
+through the thickening windy twilight, and over the ashy-gray plain of
+ice, towards where Katy's fire glowed like a red spark on the distant
+shore.
+
+It was a weary but not at all disheartened party that lounged in the
+open door of the tent that night, while a big fire blazed in front,
+and supper was cooking. This was the first time the sail had been
+spread as a tent, and it answered the purpose nicely, giving plenty of
+room. The straw Katy had been so anxious about had to be left in the
+boat, so that they got no good of it. Jim chaffed his sister a good
+deal about this, and Tug rather encouraged him, thinking it was a fair
+chance for fun at Katy's expense; but when he saw that Katy really was
+feeling badly, not at Jim's teasing words, but for fear she had made
+the boys useless trouble, Aleck came to the rescue. Seizing The
+Youngster by the shoulder, he spun him round like a teetotum, and was
+going to box his ears, when Katy cried out, "Oh, don't!" and saved
+that young gentleman's skin for the present.
+
+"Then I'll punish you in another way. Take your knife, go over there
+to the marsh"--it was perhaps a hundred yards away--"and cut as many
+rushes as you can carry."
+
+The Youngster never moved.
+
+"I don't want the rushes," said Katy, trying to keep the peace, but
+her brother paid no heed.
+
+"Did you hear what I said?" he asked again of Jim.
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"Well, that was a Captain's Order, and I advise you to obey."
+
+"Do it yourself!" shouted the angry Jim, sitting down by the fire.
+
+Aleck looked at him an instant, saw his sulky, set lips, and then
+walked over to a willow bush near by. From the centre of this bush he
+cut a thriving switch, and carefully trimmed off all the twigs and
+crumpled leaves. It was as pliant and elastic as whalebone. It
+whistled through the air, when it was waved, like a wire or a thin
+lash. It would hug the skin it was laid upon, and wrap tightly around
+a boy's legs, and sting at the tip like a hornet. It wouldn't raise a
+welt upon the skin, as an iron rod or a rawhide might do, but it would
+hurt just as bad while it was touching you.
+
+Jim knew all this, and it flashed through his brain, every bit of it,
+as he saw Aleck trim the switch.
+
+"Better scoot, Youngster," Tug advised, with a grin that was meant
+kindly, but made Jim madder than ever.
+
+"Please get the rushes," coaxed Katy.
+
+But when Aleck came back the boy still sat there, defiant of orders.
+
+"Now, James," he said, as he stood over him, "you have been ordered by
+your Captain to go and get some rushes. You refuse. You are
+insubordinate. I'll give you just one minute to make up your mind what
+you will do."
+
+Jim glanced up, saw the determined face and stalwart form of his
+brother; saw Tug keeping quiet and showing no intention of
+interfering; saw the awful willow. He rose quickly from his seat, and
+darted away into the scrub alders and willows as hard as he could run,
+but not towards the rushes.
+
+Aleck didn't follow him. "Never mind," he said. "Go on with your
+supper, Katy. That boy gets those rushes before he has any grub to eat
+or blankets to lie in, unless you both vote against it, and I don't
+think you will, for it was a reasonable order."
+
+"Well, Captain," said Tug, "I think we might ease up on it a little.
+It was a little rough on The Youngster sending him alone in the dark
+to get the stuff. If you had sent me with him, I suppose he'd have
+gone fast enough. If you'll say so now, I allow he'll surrender and
+save his hide. For that matter, I don't mind getting 'em alone if
+you'll let the kid go. I was going to propose it myself just as you
+gave the order."
+
+"That's very kind of you, Tug; but I couldn't allow you to get them
+alone. You may help if you want to."
+
+"May I tell him so?" Katy asked, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, if you can find him."
+
+"I'll find him--look out for the bacon;" and the girl went off into
+the gloom and the bushes, calling, "Jim! Jim!"
+
+It was a good while before she came back, and the boys, tired of
+waiting, had forked out the bacon, and were eating their meal, which
+was what the poets call "frugal," but immensely relished all the same.
+
+Suddenly Katy and the culprit stalked out of the ring of shadows that
+encircled the fire, bearing huge bundles of yellow rushes.
+
+"That ain't fair!" cried Tug. "You ought to have let me gone, Katy."
+
+"Oh, I didn't mind, and I wanted Jim to hurry back."
+
+"I didn't want her to carry none," said Jim, more eager about
+self-defense than grammar. "If I give up, I want to give up all over,
+and not half-way."
+
+"Good for you, Youngster," Aleck shouted, leaping up. "Give us your
+hand!"
+
+Thus peace was restored, and the boy sat down happily to his
+well-earned supper, while the older ones spread the crisp reed-straw.
+Finding there wasn't quite enough, they went off to the marshes and
+brought two more armfuls, which made a warm and springy couch for the
+whole party.
+
+These "rushes" were not rushes, properly speaking, but the wild rice
+which grows so abundantly on the borders of the great lakes, and
+throughout the little ponds and shallow sheets of water that are
+dotted so thickly over Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. It is like a
+small bamboo jungle, for the close-crowding stiff reeds often stand
+ten feet or more above the water. They bear upon the upper part of
+their stalks a few ribbon-like leaves, and each reed carries a plume
+which in autumn contains the seeds, or the "rice."
+
+The botanical name of the plant is _Zizania aquatica_; and among it
+flourish not only the common white and yellow water-lilies, but that
+splendid one, the _Nelumbium luteum_, which Western people call the
+lotus.
+
+This rice formed an important part of the food of the Indians who
+lived where it grew. In and out of the marshes run narrow canals, kept
+open by the currents, and through these the Indian women would paddle
+their canoes, seeking the ripe heads, which they would cut off and
+take ashore to be threshed out in the wigwam, or else they would shake
+and rub out the rice into a basket as they went along. At home the
+rice would be crushed into a coarse flour in their stone mortars, then
+made into cakes baked on the surface of smooth stones heated in the
+coals.
+
+The stalks, round, smooth, and straight, were of service to the
+Indians also. Out of them they made mats and thatching for their
+lodges, and they served as excellent arrow-shafts, a point of
+fire-hardened wood, of bone, or of flint having been fixed in the end.
+
+[Illustration: JIM AND KATY BRINGING THE RUSHES TO CAMP.]
+
+In warm weather these broad, submerged marshes, undulating in
+color-waves--green in spring, golden-yellow in midsummer, and warm
+reddish-brown in October--as the breeze swept across the vast extent
+of pliant reeds, formed the home of a great variety of animals, whose
+numbers were almost unlimited. There, in the darkly stained water,
+lurked hosts of small shells and insects--dragon-flies, beetles, and
+aquatic bugs and flies, whose habits were always a matter for
+curiosity. Then, where insects and mollusks were so numerous, of
+course there were plenty of fishes, great and small, the little ones
+feeding on the bugs and snails, the larger on them, and some
+giants--like the big pike--on these again. Nor did this end the list.
+After the big fish came the muskrat; after the muskrat--in the old
+days, at least--sneaked the wolverine; after the wolverine crept the
+stealthy panther; and for the panther an Indian lay in wait.
+
+The marshes were full of birds, too, in the bird-season--small, piping
+wrens; suspicious sparrows; ducks and rails and gallinules of many
+kinds and many voices; herons and cranes and hawks; coming and going
+with the seasons, making the yellow reeds populous with busy lives,
+and vocal with their merriment. Now, however, all was silent.
+
+Our travellers would have preferred skating across the marshes rather
+than outside upon the windy lake, but it was reported that warm
+springs came out of the ooze in many parts of the rice morass, keeping
+the ice so weak (though not melting it quite away) as to make skating
+unsafe. This danger was not so great, perhaps, in a winter so
+unusually cold as this one was proving itself to be, as it had been
+shown to be in milder seasons; but they did not want to run risks.
+
+"How noisy it will be all around this islet in three months from now!"
+Aleck remarked, as they were preparing for bed. "Then you will hardly
+be able to hear yourself speak for the frogs."
+
+"Before there were any lighthouses on the lake," said Tug, "sailing
+was pretty much guesswork; but my father told me the sailors, when
+they approached the shore, used to know where they were by listening
+to the bull-frogs. The bulls would call out the names of their
+ports, you know: San--_dúsk_--y! To--_l-é-e-e_--do! Mon--_róe_!
+De--_trói-i-i-i_--it!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IX.
+
+SKATING BY COMPASS.
+
+
+The next day was Sunday. Fortunately, the sacred day had found them in
+such a position that they could spend it quietly. Katy persuaded Jim
+and the two young men to listen while she read them some chapters from
+the little Testament she had carefully packed among her "necessary
+articles."
+
+This, together with the work that _must_ be done, took up a good part
+of the morning, and the afternoon was spent in making a trip to the
+boat, looking the situation over carefully, and laying plans for a
+very early start the next day. Supper over, they soon crawled into
+bed, and woke at day break, ready for work, and all the better for
+their day of rest.
+
+After a hasty breakfast camp was broken, and work was resumed at the
+hummock. All hands labored with such a will that long before noon they
+had let the boat down to the smooth white plain upon the other side;
+and though it got away from them at the last minute, and went spinning
+off on its own account, no harm was done.
+
+The onward march was then resumed, and splendid headway made. At noon
+a short halt was called and gladly accepted, all lounging upon the
+straw and boxes in the boat, munching crackers and cheese, and
+drinking Katy's cold chocolate. The sun had been out all the morning,
+and the ice was not only a trifle soft, but frequently rough, which
+had made the skating and dragging a little harder work than before.
+
+No land appeared ahead, but Aleck knew the name and position of a
+lighthouse just visible upon an island at the mouth of a river away
+off at their right. He therefore took out of his pocket a small map of
+the western end of the lake, that he had copied from a big chart, and
+began to study it. He found that it was about fifteen miles across the
+end of the lake to a certain cape on the southern shore, which lay
+beyond the great marshy bay into which emptied the river just
+mentioned. He took the direction of this cape from where they were at
+present, by compass, and made a note of it in his pocket-book. It was
+almost exactly southeast. Aleck reckoned on reaching so near there by
+sundown that the party could go ashore if very hard pushed by any
+misfortune or bad turn of the weather, though it was too long a march
+to make unless they were compelled.
+
+"But supposing we find open water, and have to change our course?"
+asked Katy.
+
+"Well, we shall know, at all events, that we mustn't go east of
+southeast, and must try to keep as close to that direction as
+possible. I don't like this sunshine and westerly breeze. I'd much
+rather the weather kept real cold."
+
+"Why?" said Jim. "It's much nicer when it's warm."
+
+"I'm afraid of snow and fogs, Youngster. Now let us be off."
+
+No snow or fog came to bother them, however, and at sunset they were
+out of sight of any landmark, and travelling by the compass, like a
+ship at sea.
+
+You may ask, How could they be sure they were following it truly,
+since they had no object, like a long bowsprit, to guide the eye in
+ranging their course into line with the needle point, as the steersman
+on a ship does when he glances across his binnacle?
+
+This is the plan they took: The compass was a small one, but it was
+hung in a box so as always to stand level. It was, in fact, an old
+boat compass which Mr. Kincaid had had for many years. This was set
+exactly in the middle of the seat at the stern of the boat, where Katy
+still skated, with her hands resting upon the stern-board. Here she
+could keep her eye easily upon the face of the compass, and make a
+straight line from its pointer through the middle of the boat. When
+the compass point "southeast" and the stem-post of the yawl were in
+line, she knew they were going on a straight course. When these were
+out of line, she knew her team had swerved, and she called out
+"Right!" or "Left!" to bring them back to the true course, just as a
+quartermaster would order "Port!" and "Starboard!" to his helmsman.
+
+The sun went down slowly at their right hands as they rushed along,
+and as Jim saw his shadow stretching taller and taller, he found it
+difficult to keep pace with the older lads. Noting this, the Captain
+ordered a halt, and put Jim into the boat as a passenger, tying his
+sled behind.
+
+"Don't you want to ride also?" asked Tug of Katy, very gallantly.
+
+Katy was tired, and one of her skate-straps chafed her instep a
+little, but she didn't propose to give up.
+
+"Oh, no," she said, cheerily. "I have so much help by resting on the
+stern of the boat that I can go a long time yet before I give in.
+Besides, who would steer?"
+
+So they rushed away again, the clink-clink of their strokes keeping
+perfect time on the smooth ice. All at once--it was about four o'clock
+in the afternoon now--a dark line appeared ahead, and in a few moments
+more they could plainly see open water across their path.
+
+When they became sure of this they went more slowly, and in about ten
+minutes had approached as close as they dared to a wide space like a
+river, beyond which white ice could be seen again. Here all knew they
+must spend the night, for it would be foolish to attempt to cross
+before morning.
+
+"Well," remarked Tug, as they came to a halt, "according to orders,
+it's my duty to take the axe and cut fuel; so I can loaf, for there's
+no wood to chop round here that I see;" and he pretended to search in
+every direction.
+
+"Loaf? Not a bit of it," shouted Aleck, with a grin. "My order to you
+is, Unload that tent, and set it up on the ice! Jim will help you.
+I'll help Katy make a fire."
+
+"I wish you would," said the girl. "I'm 'fraid I shouldn't make it go
+very well out here. I have never built a kitchen fire on ice."
+
+"This is the best way."
+
+Saying this, Aleck took two of the largest pieces of wood from Jim's
+sled, and laid them down a little way apart. Then he laid across them
+a platform of the next largest sticks, and on top of this arranged his
+kindling, ready to touch a match to.
+
+"We won't set the fire going till we are quite ready for it, and--"
+
+"But I'm cold," Jim complained.
+
+"Well, Youngster, I've heard that the Indians never let their boys
+come near the lodge fire to get warm, but bid them run till they work
+the chill off. You'd better move livelier if you want to get warm,
+for we can't afford any more fire than is necessary for a short bit of
+cooking. Katy, what do you propose to have?"
+
+"I thought I would make tea, boil potatoes, and bake some johnny-cake
+in my skillet. May I?"
+
+"Oh, yes, but you must economize fuel."
+
+With this warning, Aleck struck a match, and the little fire was soon
+blazing merrily in the "wooden stove," as Katy called it. Only one or
+two sticks had been burned clear through before the fire had done its
+work, and was put out in order to save every splinter of wood
+possible. They sat down in the shelter of the boat to eat their
+dinner, and enjoyed it very much, in spite of the cold, their
+loneliness, and the gathering darkness.
+
+Meanwhile the tent had been set up. Over its icy floor were laid the
+thwarts taken out of the boat, the rudder, and two box covers, which
+nearly covered the whole space. On top of this was placed as much
+straw as could be spared, and upon the straw Aleck and Tug spread
+their blankets.
+
+Dinner out of the way, the after-part of the boat was cleared out and
+re-arranged, until a level space was left. Here, upon a heap of straw,
+beds for the younger ones were arranged. Then the spare canvas was
+spread across like an awning, and was held up on an oar laid
+lengthwise. This made a snug cabin for Katy and the wearied Jim, who
+were not long in creeping into it. Rex followed, and slept in the
+straw at their feet, which was good for them all.
+
+[Illustration: "THE LITTLE FIRE WAS SOON BLAZING MERRILY."]
+
+With the coming of darkness came also a damp sort of cold, that caused
+them to huddle close in their blankets; and though they presently fell
+asleep, it was with a shivering sense of discomfort that spoiled the
+refreshment.
+
+Midnight passed, and Aleck, only half awake, was trying to tuck his
+blankets closer about him without disturbing his bedfellow, when the
+tent was suddenly struck by some large object, and considerably
+shaken. Alarmed and puzzled at the same time, Aleck paused to listen
+an instant before rising, when the shrieks and barking of the sleepers
+in the boat came to his ears. He sprang out of his blankets only in
+time to see two shadowy objects rise from the camp, and drift away
+across the face of the moon, which was just rising.
+
+"Wh-what w-was that?" came from two scared figures sitting
+bolt-upright in the yawl, their tongues stuttering with terror and
+cold combined.
+
+"I don't know." Aleck was as bewildered, if not quite as much
+frightened, as they.
+
+"Humph!" cried Tug's voice, behind; "you're a pretty set to be scared
+out of your wits and wake everybody up on account of two birds.
+They're nothing but snow-owls. Go to bed, or we'll all freeze."
+
+"Wh-wh-what are they?" asked Jim, his teeth playing castanets in spite
+of all his efforts to control them.
+
+"Tell you in the morning," was the reply. "Go to bed. Come in, Cap'n.
+Owls are nothing. Come to bed."
+
+This seemed good advice, however gruffly given; but you can hardly
+expect a person to mince his phrases at two o'clock of a winter's
+morning, on an ice-floe. Aleck was ready to comply, but he was too
+cold.
+
+"I must get warm first, and so must you, Jim." Katy had wisely
+disappeared some time before, and said she was pretty comfortable.
+"Come and run with me till we get our blood stirring."
+
+Neither of the boys had dared undress at all, so it only remained for
+Jim to creep out from under the canvas, and limp stiffly to his
+brother's side. Then hand in hand they raced up and down the ice half
+a dozen times in the pale greenish moonlight. Once or twice they
+disturbed an owl perched on the ice, or heard wild hooting--a sound so
+hollow and unearthly that they could not tell whether it came from
+near by or far off.
+
+This strange voice and the gray, silent half-light on the wide waste
+gave them a very lonely and dismal feeling, and when they had put
+themselves into a glow by exercise, they were very glad to creep back
+into their beds.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter X.
+
+AN UGLY FERRIAGE.
+
+
+The sun had been up an hour when Aleck woke again, and pulled Tug's
+ear, at which that young gentleman sat up and was going to fight
+somebody right away. But Aleck pounced on him, and pinned him down
+before he could stir or strike.
+
+"No time for fooling," he laughed in his chum's face; "but if there
+were I'd like to take you out to the creek here and duck you for your
+disrespect to your superior officer. Will you touch your cap if I let
+you up?"
+
+"Ye-e-s," Tug replied, as he felt the strength of the Captain's grip;
+"but I'm not sure about your duckin' me!"
+
+"Nor I," laughed Aleck, and he leaped away, to go and wake up the
+others by kicking on the side of the boat.
+
+The morning was beautiful, and by the time breakfast was ready the
+tent had been struck, and the big boys had come back from an
+exploration to say that they could go almost to the brink of the open
+water.
+
+"It must be a 'lead,'" exclaimed Katy. "That's the name arctic
+travellers give to a wide crack in the ice, by taking advantage of
+which, whenever it leads in the right direction, vessels are able to
+make their way through the 'packs' and 'fields.'"
+
+"Probably their _leading_ vessels through is where they get the name,"
+Aleck remarked.
+
+"Shouldn't wonder," said Tug; "but however well that plan may work in
+the arctic regions, we must _cross_ this one."
+
+Getting everything ready at the brink of the canal occupied fifteen
+minutes. Then, all the cargo easy to be moved having been taken out,
+the boat (sledge and all, as an experiment for this short trip) was
+launched without mishap. The sledge bobs hanging on her bottom
+weighted her down, and canted her so much, though the water was
+perfectly smooth, that it was necessary to make the trip very
+carefully. The young voyagers were thus taught that for any real
+navigation the boat must always be removed from the sledge. By noon,
+however, the last ferriage was successfully made, and they had
+repacked and were ready to go on again as soon as they had eaten a
+"bite." While despatching this, Katy suddenly exclaimed:
+
+"Oh, I have never once thought about our visitors last night. I'll
+confess I was dreadfully frightened. How did you know they were owls?"
+
+"Saw 'em," Tug replied, shortly, with his mouth full of dried beef.
+"Couldn't be anything else this time o' year."
+
+"Where do they come from?"
+
+"From 'way up north. Don't your arctic book say anything about 'em?
+Maybe it calls 'em the 'great white' or 'snowy' or 'Eskimo' owls."
+
+"I think I remember something about them. The Eskimos have a
+superstitious fear of them, haven't they?"
+
+"Yes, and lots of other people, for that matter. Why, only last winter
+one of 'em lit on the roof of a house out in the country where I was
+staying, and the old woman there began to rock back and forth, and
+whine out that some dreadful bad luck was coming. But that's all
+nonsense."
+
+"I guess its cry has given it a witch-like reputation," said Aleck.
+"It sounded uncanny enough last night; didn't it, Jim? But what were
+they doing away out here?"
+
+"Oh, I s'pose they were flying 'cross the lake, and had stopped to
+rest on our tent-ridge, till we startled them. I bet they were worse
+scared than you were. You see, their proper home is in the arctic
+regions. That's where they build their nests, putting them in trees
+and in holes in rocks. But when winter comes up there, and the snow
+gets so deep and the cold so severe that all the small animals he
+feeds on have retired to their holes or else left the country, Mr. Owl
+has to get up and flit too, or he will starve to death. So he works
+his way down here. They say these great white owls--why, they're
+bigger than the biggest cat-owl you ever saw--never go far south of
+this, and I know that we don't see many of 'em except when we have a
+very severe winter. But I've talked enough. Let's get out of this."
+
+The sunshine by this time was interrupted by dark clouds that rose in
+the west, and puffs of damp, chilly air began to be felt by the
+skaters, who wrapped themselves a little closer in their overcoats as
+they measured their steady strokes. Still no land came in sight, but
+they thought this must be owing mainly to the thick air to the
+southward. Once they thought they saw it, but the dark line on the
+horizon proved to be a hummock, not so bad as the one lately passed,
+but still troublesome, and closely followed by a second. The lifting
+and tugging tired them all greatly, and after the second barrier had
+been climbed they found themselves on ice which was incrusted with
+frozen snow, and exceedingly unpleasant to skate upon. But a few rods
+farther on there appeared a narrow stream of open water, beyond which
+the ice looked hard and green.
+
+"Let us cross, and camp on the other side," said Tug.
+
+"Yes," Aleck answered, in a troubled voice. "Do you see that snow
+storm coming, over there? It'll be down upon us in a jiffy, and
+there's no telling what next. Yes, let's cross before it gets dark, if
+we can. There's a hummock over there that will shelter us a bit from
+the wind, I think."
+
+The anxious tone of his voice alarmed his companions, and all set at
+work with a will. Yet the snow-flakes had come, and were thick about
+them, before the second ferriage had been made, and the wet and
+ice-clogged boat was lifted out of the water.
+
+Nobody _said_ as much, but it is safe to believe that each of our four
+friends _thought_, to himself, that if every day's work in advance was
+to be like this one, they had undertaken a prodigiously difficult and
+dangerous experiment in this skating expedition; and perhaps each one
+wondered whether the winter would be long enough to carry them to
+their destination at this rate of progress, even should they be able
+to surmount the fast-recurring obstacles in safety.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XI.
+
+CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.
+
+
+"Now what?" asked Tug, holding his head very high to prevent the snow
+going down the back of his neck. "Now what?"
+
+"Now," Aleck answered, in a tone of command, "get the boat up there
+under the lee of that hummock. Everybody take hold."
+
+The ropes were seized with a will, but the heavy boat could not be
+dragged in the snow until it had been lightened; then by great
+exertion it was taken over the fifty yards that lay between the water
+and the hummock. At that spot the ice had been thrust up like a smooth
+wall about fifteen feet high, which overhung slightly, so as to form a
+cosey shelter from the storm. The bow of the boat was swung close
+against its foot, while the stern was slanted away until there
+remained a space of about eight feet between it and the smooth face of
+the hummock at that end. Tug and Jim went back after the sled and what
+baggage had been left behind at the "lead," while Aleck and Katy began
+to contrive a shelter.
+
+To manage this they cleared out the movable things in the boat,
+arranging all the cargo (except the mess chest), as fast as it was
+removed, in the shape of a wall extending across from the stern of the
+boat to the hummock. In this way, with the help of thwarts, two oars,
+and some blocks of ice, a rough wall was raised, about four feet high,
+enclosing a three-cornered space eight feet in width, having the
+hummock and starboard side of the boat for its sides, and the cargo
+wall (through which a hole had been left as a doorway) for its end or
+"base."
+
+Next, a roof must be contrived. The mast and two oars were set in a
+leaning position from the outer gunwale of the boat, where they rested
+firmly upon the thwart-cleats, up against the hummock, to which they
+were securely wedged.
+
+It had now become dark, and Katy lighted the lantern. Tug and Jim,
+covered with snow, brought their last sled-load and added it to the
+wall, throwing all their little stock of firewood, which amounted to
+about three bushels, into the hut. Then all hands set to work in the
+wind, which blew in sharp gusts now and then over the crest of the
+hummock, to stretch the sails upon the rafters formed by the mast and
+oars and thus form an awning-roof.
+
+The handling of the heavy mainsail proved an extremely difficult
+matter. Once it blew quite away from their grasp, and went off in the
+darkness, but Jim and the dog gave chase, and soon caught it, Rex
+grabbing it with his teeth, and so holding on to it till the others
+came to the rescue. At the next attempt they succeeded in fastening
+one end, after which the task grew easier.
+
+The mainsail fairly in place, the jib was next hoisted across the end,
+and here its leg-of-mutton shape was a great advantage, for when the
+broad lower part was hung against the hummock wall the narrowing peak
+just fitted between the sloping roof and the top of the wall.
+
+When the two sails had been fastened, the party found themselves
+covered rudely but pretty tightly, and the spare canvas remained to
+serve as a carpet, which was greatly needed. Plenty of snow and cold
+were "lying round loose" yet, but to be inside was far better than to
+be out of doors. That this safety and warmth were possible to their
+frail structure was owing, of course, to the fact that it stood under
+the lee of the tall ice wall, which acted as a shield against the
+force of the gale.
+
+"Really, the wind does us more good than harm now," Aleck remarked,
+"for it drifts the snow under the boatsledge and against the wall,
+and, if it keeps on, will soon stop up all the holes, and leave us
+boxed into a tighter house than our old snow-chinked cabin back at the
+river."
+
+"Mebbe it'll bury us," said Jim, in an awful whisper.
+
+"Guess not. Anyhow, we can have a fire first--there are holes
+enough left yet to let the smoke out. Tug, just shovel the drifted
+snow out of the house, or pack it between the bobs under the boat,
+while I whittle some kindling. There won't any more blow in--the
+drift's too high now."
+
+[Illustration: CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.]
+
+"Shall I boil tea or coffee?" asked Katy.
+
+"Coffee, I guess; and give us some fried bacon and crackers--but lots
+of coffee."
+
+"Why couldn't we use our oil stove now?"
+
+"We don't really need to. We have some wood, and can build a fire well
+enough inside here, and the oil is easier carried than the wood for a
+greater need. Ready, Tug?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir."
+
+"All right. Here are our kindlings. Katy, open your lantern, and let
+me set these shavings afire. Matches are too precious to be wasted or
+even risked."
+
+A minute later a brisk little fire was burning, snow was turning to
+water, and cold water to hot, while coffee was thinking that presently
+it would be in the pot, and slices of bacon were saying good-bye to
+their fellows, as one by one they dropped into the frying-pan.
+
+It was a strange scene, but the actors in it were too tired and hungry
+to notice how they looked, as they watched with eager interest the
+progress of supper-getting. They were not cold, and wraps were all
+thrown aside, for the wind was cut off, and the fire, small as it was,
+made a great deal of heat in the confined space. The atmosphere of an
+Eskimo house of ice, though there may be no better fire than a little
+pool of train-oil in a soapstone saucer, where a wick of moss is
+smoking and flaring, will become so warm that the people remove not
+only their furs, but a large part of their under-clothing, and this
+when the temperature outside is fifty degrees or so below
+freezing-point.
+
+"It is just about big enough for a play-house," Katy remarked, as she
+jostled one and another in moving about.
+
+"I'm glad the snow blows over, and doesn't settle on the roof. If it
+did, I'm afraid the canvas would sag down awfully, or the oars break."
+
+"How will we sleep to-night?" asked Jim.
+
+"Well," said Aleck, "I think we must all sleep in the boat somehow.
+Katy and you can lie on the straw in the stern-sheets, as usual, and
+Tug and I will bunk in somewhere for'ard. If we had plenty of wood to
+keep the fire going, it would be comfortable out here, but we must
+economize. If this snow keeps on, I don't know when--"
+
+"Supper!" called Katy, and Aleck didn't finish what he was saying; but
+they all felt a little more serious about their situation. Though Jim
+objected, Aleck ordered him to put out every bit of the fire, and
+perched up in the boat they ate their supper by the light of the
+lantern.
+
+"It's precious lucky we found this straw in the cabin," said Tug, as
+he sat upon it, with a tin cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other
+a sandwich made of two pieces of cold johnny-cake and a slice of
+bacon.
+
+"That's cool! The _luck_ is that Kate had the good sense to make us
+bring it. I know two young fellows who objected."
+
+"I know _three_," Katy spoke up. "Fair play. You sneered at me at
+first, Mr. Captain, as much as anybody. You needn't play goody-goody
+over the rest of them."
+
+"Go in, Katy!" they both cried. "Give it to him! He was going to leave
+every bit behind--and the rushes too."
+
+"Well, well," pleaded Aleck, "I know now it was a good idea, and I'm
+not always so--"
+
+"--big a fool as you look, eh?" exclaimed Tug, giving them all a laugh
+at the face made by the tall fellow, who was thus cheated out of his
+smooth apology.
+
+"Never you mind; I'll get even with you before long."
+
+Then the Captain took out his watch and wound it. Holding it in his
+hand he said: "Now it's _my_ turn. I'll give you merry jesters just
+four minutes to finish your supper and make your beds. Then I blow out
+the lantern. Oil is precious."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XII.
+
+SNOWED UNDER.
+
+
+There was a roguish twinkle in the Captain's eye, as though oil was
+not so precious but that they might have burned a few more drops of
+it; but an order was an order, and everybody was quite ready for
+darkness when it came, except Tug.
+
+Then, how pitchy it was, and how the wind sung and whizzed over their
+rough-edged shield of ice, now and then catching the border of the
+ill-stayed tent and giving it a furious flap, as though about to throw
+it over! But weariness and warmth--for often snowy nights are not so
+cold as clear ones--closed ears as well as eyes, and when they awoke
+it was gray light in the tent, and half-past seven o'clock in the
+morning.
+
+Katy was the first one to peep over the gunwale of the boat, though
+Aleck was already awake.
+
+"Is the place full of snow?" he asked.
+
+"No, but the canvas sags a good deal."
+
+"Well, you keep under your blankets till Tug and I--get out of this,
+mate!--have cleared up the floor a little, and built a fire. I'm
+afraid we won't get away from here to-day."
+
+After breakfast the two larger lads crawled over the wall, sinking up
+to their waists in the snow as they stepped off. Struggling out, they
+climbed up a little way upon the crest of the hummock, where it had
+been swept clear of snow by the wind, which had now subsided; but
+nothing could be seen through the veil of thick-flying flakes except
+the dirty gray of their canvas roof and the thin wisps of smoke that
+curled upward from beneath it. All else was pure white, sinking on
+every side into a circle of foggy storm. Around the outer side of the
+boat and the end of the house drifts had been heaped up even on to the
+edge of the canvas, so that their house had become a cave between the
+ice and the snow-bank.
+
+"It's snug enough," said Tug.
+
+"Yes, but I should hate to starve to death or freeze there, all the
+same," Aleck replied.
+
+"But it ain't very cold--and--and--say! we've lots of food, haven't
+we?"
+
+"Enough for about ten days, if we put ourselves on precious short
+rations; but most of it--the flour and bacon and so on--must be
+cooked, and this takes fire, and fire needs fuel, which is just what
+we haven't got. If we should use every bit of wood there is except
+the boat and sledge, there wouldn't be enough to cook our food for ten
+days. Besides, though it isn't cold now, it's likely to turn mighty
+cold after this snow-storm, and then we must have a fire, or freeze."
+
+"But we could get ashore back at the Point in a day's travel. Or, for
+that matter, the south shore can't be far off, though we can't see it
+through this fearful storm."
+
+"If we had clear ice it would be all right, but how can we travel in
+this snow? It can't be less than two feet deep everywhere for miles
+and miles. You and I might go a little way, but Katy and The Youngster
+couldn't budge twenty steps. It's really a serious scrape we have
+brought ourselves into; and we ought to have thought about this before
+we started. Talk about Dr. Kane! He never was worse off in the arctic
+regions than we're likely to be right here in a day or two, unless
+something happens."
+
+Aleck certainly was very down-hearted, and his companion did not seem
+much disposed to "brace him up," as he would have expressed it. He
+could only reply, in an equally discouraged voice,
+
+"I don't see what _can_ happen out here--for good."
+
+"Nor I. Let's go in; it's no use standing here in the storm. But,
+mind you, no word of all this to the others yet."
+
+All day long the snow sifted down in fine, dense flakes that piled up
+higher and higher around their house, though there was enough wind to
+keep it from collecting on the roof, which was very fortunate. They
+sat in the boat, half nestling in the straw; told stories; made Tug
+tell them everything he could think of about animals and shooting;
+invented puzzles, Aleck setting some hard sums; mended clothes--this,
+of course, was Katy's amusement; and guessed at conundrums. Here Jim
+outshone all the rest. He was sharper with his answers than any of
+them, and finally proposed the following:
+
+"Ebenezer Mary Jane, spell it with two letters?"
+
+They knit their brows over it, pronounced it impossible to solve, and
+gave it up.
+
+"I-t, _it_," says Jim, and carried off the honors.
+
+Tired of this, they listened while Katy read from the precious book of
+Norwegian stories, and then chapter after chapter out of the little
+red Testament.
+
+"'Twouldn't be a bad scheme for some raven to bring _us_ food," said
+Tug, thoughtfully. "I reckon Elisha's wilderness wasn't a worse one
+than this ice-plain."
+
+"The Eskimos, Dr. Kane writes, eat the raven himself sometimes, in
+their snow-deserts, which Elisha wouldn't have done on any account, I
+suppose."
+
+"No. That would have been like Æsop's fable of killing the goose that
+laid the golden eggs."
+
+"Yes, so it would," Katy responded; "but the Eskimos have lots of
+other birds to eat--auks and guillemots, and eider-ducks, and
+mollemokes."
+
+"But they're on the sea, where those birds live in enormous flocks,
+like our wild pigeons up in the pine woods--millions of 'em!" Tug
+exclaimed, with outstretched arms. "No such a thing on our lake after
+the blackbirds leave the marshes."
+
+"Except owls," interposed Jim; "and we can't eat them."
+
+"I feel as though even an owl-stew wouldn't be bad about now," Aleck
+replied.
+
+Nevertheless, when lunch-time came, both the big boys vowed they were
+not a bit hungry, and refused to eat. Katy took only a cracker, but
+Jim ate three crackers and the last bit of the cold ham, picking the
+bone so clean that, big as it was, Rex, who was frightfully hungry,
+could get little comfort out of it, though he gnawed at it nearly all
+the afternoon. Then Tug smashed it for him, and gave him another try,
+which he appreciated highly.
+
+"Poor Rex!" said Katy, with a sigh. "Travellers get so badly off they
+have to kill and eat their dogs sometimes"--Rex stopped crunching, and
+looked up with a glance of alarm at this--"and if we should--"
+
+"What a grand time Rex would have at his own bones!" interrupted
+Tug--a joke the utter absurdity of which wrinkled the faces that had
+become straight into hearty laughter. Towards evening a fire was
+built, which used the last of the sticks and one of the box-covers
+before the biscuits could be baked in the skillet, the ham fried, and
+tea made.
+
+"I'm 'fraid it won't be long before I shall have to try the little
+stove," said Katy.
+
+"I had no idea we were so near the end," Aleck muttered, under his
+breath.
+
+The meal that evening was a very dull one, and if they did not go to
+sleep at once after they had gone to bed, certainly there was little
+fun-making among the weather-bound prisoners. Aleck said afterwards he
+thought he slept about an hour that night, and Katy was sure she
+didn't really get soundly asleep at all; but it is difficult to lie
+awake _all_ night, though your rest may be so broken that you think in
+the morning you have never once lost your knowledge of what was going
+on.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIII.
+
+SAVED FROM STARVATION.
+
+
+When they arose next morning the air was much lighter, for it was no
+longer snowing. Breaking their way out after breakfast, Aleck and Tug
+climbed to the crest of the hummock above the house, where pretty soon
+they were joined by Katy and Jim, anxious to get a look abroad. There
+was not much satisfaction in this, though. On all sides stretched an
+unbroken area of white--a spotless expanse of new snow such as you
+never can see on land, for there was nothing to break the colorless
+monotony, except where the hummock stretched away right and left, half
+buried, and as white as the rest, save at a few points where crests of
+upturned ice-blocks stood above the drifts.
+
+"There is a higher point a little way over there," said Aleck to Tug;
+"let's go across, and see if it will show us anything new."
+
+"Mayn't we come?" asked Jim.
+
+"No, Youngster, stay with Katy. It would be a useless journey for you,
+and we'll soon be back."
+
+And off they went, floundering up to their waists much of the time.
+
+"Jim," says Katy, "I see, just beyond the hut"--pointing in the
+direction opposite to that in which the lads had gone--"a space under
+the edge of the hummock where the ice seems pretty clear. Understand?
+And look! don't you see that long, dark line there? I wonder what it
+can be? Let us go and find out. We can get along easily enough after a
+few steps."
+
+Jim strode ahead, and stamped down a path for Katy through the snow
+that lay between their house and the clear space of ice that had been
+swept by the eddy under the hummock, until, a moment later, they were
+both running along upon a clean floor towards the object they had
+seen. Now they could make it out clearly; and at the first discovery
+Jim tossed his cap high in the air and gave a hurrah, in which the
+girl joined, wishing she too had a cap to throw up. What do you
+suppose it was that had so excited and gladdened them? Can't you
+guess?
+
+_A log of wood frozen into the ice!_
+
+"Now we can have all the fire we want."
+
+"And I can keep the coffee hot for the second cup."
+
+Then they looked at one another, and laughed and clapped their hands
+again. Were two children ever before made so happy by the simple
+finding of a log?
+
+Just then they heard Aleck's voice:
+
+"Hallo-o-o! Where are you?"
+
+Jim jumped up, and was about to shout back, but his sister threw her
+hand over his mouth.
+
+"Stop, Jimkin! Let them look for us, and have the fun of being
+surprised by our great discovery."
+
+So both kept quiet, and let the boys shout. By and by they saw their
+heads bobbing over the drift, and presently Tug came running towards
+them, with Aleck close behind.
+
+"Why didn't you answer? Didn't you hear us? Hello! Whoop--la! Wood, or
+I'm a Dutchman!" and all echoed his wild shout, and tried to imitate
+his dance, until the joy was bumped out of them by sudden falls on the
+slippery ice.
+
+It was a tree trunk of oak, that had been floating about, frozen into
+the ice, above the surface of which fully half of it was to be seen.
+The stubs of the roots were towards them, while the upper end of the
+tree, which had been a large one, was lost in a drift more than forty
+feet distant.
+
+"There is enough good wood here," said Aleck, "to keep us warm for two
+months, if we don't waste it; and we ought to be very thankful."
+
+"Then let's have a fire right away!" Jim exclaimed.
+
+"All right, Youngster," was the Captain's response. "Fetch the axe,
+and we'll soon light up."
+
+When Jim had disappeared, Katy asked her brother what he had seen.
+
+"Nothing," was the reply. "And it would just be impossible to move
+half a mile a day in this snow. It's one of the deepest falls I ever
+saw. We've got to stay here, for all I see, till it melts, or crusts
+over, or blows away, or something else happens."
+
+"Well, we have plenty of fuel now."
+
+"Yes, but we can't live on oak--though we might on acorns. But here
+comes Jimkin. Let's say no more about it now, Katy."
+
+As the chips flew under Tug's blows, Katy gathered an armful, and
+hastened back to kindle a fire, while Jim and Aleck busied themselves
+in clearing a good path, and in hauling the hand-sled from under the
+boat, where it had been jammed into the drift out of the way. By the
+time it was ready Tug had chopped a sled-load of wood, and they hauled
+it to the house. It had been very awkward climbing over their wall of
+boxes, but they had been afraid to move any part of it, for fear of
+throwing down the snow which had banked it up and made the place so
+tight and warm. However, there was one box which must shortly be
+opened in order to get at more provisions; so it was carefully moved,
+and the wood piled in its place, leaving a low archway underneath,
+through which they could crawl on their hands and knees.
+
+"That's just like an _igloo_," said Katy.
+
+"What's an 'igloo'?"
+
+"An Eskimo house made of frozen snow, in the shape of a dome, and
+entered by a low door, just like this one. By the way, are you getting
+hungry?"
+
+"Yes; bring us something to eat."
+
+They went back to their chopping. Pretty soon Katy came running out,
+bringing some crackers, a little hard cheese, and the last small jar
+of jelly--"just for a taste," she explained. Then she broke out with
+her story:
+
+"Oh, boys, there's a whole lot of little birds--white and
+brown--around the house. They seem to like to get near the smoke. I'm
+going to throw out some crumbs."
+
+"Yes, do," said Tug, eagerly, "and I'll get my gun."
+
+"What? to shoot them! Oh, no."
+
+"But they will make good eating."
+
+"Ye-e-s, I suppose so," agreed the kind-hearted girl; "but I hate to
+have them shot."
+
+"It's hard, I know," Aleck said, sympathizing more with his sister
+than with the birds, I fear; "but we need everything we can get. It
+may be a great piece of good-fortune that they have come, and--Hold
+up, Tug; aren't you afraid if you shoot at them they will be scared
+away for good?"
+
+"No fear of that," was the answer; "and we have no other way. Come
+along, Katy, and keep Rex quiet."
+
+Luncheon was stuffed in their pockets, and all hastened towards the
+house.
+
+There they still were--several flocks of birds resembling sparrows,
+but larger than any common sparrow, and white; so white, in fact, that
+they could only be seen at all against the snow by glimpses of a few
+brown and black feathers on their backs. In each flock, however, there
+were one or two of a different sort, easily distinguishable by their
+darker plumage and rusty brown heads. Tug said they were Lapland
+longspurs, and had pretty much the same habits as their numerous
+associates. The whole flock of birds was very restless, constantly
+rising and settling, but showed no disposition to go away, and took
+little alarm at the four figures that stealthily approached.
+
+"What are they?" whispered Aleck to Tug.
+
+"White snow-flakes, or snow-buntings," he whispered back. "Mighty good
+eating."
+
+Creeping quietly into the house, Tug took his shot-gun out of the boat
+and hastily loaded it, but with great care to see that the priming was
+well up in the nipple and a good cap on. Then he slung over his
+shoulders his shot-pouch and powder-horn--a short, black,
+well-polished horn of buffalo, of which he was very proud, for it had
+been a curiosity in Monore--and begged them all to stay in the house
+and let him alone, unless he called to them, and, above all, to keep
+the dog inside.
+
+This said, he crawled forward out of the low doorway, holding his gun
+well in front of him, and the other three sat down to wait for the
+result.
+
+Scarcely a minute had passed before a sharp report was heard, and a
+little thud upon the canvas roof. At this sound Rex leaped up, and was
+greatly excited. His ears were raised, his eyes flashed, and he gave
+several short, quick barks. But Aleck had twisted his fingers in the
+dog's mane, and forced him to drop down and keep quiet.
+
+Very soon afterwards there rang out a second report, and again, after
+time enough to reload, a third. Then the sportsman's voice was heard
+calling, and all ran out to see how many he had bagged.
+
+[Illustration: "A SHARP REPORT WAS HEARD."]
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIV.
+
+THE ARCTIC VISITORS.
+
+
+"Help me catch these wounded ones!" cried Tug, dancing round in chase
+of several wing-tipped and lame birds that were floundering in the
+snow.
+
+The others rushed after them too, and it was exciting sport, for the
+chase often led them into deep drifts and down the scraggy sides of
+the hummock; it thus became the scene of many comical tumbles and
+failures, for several of the birds, having been shot as they crowded
+together in a bunch, were only slightly wounded, and able to make a
+vigorous attempt to escape. Rex took part also, but his work consisted
+chiefly in barking himself hoarse, for all he accomplished was the
+finding of one dead bird; and this, as he was not a retriever, he
+devoured on the spot.
+
+When, panting, red-faced, and tired out, they gathered again at the
+door, they counted up seventeen fat buntings and one long-spur as the
+result of the three shots. Three of these were badly mangled, and were
+given to Rex; the others they began at once to make into a stew for
+supper, which they always ate about sundown. This meal also took the
+place of a dinner, as they ate only "a bite" at noon.
+
+While they were plucking the birds--and their bodies seemed wofully
+small when the thick coat of feathers had been removed--they asked Tug
+many questions about the buntings. He could not answer all of them,
+but the substance of what he told them was this:
+
+The snow-buntings--white snow-birds, or snow-flakes--belong to the far
+northern regions, where they go in summer to make their nests, often
+within the arctic circle. As soon as their young are able to fly they
+must begin their southward migration, for the excessive cold and the
+deep snow cut off all the grass-seeds, mosses, and insects upon which
+they feed in summer. So they begin to spread southward, not into
+British America alone, but also into Lapland and Russia, and the lower
+parts of Siberia. The bird seems to be a lover of cold, and used to
+scant fare and the roughest climate. It is not always, therefore, that
+they are to be seen in the United States south of the Great Lakes.
+
+Around these lakes, however, they are likely to come in large flocks
+after a cold snap or a deep fall of snow. The wild rice tracts and
+frozen marshes afford them an abundance of seeds and dried berries,
+upon which they grow fat. Though seeming less in danger than most
+other birds, since our hawks are gone southward, these buntings are
+exceedingly restless and timid, which makes them scurry away at the
+least alarm. Yet their timidity is not enough to insure their safety,
+for though they are constantly rising up and settling again, their
+flights are so short and uncertain that, as we have seen, a good
+marksman has no difficulty in shooting them. They are so small,
+however, that in this country of large game-birds they are never shot
+for food unless a necessity like the present one compels it. With the
+first bit of warm weather the snow-buntings and their companions, the
+long-spurs, whirl away to the bleak northward, crowding close upon the
+heels of Winter as he retreats to his polar stronghold.
+
+In the cool mountainous parts of the Far West there are several
+species of birds closely akin to the snow-flake, whose summer homes
+are among the peaks. They belong to the same genus (_Plectrophanes_),
+but none of them are so white as the Eastern bunting; in fact, like
+the ptarmigan, he is pure white only in midwinter, changing in summer
+to a dress much mottled with warm brown and black, traces of which
+remain in his winter hood and collar.
+
+"What do you suppose brought the snow-flakes away out hither on the
+ice?" Tug was asked.
+
+"Oh, we're not so far from land--though we might as well be a hundred
+miles away for all the good it will do us!--and I suppose they were
+flying across to the marshes and islands on the north shore. Probably
+our smoke attracted them."
+
+Having got done with their birds, the boys returned to their chopping.
+Two or three large pieces were hacked out as back-logs to build their
+fire upon, instead of making it right on the ice; and since this last
+load was not needed in the wall, which had been banked up anew, it was
+spread around on the floor of the house to lift their canvas carpet
+above the chilly and often wet floor, for the weather was not cold
+enough now to keep it frozen always hard and dry under the tent.
+
+Evening came, and with it a feeling of homelike comfort queer to think
+about, yet not quite impossible under the circumstances, forlorn and
+dangerous as they were. The boys perched themselves on the gunwale of
+the boat, and watched Katy making snow-bird stew and steeping the
+fragrant tea.
+
+Then, how good it tasted! What a royal change from steady bacon and
+crackers, or tough dried beef, and water!
+
+"I wonder if they'll come again?" said Aleck, examining his friend's
+gun. "Costs a heap o' powder, though, and the noise scares them. Say,
+Tug, don't you know how to build traps?"
+
+"I could make a figure four," piped Jim, "if I had the box."
+
+"Guess we could manage that. Ugh! what a frightful smoke!"
+
+"I should say so," added Katy, rubbing her smarting eyes. "I think, if
+you would punch a hole under the wall, there would be a better
+draught. That hole in the corner of the roof don't make a very fine
+chimney."
+
+Tug took his ramrod and worked the snow away from a crevice at the
+foot of the wall, near the floor. The cooler air outside sucked in to
+take the place of the heated air within, which ascended to the hole at
+the edge of the roof, and a draught was set in motion, taking enough
+of the smoke out to make the place endurable while they ate their
+supper.
+
+How good that bird soup was! And what fun they had, eating it out of
+their tin cups with wooden spoons! There was only one bowl for the
+tea, which had to be passed around for each to drink from in turn.
+They forgot their difficulties for a little while, and were as merry
+as anybody could be. All at once Katy stopped short in a laugh, with
+an exclamation of astonishment:
+
+"I do believe we've never one of us thought what day it is! This is
+Christmas eve!"
+
+The evening was given to chatting, as they sat in the darkness half
+illumined by the red embers of their fire, for they wanted to save
+their lantern oil, and would not allow themselves to burn it
+uselessly; nor was it late when they went to sleep.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XV.
+
+CHRISTMAS BIRD-CATCHING.
+
+
+"Merry Christmas!"
+
+It was the Captain's voice, who felt it a part of his duty to be the
+first "on deck" in the morning, but had a rival in his sister, who was
+quite as active as he.
+
+"_Merry_ Christmas! this what you call merry?" inquired Jim,
+fretfully, as with his finger he traced figures in the frost on the
+under side of the canvas.
+
+"Well, let's try to make it as merry as we can," Katy cried,
+cheerfully, from the starboard corner of the stern-sheets.
+
+"I know what I'm going to do," said Tug--"make bird-traps. I lay awake
+a long time in the night planning them."
+
+"While you fellows talkee-talkee I'll build a fire;" and Aleck's tall
+form was soon bent over the heap of wood, where a blaze was quickly
+crackling. Tug and Jim followed, and all went out of doors, as was
+their custom, leaving Katy the whole igloo to herself for a little
+while.
+
+Immediately after breakfast Tug began on his traps.
+
+He had brought along with him as a part of his baggage what he
+sometimes called his gunsmith shop. It consisted of a square tin box
+that would hold about two quarts of chestnuts--if he had had any
+chestnuts to put in it, which he hadn't. Besides a bag of No. 6 shot,
+this box contained one of the strangest and most worthless collections
+of odds and ends of boyish hardware that could be imagined. A
+catalogue of it would be useless. Among other articles were a
+knife-blade that long ago had parted from its handle, a brad-awl in
+the same condition, and a broken bullet-mould bound together by a long
+winding of fine wire.
+
+These three things the lad picked out and laid aside. Then he turned
+over the rest of the contents of the box until he had secured several
+tacks and brads of varied sizes, and a round piece of tin with holes
+in it. Next he discovered something which made him shout with a joy
+almost equal to his delight at finding the tree trunk. This best of
+all the finds, this forgotten treasure in the tin box, was a small
+coil of horse-hairs. They were the relics of a preparation he had made
+for a short camping trip into the woods three months before, while the
+October haze and bright cool air were playing among the rustling
+autumn leaves. How the scene came back to him! Now these hairs would
+serve him for a better use than mere amusement. He was carefully
+unwinding them when Jim rushed in to say that the snow-birds were
+around again.
+
+"Good!" cried Tug. "Take some crumbs out of the cracker box, and
+quietly throw them down where the snow-birds can get them. Put 'em on
+the top of the hummock first, then we'll gradually toll 'em down
+below. I'll be out in a minute."
+
+Jim got his crackers and vanished. Aleck was chopping wood, and Katy
+was with him. It was a cold day, but sunny, and there were no signs of
+the snow melting. Tug, alone in the house, looked fondly at his tools,
+and having nobody else to speak to, talked to himself.
+
+"We're like the boy and the ground-hog. 'We ain't got no meat for the
+supper, and the preacher's comin'.' So I guess I'd better leave the
+twitch-ups and make some common box traps that Kate and the kid can
+watch. Come here--you!"
+
+This last was addressed to a wooden box about twelve inches square, in
+which Katy had been wont to pack the small articles of table use. Tug
+turned them all out, and pulled off the leather hinges that held the
+cover. Then, taking an oak splinter from the firewood, he cut it to
+the size of a lead-pencil, and notched it in the middle. In this notch
+he tied the end of the ball of twine which formed a part of the boat's
+stores, and cut off a length of about fifteen feet. Next, he drew the
+locker out of the bearings upon which it rested, emptied it of its
+contents, and made a stick and length of twine to fit it in the same
+way. Lastly, he tore two pieces a foot or so square from their one
+strong sheet of white paper. He had been at work scarcely ten minutes,
+but had ready two simple traps. Then he went outside and called to
+Katy, who came quickly.
+
+"Katy," he said, "I have something for you to do. Please get a blanket
+and come out on top of the hummock, where you'll find me."
+
+While the girl went inside for the blanket Tug climbed up to the icy
+hill-top, where a small flock of snow-birds were pecking away at the
+crumbs Jim had thrown out. The lad crept stealthily towards them, and
+though the birds moved away, they were not greatly frightened, and did
+not go far. As quietly and rapidly as possible he spread down his
+pieces of paper on the highest part of the hummock, at a little
+distance apart, and not far from the edge of the ice table. Then,
+setting his boxes bottom upward, he perched each one slantwise upon
+one of his sticks, and stretched the strings away to the hummock's
+edge. On the paper underneath the boxes, and somewhat on the snow
+about them, he spread his bait of crumbs. Then showing Katy, who had
+now come out, where she could hide herself behind the edge of the
+upheaved ice cakes, he told her to wrap herself up well in the
+blanket, and to keep perfectly still till the birds came back. They
+would pick at the crumbs until by and by one or two of them would be
+sure to step under the boxes.
+
+"Then," said he, "you jerk your string, the box falls, and Mr.
+Snow-flake is a prisoner."
+
+So Katy took her position, and Tug, asking Jim to help him, went off
+to make some other traps.
+
+"Youngster," he directed, "I want you to cut me eight square pieces of
+ice, each one about as big as a brick, and after that two slabs about
+eighteen inches square and two or three inches thick. You can take the
+axe and cut 'em out in big chunks from the hummock, and then saw 'em
+into shape--here's the saw--and mind you keep away from where Katy
+is."
+
+"What do you want them for?"
+
+"For traps--never you mind why: you'll see presently," was the lofty
+reply.
+
+Jim thought it a little unfair, but he good-naturedly took the axe and
+saw and went to work.
+
+In half an hour he came to say he was done, and was quickly followed
+by his sister, whose face was beaming.
+
+"I've caught three!" she cried.
+
+"Three? Good!"
+
+"Yes, they came, a big flock--about forty, I should think--and
+chattered and twittered about over the house."
+
+"I heard 'em," Tug exclaimed.
+
+[Illustration: KATY TRAPPING THE SNOW-BUNTINGS.]
+
+"Yes? Well, they seemed to enjoy warming their wings in the smoke, for
+they flew through it lots of times. Then pretty soon one spied a
+crumb, and I suppose he called his fellows, for in a minute they came
+all hopping about on the snow, and getting nearer and nearer the
+boxes. I got so nervous I could hardly hold the strings still, but I
+kept as quiet as a mouse--"
+
+"Or as a cat after a mouse!" interrupted Aleck, who had come in with
+an armful of wood.
+
+"--and pretty soon one little bird went right under the locker. There
+was another close behind him, but I was too anxious to wait, and I
+pulled the string, catching one and knocking the other over. It made
+so little noise that the rest of the flock were not alarmed, and I
+suppose they didn't miss the lost one, for pretty soon they began to
+go around the locker, and one flew right on top of it. I was afraid he
+would tumble it down, but he didn't, and in a minute another had gone
+under. But there was a third hopping right towards the paper, and so I
+just waited till he had run under, when--piff!--I had them both!"
+
+"Good for you, Katy!" cried the delighted boys. "You'll make a
+sportsman yet!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVI.
+
+HOW TUG MADE "TWITCH-UPS."
+
+
+"It's cold work, though," Katy replied, "sitting so still out on that
+ice. I am just stiff."
+
+"I'll fix that all right," Tug said, showing some small forked and
+notched sticks he had cut out of oaken chips. "Come out with me, and
+I'll show you how to set a trap that will drop itself, or, rather,
+where the bird shuts his own prison door."
+
+Gathering up Jim's blocks and slabs of ice, the whole party climbed to
+the top of the hummock, which, as I have said, was almost the only
+spot in the wide plain free from deep snow, and Tug went to work.
+
+Making a little hole in the ice, he wedged into it a short,
+flat-topped peg, and packed a handful of snow about its base.
+
+Then with the brick-like blocks of ice he arranged a hollow square
+around the peg. On top of the peg he laid the flattened side of the
+stem of a forked stick, like a letter -< laid flat, and on top of
+that, as though it were a continuation of the peg, he set a post
+about ten inches high. Asking Aleck to hold these twigs in position
+for him, he took one of the slabs, lodged an end of it on the rim of
+the little wall made by his "bricks," and gently rested the other end
+upon the top of the post, which was held in its upright position under
+the pressure, at the same time keeping the -< in place. This arranged,
+he spread crumbs about the trap and thickly inside. Then he announced
+it ready.
+
+[Illustration: SETTING THE NEW TRAPS.]
+
+"Oh, I see how it works," Katy cried. "The bird, in leaping down, is
+almost sure to perch on the forked twig, or, at least, to strike it.
+That throws it out of place, and tumbles the whole cover down,
+shutting him in."
+
+"Correct!" said Tug, admiringly, as he went to work on a second trap
+of the same kind.
+
+This set, all left the hummock (except Jim, who agreed to take his
+turn, wrapped in a blanket, at watching the strings) and joined labor
+in making two or three more of the new ice traps, for now that the
+birds were plenty, they wanted to capture as many as possible.
+
+"If only I had some sort of a spring," Tug announced, "I could make
+twitch-ups. I've all the rest of the fixin's, 'cause I found some
+horse-hairs in my 'shop' this morning; but I don't see how I am to get
+a springy twig or a strip of whalebone. I had some old umbrella-ribs,
+but I didn't bring 'em along. Wish I had."
+
+Aleck thought over all his stores, but could remember nothing that
+would answer the purpose. "How about your ramrod?" he asked.
+
+"Too stiff," Tug replied.
+
+So they gave up talking, and attended to their work. Suddenly Aleck
+went to the log, split off a strip of oak, and whittled it into a thin
+rod. "How is that?" he said, as he handed it to his comrade.
+
+Tug beat his hands and blew on his aching fingers a while before
+answering. Then he bent the rod gently, but before it was curved half
+as far as he needed, it broke.
+
+"No good. Nothing but hickory will stand the strain."
+
+"I'll tell you what you might do, perhaps," Katy suggested, having
+come out just in time to witness this little trial. "The handle of the
+boat-hook is hickory. If you could make an oak handle for that, you
+could split the hickory up into springles, couldn't you?"
+
+"That's so!--that's a bright idea. Try it, Tug," and the Captain ran
+off for the boat-hook. The shaft of this was straight-grained,
+well-seasoned, and tough, but an oaken staff would serve its purpose
+quite as well.
+
+"I should think that would answer first-rate," said Tug, "but you had
+better whittle out your oak stick first. It would be rough to be
+caught suddenly without any handle to our boat-hook."
+
+"That's so," Aleck assented, and took his axe to split a suitable
+piece from the log.
+
+The making and shaping of a new handle, even in the rough, cost him
+much labor with his few tools. It was nearly an hour, therefore,
+before he was ready to pull the irons off the old handle and fasten
+the new one into its place; and fully another hour had passed by the
+time this difficult job had been done.
+
+Then, with great care, and by the help of little wedges, a clean,
+straight splinter about as thick as your finger was split from the
+tough hickory staff. It was tried by the trapmaker, very gently at
+first, and bent well, so that it was pronounced serviceable, though
+not as good as a green twig or sapling, such as one would cut in the
+woods for the same purpose. It would answer to try with, however, and
+after a bit of luncheon they watched Tug make his twitch-ups--or, at
+least, all did except the one on duty at the strings. As Tug himself
+had to take a turn, he didn't get his traps done in time to put them
+up that day.
+
+Next morning, however, all were out bright and early to help him do
+so. The snow-flakes had been there before, however, and one
+unfortunate had stepped on a treacherous fork, and was caught.
+
+Having arranged two more ice-boxes and letter Y traps, for which the
+pieces had been cut yesterday, they all gathered around Tug to watch
+him set his first twitch-up.
+
+With one of the tent spikes he dug a slanting hole in the ice, into
+which he inserted one end of his hickory splint, which was about four
+feet long, fastening it firmly by ramming ice and snow down into the
+hole beside it, which would quickly freeze solid. A short distance
+from the foot of the splint he then laid down a short board, which was
+braced at the foot (or end farthest from the splint) against the side
+of a trough cut in the ice. The remaining three sides of the board
+were then fenced in by small blocks of ice.
+
+Next, taking from his pocket a cord made by twisting two horse-hairs
+together, he slipped one end through a loop in the other, thus making
+a noose, and tied it to the top of the hickory splint. This done, he
+bent down the splint until he hooked its tip under the nearest end, or
+head, of the board, which was raised a couple of inches from the
+ground. Spreading the noose carefully out upon the board, he sprinkled
+within a particularly nice lot of crumbs, then laid a little train
+away from the foot of the board as a leader, and the snare was ready.
+The weight of the bird treading upon the board to get the bait would
+press it down enough to let the lightly caught whip end of the splint
+spring up: this would pull the noose with a sudden movement, and the
+bird would find itself dangling in the air by the legs or a wing, or
+possibly by the neck.
+
+Removing their captive, and resetting the square trap, the whole party
+went out of sight to await further results. Yesterday they had
+captured thirteen birds in all, and had eaten only nine. With three
+more traps, they ought to do better to-day, and so accumulate a little
+stock ahead.
+
+"At any rate," Katy observed, "we've plenty of refrigerator room to
+keep them in."
+
+They had, indeed--a refrigerator about a hundred miles square!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVII.
+
+THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE.
+
+
+Breakfast was late the next morning, for Katy proposed to vary their
+fare by frying some snow-birds with bacon, and Jim was called upon to
+help pluck and prepare them--work which did not please that young
+gentleman very much.
+
+"I suppose now we shall have nothing but snow-birds, snow-birds," he
+growled.
+
+"Do try and be a little more cheerful, Jim," said Katy. "You are
+always grumbling about something."
+
+"What else do you want?" asked Tug. "You have got beef, though it's
+dried, and bacon and poultry."
+
+"Flesh, fowl, and good red herring," quoted Aleck, from an old
+proverb.
+
+"All but the herring," grunted The Youngster, crossly. "Now if only we
+had some fish--"
+
+"Fish!" Tug shouted, leaping to his feet. "Never thought of it, as I'm
+a Dutchman! Why shouldn't we? We have only got to cut a hole in the
+ice, and 'drop 'em a line,' as the man told his wife to do when he
+went off to Californy."
+
+"Strange we never thought of that," said Katy.
+
+"Strange? I'm the biggest dolt in three counties. Why, I'll catch you
+some be-'utiful muskallonge for dinner. Come on, Captain. Let's cut a
+hole while the boy is cleaning those twopenny tomtits."
+
+"Hold on!" cried the disgusted Jim; "I'm coming too."
+
+"No, no, my dear child" (Tug's voice was that of a pitying mother).
+"Remember Captain's order. You're to be a nice boy, and help in the
+kitchen. Maybe we'll let you cut the heads off our fishes, if you do
+well with the birds. Ca-a-reful!" and the tormentor dodged a club
+hurled by the angry lad, who wished (and said so) that he was only a
+little bigger.
+
+Jim and Katy both felt it was hard indeed that he should be deprived
+of this particular fun, in which he took so much interest, and it
+seemed as though the big fellows might have waited. The cook would
+willingly have let her scullion depart, but an order was an order, and
+he had to stay, plucking savagely at the pretty feathers of the
+innocent buntings, and declining to come back to good-humor, until the
+lads returned with the report that they had cut two holes in the thin
+ice that formed over the "lead," which, the reader will remember, was
+crossed just a few rods back, and now were ready to set their lines.
+
+Here was a chance of revenge. Jim's own line was the most important
+one in their small stock. He was tempted to refuse to let them use it;
+but he was not a bad fellow, and a better heart prevailed.
+
+"You'll find my line and pickerel spoon in that little box of things
+in our chest," he said.
+
+Tug walked up to him and offered his hand.
+
+"Jeems, I'll accept your apology for throwing sticks of wood at your
+uncle, and call it square. Agreed?"
+
+"Yes!" said Jim, with a laugh, and peace was restored.
+
+Doubtless you expect an entertaining chapter out of the fishing, but
+it can't be given if we are to stick to the facts of this cruise. No:
+the big muskallonge they hoped to catch was somewhere under the ice,
+but whether it was because he didn't see their bait, or was not
+tempted, or knew better than to bite, certain is it that none of these
+giants of winter fishing were caught. With the toothsome pickerel they
+had better luck, and several were taken on this first and on following
+days, so that Jim did not lose all the fun by his unlucky engagement
+in the kitchen. The greatest adventures of the trip were not so much
+in fishing and hunting as in being fished and hunted _after_; and
+these were to begin without much delay.
+
+The day the log was found and the first snow-birds were captured it
+had turned cold again, and it remained so for a whole week; but our
+heroes were kept busy in watching the traps, which caught them more
+snow-birds than they could eat; in attending to the fishing; and in
+getting wood. The snow did not melt at all, for the weather was very
+cold indeed, and sometimes the wind blew frightfully, but always in
+such a way that the hummock sheltered the tenthouse pretty well, so
+that, with the help of a big fire, they could keep warm enough. For
+amusement, they marked out a checker-board, and played checkers and
+other games. They tried their hands--or, rather, their heads--at
+spinning yarns also; they examined each other in geography or grammar,
+and held spelling competitions, choosing words out of Dr. Dasent's
+book, which they came to learn almost by heart. At all these studious
+entertainments Katy was likely to be ahead. But when the subject was
+turned to arithmetic, Aleck became teacher, for that was his favorite
+study.
+
+Thus the week had passed, and its close completed the fifteenth day
+since they had left home, which seemed very far away now. They had no
+anxiety so long as the weather held cold; or, if any one felt worried,
+he did not talk about it.
+
+At the end of this week, however, the wind changed in the night to the
+southward, so that on the eighth morning of their stay in the igloo
+they found the air almost as balmy as spring, with a gentle breeze
+from the south. The sun was shining, also, and no birds came near the
+house all day. This was compensated for, however, by their taking the
+largest pickerel yet. Towards noon it clouded up, and began to rain,
+melting the snow with such rapidity that the whole region was covered
+with slush. The shapeless tent-roof let streams of water pour in at
+the sides, and, altogether, affairs were very disagreeable.
+
+No one felt disposed to grumble, however, since, when the snow had
+been washed away, or cold weather came again to freeze solid the slush
+and surface-water, they could go ahead on their journey--something all
+were extremely anxious to do.
+
+The wind continued to blow from the south all night, and when Aleck
+went out next morning he hurried back with an alarmed face to report
+that distant open water could be seen in that direction.
+
+"The snow has almost gone. I must take a scout after breakfast, and
+see what the prospect is."
+
+As soon as the coffee and fried pickerel had been disposed of,
+therefore, Aleck set out, taking Jim with him.
+
+When two hours had passed, and the scouts did not return, Tug and Katy
+became alarmed, and went to the crest of the ridge. It had grown so
+foggy, however, that nothing could be seen.
+
+"Hadn't we better make a big smoke," Katy suggested, "as a signal? The
+fog might lift for a minute, and give them a chance to catch sight of
+it. They must be lost."
+
+"It's a good idea, as are most of your notions, Katy. I'll get some of
+that wet root-wood, and make a fire on top of the hummock."
+
+It was done, and another hour passed. Chilly with the fog and the raw
+wind, they had gone down into the hut to get warm, and were just
+attending to the "kitchen" fire, when their ears were startled by a
+loud, sharp noise, like the report of a distant cannon, only much
+sharper; then another, still louder; then a third, somewhat nearer;
+and, after a minute's interval, a fourth tremendous crash, close by
+the house, which trembled under their feet and over their heads as
+though an earthquake had shaken it.
+
+"The ice is cracking!" Tug cried, seizing Katy's hand, and dragging
+her to the boat, into which both jumped in terror.
+
+An instant later Tug recovered himself. "This is no use," he said.
+"Our ice is firm just here, and I don't hear her bursting any more.
+Let's go outside."
+
+"Don't you think we'd better put some of the food-boxes and things
+into the boat, so that they won't be lost if the ice here should break
+to pieces suddenly?"
+
+"Yes, we might do that. Let's hurry."
+
+Five minutes was enough for this work, and then both went out and
+climbed upon the hummock. They found the whole appearance of things
+changed towards the south and east. Where, yesterday, had lain one
+broad white field of solid ice, as far as the eye could reach, now
+were spread before them (for the fog had lifted a little, so that they
+could see better) the long, slow waves of a lake of blue water, filled
+with cakes and wide sheets of floating ice.
+
+"Oh! oh!" Katy cried, wringing her little hands at the thought, "Aleck
+and Jim are drowned."
+
+"No, I guess not," said Tug, encouragingly. "They are probably safe on
+some of those big pieces of ice."
+
+"But how will they ever get back?"
+
+"I don't know," her companion answered, slowly. "If only this terrible
+fog would go away, so that we could see something, perhaps we might
+help them. I don't know what we can do now but to keep up our smoke."
+
+"I wonder if _we_ are afloat?" Katy asked, trying to steady her voice,
+for she saw how useless it was to weep when so much might be required
+of her any minute. "Ah, Rex, good dog, what shall we do now? Can't you
+find your master?"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVIII.
+
+RESCUING THE WANDERERS.
+
+
+Rex wagged his tail mournfully, and looked at the strange scene,
+whining as if he understood it all, but was at his wits' end how to
+act.
+
+"Afloat?" Tug repeated, after a minute. "There are cracks on each side
+of us, and a narrow one part way behind, between us and that high
+hummock over there to the southward, which, in my opinion, hides the
+low, flat land, for I think it is only four or five miles to the
+shore. But it might as well have been four or five hundred while that
+snow lasted. Let's watch, and see if the crack gets wider."
+
+"Do you feel quite sure, Tug, that Aleck and Jim are on one of those
+big cakes of ice?" The tone of Katy's voice was very anxious.
+
+"Yes, I do, Katy. They certainly have not jumped off and drowned
+themselves on purpose."
+
+This made Katy smile, in spite of her anxiety.
+
+"They surely are not very far off; but, the most alarming part of the
+business is, how they are to get to us if that big crack increases to
+the size of a river. Can you make up your mind whether it is really
+growing wider?"
+
+In the course of half an hour it became very plain that the crack was
+getting wider rapidly, and their icy foundation, which they had
+thought so fixed, had now become a big raft, slowly drifting down the
+lake under the pushing of the steady west wind--moving a little faster
+than its companion rafts in the wide waste, because its high hummock
+served as a sort of sail. All the cakes our watchers could see were
+much smaller than this one. Occasionally these pieces would crash
+together, and crumble, or one would slide under the other. Sometimes
+their own "floe," as Dr. Kane would have called so large a piece,
+collided with others, but always came off victorious. They came to the
+conclusion that its having the thick hummock, like a great, solid
+back-bone, rendered it far stronger than the rest, as well as a better
+sailer.
+
+Beside them another floe, also bearing a hummock (a section of their
+own), was pressing its way on, to the ruin of smaller ones. It was
+separated from their floe by an open canal, perhaps five hundred yards
+wide, and floated along about even with them, sometimes swinging
+nearer, sometimes receding. This great cake, an acre or more in
+extent, lay in the direction whither the absent ones had gone, and it
+was hoped that they were upon it. This would be the next best thing
+to having them safely back, but the chance was a small one, at best.
+
+Talking over these loopholes of escape, Katy and Tug tried to forget
+their discomforts and dangers, and to show each other cheerful and
+reliant faces. Nevertheless it was dreary work.
+
+The weary day wore on--the day they thought would perhaps be their
+last--until night, with its starless gloom, was surrounding the
+desolate picture of grinding ice and of black, rolling waves, dimly
+seen. Chilled to the bone, for neither could bear to stay within the
+hut, they had grown silent and almost despairing, when Rex suddenly
+started to his feet, and, pricking up his ears, looked intently
+towards the great floe beside them, which had now approached much
+nearer. Then, after listening a moment, he uttered a loud bark, and
+bounded off. The two castaways followed to the edge of the ice, and
+there, having silenced Rex, could presently hear a faint halloo--her
+brother's voice!
+
+"Halloo! halloo-o!" they shrieked back.
+
+"Let us get the boat, and go after them!" cried Katy, nearly wild with
+joy and excitement.
+
+"Can't do it," said Tug, in a discouraged tone. "All four of us
+couldn't budge that boat and sledge before morning. It is frozen in,
+and has got to be chopped out and dried up. Must do something besides
+get the boat."
+
+"That floe is nearer than it has been before, Tug. Maybe it'll come
+quite close."
+
+"Yes, mebbe it will. I 'low that's our only hope. We can do nothing,
+Katy, but watch, and--and pray, Katy. Let us go back to the fire. It
+is cold here, and we can do no good. Once in a while I'll come down
+and scream across to cheer 'em up."
+
+Reluctantly, therefore, they returned to the igloo, warmed their feet,
+and picked up something to eat, but did not go to bed. Tug and Rex
+would frequently run out and shout across to Aleck, reporting at each
+return that the water-space (as well as could be guessed in the
+darkness) seemed to be surely narrowing. Towards morning Katy was
+persuaded to lie down, consenting to do so only when promised that she
+should be roused as soon as daylight appeared. Tug himself fell
+asleep, but both awoke with the first light of dawn, and hastened
+together to the edge of the floe, where the water lay calm and smooth,
+gray as iron and cold as death, between the divided friends.
+
+"Oh, I can see them!" cried the girl, and sent a cheery call across
+the "lead," which had now narrowed to a few rods. "Poor little Jim!
+See how he has to lean against Aleck."
+
+"We're safe," came back the shout, "but almost worn-out. Can you move
+the boat?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then unroll the ball of twine, and tie one end of it to the
+clothes-line, and to the other end of the clothes-line knot all the
+drag-ropes put together. Then fasten the loose end of the twine to
+Rex's collar, and make the dog bring it to me. Understand?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+But Tug didn't quite understand. He was off too soon, in his haste to
+get the twine and clothes-line and ropes. Aleck hadn't finished his
+directions.
+
+"Tell Tug," he shouted again to Katy, "to bring the sled, and fasten
+that to the drag-ropes. When I have hauled the ropes across, and got
+hold of the sled, I'll send Rex back, and you can pull in the twine,
+and catch the ropes, and tow us across. Hurry up, if you want us
+alive! This ice may drift apart again."
+
+In five minutes Tug came running back, with all his preparations made.
+Now everything depended upon Rex. The twine was slipped through his
+collar, and securely knotted, Katy kneeling the while with her arms
+about his shaggy head, whispering to him what he was to do. Then, in a
+stern voice, Tug commanded:
+
+"Go, Rex--go to Aleck!" at the same time pushing him into the water,
+while the Captain coaxed from the other side, and even Jim roused
+himself at this joyful prospect of deliverance.
+
+At first the dog, brave as he was, turned back, whining pitifully at
+the freezing water. But they fought him away, and finally poor Rex
+struck out and swam across to where Aleck was anxiously waiting to
+lift him out. Taking hold of the twine the dog had brought, the
+Captain reeled it in as rapidly as his stiffened fingers would let
+him, until the clothes-line began to come, and after it the heavier
+drag-ropes.
+
+But both clothes-line and drag-ropes together proved too short to
+reach quite across, and the floes seemed to have stopped their
+approach to each other, so that waiting would be useless, if not
+dangerous.
+
+"There is about ten feet lacking," Aleck shouted. "You must find some
+more rope."
+
+"Can't do it, unless I cut it off the mainsail."
+
+"Cut it off, then, and make haste."
+
+Tug went off on a run, and another five minutes passed by before he
+got back. Already the canal had begun to widen, so that fifteen feet
+instead of ten would be required.
+
+Tossing the rope into the sled-box, Tug screamed, "All right!" and the
+captain began drawing the sled to his side as quickly as possible, so
+that the two parties were again disconnected, and wholly reliant upon
+the nervous and frightened dog, which Jim was holding firmly, and
+coaxing into quiet. Swiftly splicing the rope with the new piece,
+the dog was let go. This time he leaped eagerly into the water for his
+return trip, apparently feeling perfectly the responsibility laid upon
+him, though perhaps he was only frightened, and eager to get back to
+what seemed home.
+
+[Illustration: "REX STRUCK OUT AND SWAM ACROSS."]
+
+Positions were now reversed. Aleck and Jim had the sled--Tug and Katy
+the twine. Drawing this in, all waited with feverish anxiety to see if
+there would be length of rope enough. There was; but so rapidly had
+the floes drifted apart that Tug held the very end of the taut line in
+his outstretched hand, and had not a bit to spare. One minute more,
+and the lines would not have reached across.
+
+Then they saw Aleck snatch off his overcoat, his undercoat, and his
+boots, and put them into the box of the sled, which was floating
+unsteadily at the margin of the ice. They saw him half lift the
+exhausted Jim, helping him to get into the box, and then heard him
+call out in quick words:
+
+"Don't try to pull at all hard until you can catch the big rope. I am
+going to swim and push a little ways, but I expect I shall be too
+chilled to do more than a little. When I stop pushing, and you get
+hold of the drag-ropes, haul us both ashore as fast as you can. Here
+goes!"
+
+With these words he slid into the water, swimming with his right hand,
+while with his left he pushed along the box and sled, which was half
+sunken, and in which Jimmy crouched, shaking with cold, but afraid to
+stir.
+
+"Keep it up a little longer!" Tug sung out, as he knelt on the edge of
+the ice, and carefully gathered in the clothes-line until he could
+almost clutch the end of the stronger rope. "I've almost got it! About
+two strokes more! All right! Now hold on with both arms, and we'll
+soon have you." Whereupon Katy seized the rope with him, and both
+together pulled as hard and as fast as they knew how.
+
+The strange little ferry-boat and its passengers seemed to approach
+very slowly, but finally it came so near that Tug stopped hauling on
+the line, and knelt down in order to lean out and grasp the box after
+Katy should have pulled it a few inches closer. Jim, seeing this
+motion, forgot how delicate was the balance, and rose up, when in an
+instant the unsteady craft tipped, and the boy went backward into and
+under the blue lake. At any rate, so it seemed to the spectators; but
+the little fellow, making a despairing clutch as he went over, had
+gripped a runner of the sled, and a second later his face appeared
+close by the ice, where the fond sister, pale as he, seized his arm
+and helped him scramble out.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIX.
+
+ADRIFT ON AN ICE RAFT.
+
+
+Meanwhile Aleck, startled by the upset of the sled and Jim's
+disappearance, had let go of his support. Now, seeing Jim safe, he was
+trying to regain it, when suddenly Tug saw him throw up his hand and
+sink out of sight.
+
+Tug knew what that meant, and that there was not an instant to spare.
+Tearing off his coat--he had thrown aside his overcoat in the heat of
+the work before-he watched till he saw Aleck rising through the clear
+water, then dashed in, followed by the noble dog, and grasped his
+hair. Aleck hung in his hold a dead weight, as though life had gone;
+but Tug knew that the fatal end had not come yet, and that this was
+only the fainting of utter exhaustion and the cramping paralysis of
+cold. Cold! Tug had felt the dreadful chill striking through and
+through him the instant he had touched the water. Already it was
+clogging his motions and overcoming his strength with a fearful
+numbness that would fast render him powerless. And Aleck had been in
+that stiffening, paralyzing flood several minutes!
+
+All this went through Tug's mind, as on a dark night a flash of
+lightning enters and leaves the pupil of the eye; it took "no time at
+all," and the instant he had hooked his fingers in Aleck's hair he
+shouted to Katy to shove out the sled where he might reach it. She did
+so, and by it drew both the lads to the ice, the brave rescuer
+grasping the friendly box and towing his senseless Captain.
+
+Then a new difficulty presented itself. Aleck was perfectly helpless,
+and like a log in the water; or worse than that, for he would sink if
+Tug loosed his hold. How should they get him out?
+
+Katy saw this problem, and said to Tug, as soon as the ice had been
+reached, while she knelt at the brink of the splashing water:
+
+"Let me hold his head up--I can do it--until you can climb out; then
+both of us together, I guess, can drag him up on to the ice. Oh dear!
+will he ever come to?"
+
+Her tears blinded her eyes, but she dashed them away, and took firm
+hold upon Aleck's collar, while Tug scrambled out. Then, while Katy
+held his head above the curling, gurgling little waves that the wind
+was chasing, Tug slipped one end of the rope under Aleck's arms, and
+made a loop about his body, by which they were able to drag his
+lifeless form out upon the ice, as though he were a fish or a seal.
+
+"Now let's have the sled!" screamed Tug, minding neither his own
+freezing garments nor Katy's anguish; and having pulled this from the
+water, he and Katy lifted Aleck upon it, and set off as fast as they
+could for the tent, whither the miserable Youngster had already
+started in a staggering trot, with many groans and rough tumbles. The
+others overtook him, and all went on together; but Jimkin got no
+comfort, for Aleck might be drowned--they did not know; while Jim,
+though certainly miserable, was alive and active, enough so, at least,
+to look after himself.
+
+[Illustration: "THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAG HIS LIFELESS FORM OUT UPON THE
+ICE."]
+
+"How fortunate that there happened to be a kettle of hot water on the
+fire!"
+
+"Yes. Now here we are. We'll have to drag him through the low doorway
+heels first. Help me lift him off the sled, Katy."
+
+Laid on straw and overcoats by the warm fire, Tug quickly stripped off
+the Captain's wet clothes, while Katy brought warm blankets, and
+wrapped him in them.
+
+"Didn't you say you had a little bottle of brandy, Katy?"
+
+"Yes; Miss Marshall told us we ought never to go on a long journey
+without it, and I brought it along for fear something like this might
+happen. Here it is."
+
+Taking the bottle, Tug forced a few drops between Aleck's lips and saw
+them trickle down his throat. A minute later there was a stronger
+throb of the fluttering heart, a quiver of the eyelids, and a faint,
+sighing groan, which the anxious watchers could just hear. At this
+sign of returning life they rose and grasped each other's hands. The
+tears Katy had so bravely kept back when she had had work to do and no
+time to cry came now in an unrestrained shower; but they were tears of
+joy, for the Captain was waking up all right.
+
+Now poor little Jim got some attention, and Katy left them to
+themselves while the three boys helped each other to get rid of their
+icy clothes and crawl into the blankets and warm straw of their
+bedrooms, as they called the hull of the boat. This done, Katy came
+back and made hot tea for her three tucked-up patients, which so
+revived them that Tug and Jim begged to be allowed to get up as soon
+as their clothes had been dried; but Aleck said he wanted to sleep two
+weeks, and so would stay in bed a little longer.
+
+As for Rex, whose heroism in bringing back Aleck's floating coat, when
+he was unable to aid his drowning master himself, had been forgotten
+until now, he was content to lie in a snug corner and wait for the
+half-frozen fish his mistress had promised him should presently be the
+reward of his faithfulness.
+
+That eventful day came to an end without anything further to disturb
+their peace. Aleck rose towards evening, and went out fishing with Jim
+and Tug, catching two or three pickerel. The night passed in unusual
+quiet, for the wind, though steady, was not a whistling gale, nor did
+the grinding roar of moving ice come to their ears, as it had
+sometimes during the previous daytime.
+
+In the morning the same clouds were overhead, the same vague haze hid
+the horizon, the same waste of ice and water surrounded their lonely
+camp, the same quiet breeze breathed steadily across the lake, and,
+but for occasional noises of their own making, the whole world seemed
+profoundly still. This was depressing, and the spirits of each one of
+our young adventurers sank to a level with the flat ice and the dull
+gray sky; yet it was evident that nothing could be done except to wait
+as patiently as possible for some change.
+
+"If yez can't be aisy, be as aisy as ye can," remarked Tug, quoting an
+excellent Irish rule of life under adverse circumstances; but the
+pleasantry met with only a faint smile from his disheartened
+companions. All thought that any _active_ perils would be better than
+this motionless, objectless gloom, so threatening because so still and
+uncertain.
+
+"I wonder if we haven't stopped drifting," said Katy, as they were
+pretending to eat a bit of luncheon, for which nobody had much
+appetite; and, more for the sake of doing something than because it
+seemed to make much difference whether they had come to a standstill
+or not, they took a few chips to the edge of the floe, and threw them
+into the water. These tossed up and down on the gentle waves, but did
+not change their position at all, so our navigators concluded their
+floe to be at last stationary.
+
+"How far do you think we have drifted?" Jim asked his brother.
+
+"Well," Aleck replied, "I've been studying over that. We don't know
+just when we started nor exactly when we stopped--if we have
+stopped--nor whether we have gone steadily on. I have seen something
+of drifting ice, and I should say we had gone probably between twenty
+and twenty-five miles, all right out into the middle of the lake."
+
+"Then you have some idea of where we are?"
+
+"Oh, yes; that's quite easily calculated by 'dead-reckoning,' as
+sailors say."
+
+The west wind now began to subside, and before long the air became
+still and the mists thicker, with dense, low clouds massing close
+overhead. On land it must have been a warm, thawing day. Out here it
+was always chilly, but the four persons were not uncomfortable, even
+when their overcoats were unbuttoned, partly, however, because they
+had become accustomed to constant exposure.
+
+Before the sun went down the air grew much cooler, and the fog thinned
+out, while the wind freshened and worked around until it blew briskly
+and very cold from the north. This soon swept away the mists, but not
+the clouds; yet light enough remained just before dusk to give Aleck a
+brief look to the northward. He could see a great field of rough ice,
+apparently made up of broken pieces crushed and jammed together,
+stretching in that direction to the horizon. This horizon was broken
+in one place, however, by a darker patch, that looked as though it
+might be land; but before he could examine it more carefully it had
+become lost in the darkness.
+
+Returning to the house, the Captain ordered every preparation to be
+made for a possible removal. While Katy cooked their evening meal, the
+boys worked with axe and shovel until they had freed the runners under
+the boat, so that she could be dragged away quickly. Then the wall was
+taken down, and the boxes stowed carefully. Several of them had been
+emptied during the long halt, and it made the lads feel very grave to
+notice how low their stock of provisions and lamp-oil had run. Jimmy
+refused to see the use of all this hard work when everything seemed as
+safe as ever it was, and Aleck confessed that he had no better reason
+for his precautions than that the weather had changed, and it was best
+to be on the safe side--in which he showed himself a good commander.
+
+"We won't take the tent down, Jim, nor throw in the mess kit, nor roll
+away our good beds, till we find we have to; but, if the ice should
+drop from under our feet at this moment, we could scramble into the
+boat, and have our necessary property with us."
+
+Katy, meanwhile, had set half a ham boiling--they had only one more
+left after this--and was only waiting for it to be done before going
+to bed, for it was late in the evening, and much colder than usual,
+since the hummock no longer sheltered them from this new wind, which
+blew in under the boat where the snow had been shovelled away, and
+threatened to tear the frail hut to pieces. Finally the ham was done,
+and the girl crept shivering to Jim's side amid the straw and quilts,
+thoroughly frightened and weary.
+
+She had not been there five minutes when there came a quick series of
+crashing reports, such as she had heard before. The ice was breaking
+up again. Tug was quickest to jump out, calling to all to stay in the
+boat till he came back. They could feel the ice shake and tip under
+them--or, at any rate, imagined they could--while the wind was blowing
+snow-flakes in their scared faces. It seemed an age, though really it
+was hardly a minute, before Tug came back and said they were afloat
+upon a small piece--a piece only a few yards square.
+
+"Then," said Aleck, decisively, "we must take to the boat and get off
+this cake, for the wind is blowing us right back into the open lake,
+and we couldn't live out there. I think I saw land just north of us,
+and we must try to reach it, or, at any rate, to get upon the big
+ice-field in front. It's our only hope."
+
+He and Tug were buttoning their overcoats and tying tippets about
+their heads and necks, but talking at the same time.
+
+"Now for our orders, Captain."
+
+"Well, then, listen. Katy and Jim must not step out of the boat unless
+I say so. They must light the lantern, ship the rudder, roll up the
+bedding and stow it under the thwarts, and fix everything as snug as
+they can. Jim's place will be forward; Katy will stay by the tiller;
+and remember, whatever happens, that the compass direction is due
+north. Now, Tug," he continued, "you and I will throw this kitchen
+stuff aboard, and let The Youngster pack it away the best he can.
+Then, down with the oars and mast and canvas. We must hurry."
+
+So saying, he snatched the kettle, ham and all, from the fire, and
+tossed it into the boat, where it lit on Jim's foot, and was greeted
+with an angry howl. The other goods and the spare canvas followed.
+Then they began to tear down the roof, and in five minutes this had
+been piled in a stiff, frozen heap on the bow of the boat, for they
+thought there would be no time to bend and fold it into shape. It was
+all the united efforts of the four could do to hoist it over the low
+gunwale.
+
+All these preparations took perhaps fifteen minutes--a quarter of an
+hour of terror, for now the great cake was plainly rocking under
+their feet. Then calling Jim out of the boat to help them, the three
+put their heads through the collars of the drag-ropes, and tried their
+best to move the boat, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
+
+"We must throw off that icy canvas. I should think it weighs a hundred
+pounds," Tug remarked.
+
+"Yes, off with it!" ordered Captain Aleck.
+
+This done, they tried again, and slowly and laboriously worked the
+boat twenty or thirty paces towards the edge of the ice, when it
+became clogged with the fast-falling snow, and could be pushed no
+farther.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XX.
+
+A NIGHT IN AN OPEN BOAT.
+
+
+What should be done? Aleck was sure that their only chance for life
+lay in getting the boat afloat; but unless it could be brought nearer
+the edge this could not be done, and perhaps it was impossible,
+anyway. Yet to stay where they were meant destruction. Katy and Jim
+climbed into the boat, and crouched down out of the snow, while the
+larger lads stood outside trying to find some way out of their
+desperate situation. They must think fast; minutes were precious; but,
+cudgel their brains as they might, only darkness, a howling
+snow-squall, and crashing blocks of ice greeted their eyes or
+thoughts. One minute passed, two minutes passed, yet they could see no
+way to help themselves. The third minute was slipping by, when a huge
+ice-cake crowded its resistless way underneath the rear edge of their
+own raft, towards which the stern of the boat was pointing, and slowly
+lifted it above the level of the water.
+
+At once the sledge began to feel this inclination, and started to move
+forward.
+
+"Jump in!" shouted Aleck, and leaped aboard, with Tug beside him. "Try
+to steady her!" they heard him cry, and each seized an oar, or a
+boat-hook, or whatever was nearest. But it was of little use. Slowly
+but gently the hinder part of the ice-cake rose, and the front part
+tipped down. As the slant deepened, the speed of the sliding boat
+increased, until it went with a rush, and struck the water with a
+plunging splash that would surely have swamped them had it not been
+for the tight half-deck forward; this shed the water, and caused the
+little craft to rise upon an even keel as soon as she had fairly left
+the surface of the ice. It was evident in an instant, however, that
+she would sink in a very short time unless freed of the great sledge
+that was dragging upon her bottom. Already the water was pouring over
+her sides, and Aleck knew that they were in imminent danger of sinking
+or capsizing, or both. Tug had leaped in forward, and to him Aleck
+shouted, "Cut those bands!"
+
+"Haven't any knife."
+
+"Here's the hatchet. Hurry up!"
+
+One stroke of Tug's arm parted one of the bands, and he raised his
+hatchet for the second one, for there were two straps forward. As it
+descended, Aleck drew his pocket-knife across the strained band
+astern, which parted with a loud ripping noise. The idea was that both
+straps should be severed at the same instant; but in the darkness Tug
+partly missed his aim, and the poor boat, held to the sledge by a
+single strap, began to yaw and jerk and ship water in a most alarming
+manner--a strain she could not have borne one moment had not the
+half-cut band of canvas broken, setting the boat free. Aleck had
+intended to hold to the strap and take the sledge aboard; but this
+struggle, which came so near wrecking them all, wrenched it out of his
+hand, and the first wave washed the bobs beyond recovery--a loss whose
+full force did not strike them at once, for they had too much else to
+think of.
+
+[Illustration: "TRY TO STEADY HER!"]
+
+The weight and awkwardness of the sledge having been taken away, the
+boat rode much more lightly in the face of the ice-clogged sea, and
+showed how stanch and trim she really was, though much cold water
+splashed over her rails.
+
+"Now," said Aleck, cheerfully, though it was fortunate the darkness
+could conceal how anxious was the expression of his face, "now we
+shall get along. Jim, get out your oars (the stroke); and look out for
+floating ice forward, Tug. Katy, my little steersman, are you very,
+very cold?"
+
+"N-n-n-o!" the girl answered, bravely, but her teeth chattered
+dreadfully.
+
+"Better say you are, for you can't hide it, poor child. Wait a minute
+till I get this strap off my roll of bedding, and I will wrap a
+blanket around you."
+
+Doubling a large blanket, he put it carefully over her head and
+shoulders like an immense hood. Then he buckled around her the strap
+which had held the roll together, leaving only a fold out of which she
+might grasp the tiller, and another crevice through which to peep and
+breathe.
+
+"We've got to have that lantern lit, because you must see the
+compass."
+
+Taking some matches from his pocket, he knelt down, placed the lantern
+under the skirt of Katy's blanket robe, crouched over it as close as
+he could, and struck a match. It went out. A second fizzed a while,
+which only warmed the wicking, but at the third the oil in the wick
+took fire, and the lantern was soon shining gayly into the bright face
+of the compass at Katy's feet.
+
+"Now, Youngster, for the oars. Lie low, and let me crawl over you to
+my seat."
+
+Aleck got there and was ready, but Jim was still fumbling about on
+each side, and feeling under the thwart.
+
+"What's the matter? Why don't you go to work?"
+
+"Can't find but one oar."
+
+"Only one oar? Sure?"
+
+Then the two searched, but to no purpose. It had been dropped
+overboard, evidently, during the excitement about losing the sledge.
+
+"Well, Jim, it's your fault, but it can't be helped now. You take this
+quilt, and cuddle down as close to Katy as you can get, and try to
+keep each other warm. I'll row alone. Ready, forward?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir."
+
+Then they began to move ahead through the water, which came in long
+rollers, not in breaking waves, because there was so much ice around
+them that the wind could not get hold of it. It was very cold.
+Occasionally Tug would fend away a cake of ice, or they would stop and
+steer clear of a big piece; but pretty soon he called out in a shaky
+voice that he was too stiff to stand there any longer, where the spray
+was blowing over him, and that he should be good for nothing in a few
+minutes unless he could row awhile to get warm. So Aleck took his
+place, fixing the spare canvas into a kind of shield to keep off the
+spattering drops. It was very forlorn and miserable, and to say that
+all wished themselves back on shore would be but the faintest
+expression of their distress.
+
+Little was said. Pushing their way slowly through the cakes of ice,
+which had grown denser now; changing every little while from oars to
+boat-hook and back again, while Katy, protected from freezing by her
+double blanket and Jim's close hugging, kept the yawl's head due
+north; fighting fatigue, hunger, cold, and a great desire to sleep,
+these brave boys worked hour after hour for their lives and the lives
+in their care.
+
+When they were beginning to think it almost morning they came squarely
+against a field of ice which stretched right and left into the
+darkness farther than it was possible to see. Whether this was the
+edge of a stationary field or only a large raft they couldn't tell;
+but they were too exhausted to go farther, and they decided to tie up
+and wait for daylight. Tug struck his hook into the ice until it held
+firmly, then lashed it to the bow. Aleck also stepped out and drove
+one of the short railway spikes into the ice near the stern, around
+which a rope was hitched. Then both the boys opened a second roll of
+bedding, and snuggled down as well as they could to get what rest they
+were able to while waiting for sunrise. Crowded together in the straw
+(though it was damp with snow), and covered with quilts and blankets,
+they could keep tolerably warm, and even caught little naps. The snow
+had stopped now, and the stars began to appear, first in the north,
+then overhead, then gradually everywhere. The wind still blew, but the
+boat rose and fell more and more slowly upon the rollers, until at
+last it stood perfectly still. This happened so suddenly, and was
+followed by so complete steadiness, that it aroused Tug's curiosity.
+Poking his head from under the covering, he said, "I think we are
+frozen in." Nobody answered him, for they were asleep, or too stupid
+to care; but the gray daylight which came at last showed that he was
+right. On their right hand was a great sheet of new, thin ice; on
+their left a mass of thick old ice, white with snow. Straight ahead,
+so well had Katy steered, towered the rocks and trees of a high,
+wooded shore, coming momently into greater and greater distinctness as
+the red streamers of the morning shot higher and higher into the
+eastern sky.
+
+Tug was the first to catch this sight, and roused his fellows with a
+shout:
+
+"Land!--land! Hurrah!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXI.
+
+THE ESCAPE TO THE SHORE.
+
+
+To rouse themselves, hastily gather a few eatables, and make their way
+ashore had been the work of a very short time, though done with great
+soreness and much hobbling, after their cramped-up night in the boat.
+
+They halted on the south side of a sheltering rock, where the sun was
+beginning to shine against the gray stone. Katy hated to confess it,
+but really she was very, very tired, and was quite willing to let
+Aleck wrap her up in a thick blanket, and to lie quietly in a sunny
+nook of the rock while the boys set a fire crackling as near to her as
+was safe, and began to heat water for coffee. The mill had been
+forgotten, but Tug had a piece of buckskin in his overcoat pocket, and
+folding the grains in this they crushed them between two stones, which
+did just as well as grinding them.
+
+This done, the coffee-pot was filled and set upon the embers, and a
+moment later four cups were steaming with the hot, reviving liquid,
+and four tired hands were reaching towards the little heap of slices
+cut from the boiled ham which had been tossed into the boat the night
+before, when leaving the ice-raft. It had required all of Rex's
+strength of mind to keep his paws off these tempting pieces for some
+time past.
+
+"Poor dog!" cried Jim; "we must give you something, if we are pretty
+short. Pity there was no fish left for you."
+
+"He can have my slice of ham," Katy said, with a faint smile. "I can't
+eat it, somehow."
+
+"Better try to eat a little, sis," Aleck said, "because--"
+
+"Don't you touch a mouthful!" exclaimed Tug, snatching the shaving
+from her hand and tossing it to the dog, which swallowed it at a gulp.
+"Just you wait a minute! I ought to go and kick myself for not
+thinking of it before!" And with this puzzling remark he rushed off
+over the ice.
+
+They saw him rummage about the cargo, and then start back, bringing
+his gun and a small package.
+
+"Thought it would be just as well to make sure of the gun," he
+remarked, as he rejoined them; "and here's something, Katy, you can
+eat, I guess!" It was a box containing two dozen preserved figs that
+he opened, and handed to her. "I bought 'em just before we left
+Monore," he said, "and clean forgot 'em till now--sure as I'm a
+Dutchman!"
+
+"Oh, give me one!" cried Jim.
+
+"Jim Kincaid," said Tug, sternly, springing between the boy and Katy's
+hand, outstretched in generosity, "if you touch one of those figs I'll
+thump you well! I didn't bring them all this way for a lubber like you
+to eat!" And in spite of all the girl's protests, Tug would not touch
+a fig himself nor allow her to give one to anybody else.
+
+Aleck grinned, and munched his tough morsel; Jim scowled, and gnawed
+at his shavings as though he enjoyed viciously tearing them into
+shreds; Tug thought his beef was juicy and sweet, as he saw with what
+gusto poor Katy ate her fruit; and as for Rex, he dug his teeth into
+the tough remnant of the dried shank which had been given to him, as
+though he never expected to see another meal.
+
+Refreshed and strengthened by their breakfast, meagre as it was, the
+boys prepared to begin the work of bringing the cargo ashore, though
+the weather was so cold that a thermometer would have marked nearly
+down to zero.
+
+Aleck forbade Katy to help, so she curled up beside the wall of rock,
+which acted as a sort of oven to hold the warmth, where presently she
+fell asleep, and the boys, when they returned with their first
+sled-load of goods, were careful not to awaken her. So much had their
+stock been reduced that they found a second trip would enable them to
+bring everything of consequence ashore by carrying pretty large
+armfuls. They therefore distributed their loads as best they could,
+and started back from the abandoned boat, slipping and stumbling over
+the rough ice and through the cutting wind.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXII.
+
+REX FIGHTS UNKNOWN ENEMIES.
+
+
+With aching heads bowed under their burdens, and tired limbs, they had
+returned to within, perhaps, a hundred yards of the beach, when the
+barking of dogs, mingled with a girlish scream, caused them all to
+look up in astonishment. Then, without waiting for any one to give the
+word, each dropped what he was carrying, and began to run as fast as
+he was able over the broken ice towards the shore.
+
+When the lads had started on the second trip out to the boat, Rex,
+bidden to watch his mistress, and proud of the duty, had lain down
+almost on the edge of her blankets. There was no snow upon the sand
+here, and the warmth of the fire closed the eyes of the fagged-out
+dog, just as it had those of his mistress. The boys had been gone,
+perhaps, half an hour, and he had had time to get very soundly asleep,
+when, suddenly, he was roused by a growl and a rush, and before he
+could rise to his feet two animals were right upon him, each nearly as
+big as himself, though short-haired and wofully gaunt. With a yelp of
+surprise and rage the dog sprang up and tried to defend himself, but
+the attack of his assailants was so fierce that he was rolled over in
+an instant, and felt their teeth pressing at his throat.
+
+Into Katy's dreams of a May-day picnic under the blossoming
+apple-trees broke this rude hubbub, and before she could understand
+its meaning she felt the weight of the struggling animals pressing
+upon her bed. With the piercing scream of fright that had reached the
+ears of her brothers out on the ice, she struggled out of her
+blankets, only to be tripped and fall right upon the tumbling,
+growling, fighting heap. Afterwards she used to tell the story with
+merry laughter, but then, scarcely knowing what it all meant, she was
+too frightened to do anything but scream again, and pick herself up as
+best she could.
+
+Safely on her feet at last, and convinced that this startling
+adventure was a reality and not some frightful change in her dream,
+she saw that Rex was being overpowered by two great dogs, lean almost
+as skeletons, that seemed bent upon killing him without an instant's
+delay. To see her faithful friend surprised and overcome in this
+terrible way stirred up all her sympathies and all her wrath. Like a
+flash she remembered how African travellers had fought lions with
+firebrands, and, seizing one of the charred sticks from the fire, she
+began to strike the brute nearest to her.
+
+But what followed was most alarming, for the animal, at the very first
+blow, left Rex and turned towards her, his jaws wide open, and his
+haggard eyes glowing with rage. Instinctively she presented the
+smoking end of her long brand, as a soldier would his bayonet, and was
+fortunate enough to meet the dog squarely in the face, which staggered
+him for an instant, and before he could gather himself for a new
+attack Aleck and Tug and Jim were all beside her, and the two great
+brutes were in full flight.
+
+Then the brave girl dropped her firebrand, and sank down on the
+nearest seat, where, perhaps, she might have been excused for fainting
+had the day been warm, instead of freezing cold. The boys gathered
+anxiously about her, with such questions as, "Where did they come
+from?" "Why did they attack you?" "Are you hurt?" and so on.
+
+The story was soon told, and this was fortunate, for everybody had
+forgotten poor Rex, who lay panting, and licking one of his feet, from
+which the blood was oozing.
+
+"Well, old fellow," exclaimed Tug, as he went and bent over the dog,
+"did they try to chew you up? Here, give us your paw. Quiet! Let me
+feel--so--good dog! No bones broken, I guess, and we'll bandage you up
+O. K. How about this ear? One hole through it, and--Well, 'twas lucky
+you had a strong collar? Just look at the tooth-marks on that piece of
+leather! If it hadn't been for that an' his thick hair, they'd been in
+his throat, and then good-bye, Rex!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIII.
+
+EXPLORING THE ISLAND.
+
+
+When all the property of our shipwrecked crew had been brought ashore
+it made a very small heap, and the biggest part of that seemed to be
+the bedding. Everybody noticed this, and it added a new gloom to the
+feeling of discouragement caused by their weariness, by Katy's fright,
+and, most of all, by the hunger of which their slight breakfast had
+only taken away the edge.
+
+"Before we do anything else at all," said Captain Aleck, "we must have
+something more to eat. Do you feel strong enough to help us, Katy?"
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed. I've got quite rid of my foolish weakness."
+
+"That's good. Let us know if we can help you."
+
+Nobody felt in the mood for talking, and Jim really took a nap between
+the rock and the fire. Though the air was still cold, the sunshine was
+bright, and under the lee of the little cliff it was very comfortable;
+but poor Katy had hard work to keep her fingers from almost freezing.
+What she made was chocolate, fried bacon, and "griddle" cakes, the
+last cooked in the skillet, and consuming every bit of buckwheat flour
+and a good share of the sugar. When the meal had been eaten to the
+last scrap, and everybody had grown wide awake and cheerful, Aleck
+rapped on a box, and made a speech:
+
+"Attention, ladies and gentlemen! Though none of us have said much
+about it, you all know well enough that we're in a regular scrape, and
+the sooner we discover how we're to get out of it the better. Now, I
+am going to propose a plan, and if any of you don't like it you can
+say so."
+
+"We'll do whatever you say," exclaimed Tug.
+
+"But I don't want to _say_ till we've talked it over. I rather think
+we're on a small island a good many miles from land. I judge so from
+what I know of the chart of the lake, and what I can guess of where we
+drifted on that ice-floe. If so, I do not think anybody lives here, or
+ever comes here in winter."
+
+"Regular desert island!" Jim was heard to mutter, in a tone that
+showed his mind busy with the romantic memory of Robinson Crusoe.
+
+"The first thing to do is to find out whether this is so or not. Now I
+propose that Jim and Katy should stay here--"
+
+"Oh, no, no," Katy interrupted, in an eager appeal. "Those dreadful
+dogs might come back, and Jimmy is so little! I want you to stay with
+me, or else let me go with you."
+
+"That's rather rough on the boy," Aleck laughed. "However, I suppose
+it won't matter. Well, then, Tug, I think you and Jim had better go
+back in the country, and see what you can find, while I stay and watch
+over the goods and the sister. What do you say?"
+
+"Good plan," Tug replied. "I'm ready. Are you, Youngster?"
+
+"Yes, siree! But you'll let us take the gun, won't you, Aleck?"
+
+"Oh, yes, you can have the gun. If the dogs, or wolves, or whatever
+they are, come at us while you're gone, Katy can fight them with
+firebrands, and I--"
+
+"Oh, _you_ can climb a tree!" said his sister, merrily.
+
+"Yes, I can climb a tree."
+
+While Tug and Jim were gone, Aleck and Katy busied themselves in
+repacking their goods in snug bundles, and in talking over their
+strange adventures. They were too anxious to feel very gay, but
+thought it foolish to give way to fretting until they had lost all
+hope. Two hours or more elapsed, and the sun had climbed to "high
+noon" in the sky, before the explorers came back, bringing solemn
+faces.
+
+"Island!" both called out as soon as they came near; "and a small one
+at that."
+
+"Any people on it?" asked Katy.
+
+"Not a soul that I could see," Tug said. "I allow they come here in
+summer, though, for the trees have been cut down, and there's a rough
+little shanty on the other side."
+
+"Could we live in it?"
+
+"Didn't go inside; don't know. It's half full of snow. Better than no
+shelter at all, I suppose. It ain't far off. Suppose you all go over
+there and look at it--Jim can show you where it is--while I guard the
+grub against those pesky dogs. I don't wonder the brutes are savage,
+for I don't see how they could get anything to eat here."
+
+When the three had left the rocks at the beach, under Jim's guidance,
+they found themselves in a brushy wood consisting largely of hemlocks
+and pines, often closely matted together. A few minutes' walking
+carried them through this and up to a ridge of jagged limestone rocks,
+one point of which, a little distance off, stood up like a big
+monument. This ridge ran about east and west, and they had come up its
+southern side. Its northern face was very snowy, had few trees, and
+sloped down an eighth of a mile to the water.
+
+At one place on this northern beach several great rocks rose from the
+water's edge, and among them stood a small grove of hemlocks and other
+trees. In that thicket, Jimmy told them, the old shanty was placed.
+They thought it must be very small, or else well stowed away, for
+they could see nothing of it. To get down to it was no easy task, for
+the crevices and holes in the rocky hillside had drifted full of snow,
+and they were continually sinking in where they had expected to stand
+firm, or finding a solid rock ahead when they tried to flounder out.
+It was a chilled and ill-tempered trio that finally reached the beach,
+and sought the shelter of the thicket.
+
+Now it became easier to understand why the hut had been invisible from
+above, for it was only a shanty propped up between two great rocks
+that helped to form its walls and support its roof. From the broken
+oars and many fragments of nets, the old corks and other rubbish lying
+about, they saw at once that it had been built by fishermen, who
+probably came there to spend the night now and then, or, perhaps,
+stayed a week or so at a time in the summer.
+
+The door stood half open, and a snowdrift lay heaped upon the
+threshold. Edging their way in, they found that the roof and walls
+were tight, the little window unbroken, and several rough articles of
+furniture lying about. An old, rusty stove, one corner propped up on
+stones, and the pipe tumbled down, stood against the chimney of mud
+and sticks that was built up against one of the rocky walls.
+
+"This is splendid!" Katy cried. "Just look at that dear old stove!"
+
+"Yes, sis; I think we must move over here. But are you sure,
+Jim--how did you find out?--that this is an island, and not the
+mainland?"
+
+[Illustration: THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND.]
+
+"From the top of that high point of rocks you can see the whole of it.
+I don't believe it is more than a mile up to the farther end, and not
+half that down to the other. The island is shaped something like a
+dumb-bell, only one end is a good deal bigger than the other. We are
+on the little end here."
+
+"Well, Youngster, you're quite a geographer; but we can't stop to talk
+about it now. Let's go back as quickly as we can, and bring part of
+our goods over this afternoon; don't you think that's best?"
+
+"Oh, yes." And twenty minutes later, rosy and panting, Katy astonished
+the sleepy Tug by rushing into camp, followed closely, not by wild
+beasts, as he thought would be the case, but by both the brothers she
+had outsped.
+
+"It's so good!" she exclaimed, catching her breath, "to feel something
+besides slippery ice under your feet! Now, what shall we take first?"
+
+By hard work and little resting the coming of twilight found them
+established in their new home. The last journey had been made after
+the bedding, by Tug and Aleck, while Jim and Katy cleared the snow all
+away from the cabin door and off the bending roof, straightened up the
+rickety old stove, and set a fire going. By the time the larger boys
+came back, raising a whoop far up the hillside as they saw the smoke
+curling up between the hemlocks, the old hut was warm, and the tin
+cover of the little iron pot was dancing, in its effort to hold back
+the escaping steam.
+
+"Ugh!" said Tug, as he pushed the door open and threw down his bundle
+of blankets; "I'm as hungry as a wolf!"
+
+"If you think you can wait fifteen minutes, Mr. Montgomery, you'll
+have a bee-yutiful supper. Can you do it?"
+
+"I 'low I can. I ain't a epi--epi--What d'ye call it?"
+
+"Epicure?"
+
+"That's the chap. I read the other day that the Tartars say he digs
+his grave with his teeth. I don't want a grave as bad as that yet."
+
+"I suppose that means that a man who lives on too rich food will die
+by it."
+
+"Yes, I reckon so. But I 'low there's no danger in our case; eh,
+Aleck? Do you think dried beef and snow-birds too rich for your
+delicate stomach, my boy?"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+That night all bunked down on the floor, for they were too weary to
+care much for anything but a chance to sleep, and the sun was high
+before any of them found out, in their shady house, that it was
+morning. When breakfast was ready, and they had all sat down at the
+rough shelf-table which the fishermen had fastened at one side of the
+cabin, Aleck called "Attention!" and said that it was time they were
+looking the situation squarely in the face.
+
+"It's all very funny," he said, "to think ourselves Crusoes, and feel
+that we are all right because we have a roof over us and a stove to
+keep warm by. But Crusoe didn't need a roof nor a stove, for he was in
+a warm climate; and he had goats and birds, and shell-fish along the
+rocks, and cocoanuts, and lots of other things. Crusoe was a king in
+his palace beside us."
+
+The circle of faces grew rather grave.
+
+"Here we are, in midwinter, on an island in a fresh-water lake--and
+not even water, but solid ice--where there are no oysters nor clams,
+no fruit-trees, and no animals--"
+
+"Except those dogs," Jim interrupted.
+
+"Even _they_ seem to have disappeared," Aleck went on; "and they are
+starved almost to skin and bone. If a pack of dogs can't get anything
+to eat, what are we four going to do? I tell you, it's a serious
+case."
+
+"Well," Tug rejoined, stoutly, "I, for one, don't give in yet. Look
+what we did out on the ice! We can fish, and trap snow-birds--I saw a
+flock last evening; and maybe we can find some mussels near the beach,
+and so stick it out till the ice breaks up and the birds begin to come
+in the spring."
+
+"Tug, you're a brick, and I was wrong to feel so lowspirited," said
+Aleck, heartily. "I think you're a better fellow to be captain here
+than I am. I resign."
+
+"Not by a long chalk!" exclaimed Tug. "Here, I'll put it to vote.
+Whoever wants Aleck to go out, and me to take my innings as captain,
+hold up his hand."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIV.
+
+THE WILD DOGS AGAIN.
+
+
+Aleck's hand alone was shown; and though he held both of his arms as
+high as he could, the other side had the majority, and would not
+accept his resignation.
+
+"Suppose we see just exactly what we have in the way of provisions,"
+Katy suggested. "It won't take long to make out the list," she added,
+with a grim little smile.
+
+They began at once, and the small housewife wrote down the list as
+fast as the stores were examined, guessing at the weights. There were
+found about eleven pounds of dried beef; bacon, one "side;" flour,
+about six pounds; corn-meal, ten pounds; beans, three pounds; coffee,
+two pounds; tea, a quarter of a pound; chocolate, half a cake; sugar,
+three pounds; small quantities of salt, pepper, soda, and so on; some
+crumbs of crackers and cookies in the bottom of a bag; a small piece
+of dried yeast; and a few swallows of the brandy that had been so
+useful at the time of Aleck's accident on the drifting ice.
+
+They had nearly all the bedding, cooking utensils, and tools with
+which they had started three weeks before; but the oil for their
+lantern and their matches were nearly used up or lost; their powder
+was low, for part of it had been spoiled by water; their clothes were
+badly worn; and their only canvas, since the loss of their tent, was
+the small "spare piece."
+
+"It's plain," said Aleck, as this overhauling was finished, "that we
+must put ourselves upon a regular allowance. The provisions won't last
+us a week unless we save them carefully."
+
+"And it's plain that we must raise some more, so I reckon I'd better
+get to work at bird-traps."
+
+"Yes, the sooner the better. As for me, I want to learn all I can
+about the island. There may be something of use to us at the other
+end, so I shall take a long walk, and see what I can find."
+
+"Mayn't I go with you?" Jim asked, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, Youngster, if you think you can stand it."
+
+"No trouble about that," replied the little fellow, courageously. He
+had grown very manly during the past month.
+
+The brothers started off, taking the gun with them, and saying that
+they would be back about three o'clock.
+
+As soon as they had gone Tug set about his traps in one corner of the
+house, behind the stove, while Katy went to work to make the hut a
+little more homelike.
+
+The cabin was about twelve feet square, and one side was the smooth
+face of a great rock, against which was heaped the rude chimney of mud
+and stones. In front of this the stove was placed, and behind it, on
+the side of the room farthest from the door, the fishermen had built a
+bunk.
+
+"You must call that your bedroom," Tug said, and he helped Katy to set
+up in front of it poles sustaining a curtain made of a shawl.
+
+"Now," said the lad, when this had been arranged, "you must have a
+mattress."
+
+So, taking the axe, he went out, and soon came back with a great
+armful of hemlock boughs, and then a second one, with which he heaped
+the bunk, laying them all very smoothly, and making a delightful bed.
+
+"I'm thinkin' we'll have to fix some more bunks for ourselves," said
+the boy, as he tried this springy couch. "That's a heap better 'n the
+soft side of a plank."
+
+Then with a hemlock broom Katy swept the floor, and spread down the
+canvas as a carpet. Finding in her little trunk some clothing wrapped
+in an old _Harper's Weekly_, she cut out the pictures and tacked them
+up, and finally she washed the grimy window to let more light in, so
+that the rough little house soon came to look quite warm and cosey.
+
+Meanwhile Tug, getting out his few tools, had made the triggers of
+half a dozen such box-traps as they had caught snow-birds with when
+living on the ice, and one other queer little arrangement, of sticks
+delicately balanced, an upright one in the middle bearing at its top a
+bit of red rag:
+
+"What in the world is _that_?" Katy inquired with much curiosity.
+
+"Oh, it's a bit of a contrivance to stand over a hole in the ice where
+I propose to place a 'set' line for fish--that is, you know, a line
+that I bait and leave set for a while, trusting to luck to catch
+something. The minute a fish gets the hook through his lips and begins
+to flop around, he will set this flag a-fluttering and so let me know
+it. I might make him ring a little bell if I had one."
+
+"I should say," Katy remarked laughingly, "that to make a captured and
+dying fish ring his own funeral knell was adding insult to injury."
+
+At length Tug pulled on his overcoat and announced that he was going
+to look for a good fishing-place.
+
+He was gone nearly an hour, during which Katy busied herself in
+mending her sadly torn dress, and in thinking. But the latter was by
+no means a pleasant occupation, and she was glad to see Tug come back,
+rubbing his ears, for the day was a cold one.
+
+"I think I have found a real likely place for fishing," he told her.
+"There is a little cove the other side of this thicket, with a marsh
+around it, and a pretty narrow entrance. I reckon the water's deep
+enough in there for fish to be skulking, and I dropped my line right
+in the middle. I set the traps near here, but didn't see any birds."
+
+"Do you think--" Katy stopped suddenly, laying one hand on Tug's arm,
+and holding up the other warningly, while her face grew pale. Rex, who
+had been lying by the stove quietly licking his injured paw, rose up
+and growled deeply.
+
+"There! Did you not hear it?"
+
+"I did. It's them pesky dogs," cried Tug, and hurried to the window,
+while Rex began to bark furiously. "There are the boys on the hill
+backing down, and two--no, three--dogs following them. Where's that
+axe? I'll fix 'em!"
+
+And before Katy could quite understand what was the matter, the boy
+had burst out, and was tearing up the hill to the support of his
+friends. Rex wanted to go too, but Katy held him fast, as she stood
+watching the boys flourishing their weapons, and frightening the dogs
+back, while they slowly retreated. As they came nearer to the house
+the animals ceased pursuing, and relieved their disappointment by
+savage barks and prolonged howls.
+
+"Well," exclaimed Tug, in the country speech he always used when
+excited, "I allow them curs are the most or'nary critters I ever
+see!"
+
+"They followed us all the way from the other side of the neck," said
+Jim, dropping limp into a broken-legged chair, which tumbled him over
+backward.
+
+"Where did you go, and what did you see?" was Katy's anxious question,
+choking down her laughter at the plaintive Youngster's accident.
+
+Aleck then told them that from the highest point of the hill he could
+study the whole island, which was everywhere surrounded by ice, and
+that eastward he could see what he thought was another island several
+miles away; but that to the southward it was too misty for a long
+sight. Going on down the hill, they crossed a neck or isthmus of sand
+and rocks between two marshy bays, and entered some woods, which
+seemed to cover pretty much all the rest of the island. Pushing
+through this, and gathering a good many dried grapes, which were worth
+a hungry man's attention if he had plenty of time, they reached the
+shore somewhere near the farther end of the island without finding any
+signs that anybody had ever been there before. On the shore, however,
+by a cove, they found a tumbled-down shanty, and a little clearing
+where once had been a camp. They were going on still farther, when
+suddenly they were attacked by the three dogs, and thought it best to
+retreat. The dogs followed, and they had to fight them off all the
+way.
+
+"One of them was a giant of a mastiff," said Aleck, "and we were
+more afraid of him than of the smaller ones, which seemed to be two
+well-grown pups. I think these dogs must have been left here last
+summer by somebody. There seems to be four of them altogether--two old
+ones and two young ones--though we have never seen more than three at
+once. How they have managed to live beats me. I don't see anything for
+them to eat. I wish you had some bullets, Tug. We never can hurt 'em
+much with small shot."
+
+[Illustration: ATTACKED BY THE DOGS.]
+
+"They'll steal everything from the traps, too," Jim piped in. "By the
+way, Tug, have you set any yet?"
+
+Then Tug told what he had been doing, and said he must go before it
+became dark and see if anything had been taken. So, wrapping himself
+up, he took the gun and went off, while Aleck and Jim gathered a
+supply of wood for the night, and Katy began to get supper. By the
+time this was ready, and the red glare of a threatening sunset had
+tinged the snow and suffused the clouds with crimson, Tug came back,
+bringing nothing at all. It was not a very merry party, therefore,
+that sat around the table that evening listening to the doleful cries
+of the outcast dogs, which still kept watch on the hillside.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXV.
+
+THE PERILS OF A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.
+
+
+The next morning snow was falling, and the wind was blowing furiously.
+
+"This ought to bring us some small birds, and maybe an owl or two,"
+said Tug, as he watched the dense clouds of snow hurled along from the
+northern waste of ice.
+
+"Do you think you would dare to go out to the traps, or could find
+them in this gale?" Aleck asked.
+
+"I reckon so; and while I'm gone you take the gun and see if you can't
+find snow-birds among the hemlocks."
+
+"What'll you do if those dogs get after you? They're perfectly savage
+with hunger. It don't take much wildness or long famine to turn a dog
+back to a wolf, and we've got to look out for these curs as if they
+were wild beasts."
+
+"You're right," Tug assented. "But I hardly think they'll be out on
+the ice in this storm; you are more likely to meet them in the woods.
+At any rate, we must have something to eat, and it's my business to
+tend those traps, wolves or no wolves. If I go under, why, there's one
+less mouth to feed."
+
+So Tug and Aleck went away into the storm, one out upon the wide white
+desert, the other wading up the drifted slopes to the woods.
+
+Katy and Jim stayed at home, sitting comfortably in the house. She was
+reading aloud from an old newspaper they had found lying in a corner,
+when there came plainly to her ears the twittering of small birds.
+
+"Listen, Jimkin. Did you hear that?"
+
+"Snow-birds!" the boy exclaimed. "Right on the roof, too, and nary a
+trap!"
+
+"Let us go out," said Katy, eagerly. "Perhaps we could catch one or
+two somehow."
+
+So they crept out, and saw that the thick hemlock growing beside the
+big rock was covered with small birds. Some were hiding away from the
+"cauld blast" in the nooks between the dense branches; some were
+hanging upon the little cones, swinging and clinging like acrobats;
+some were taking short flights through the smoke to warm their toes,
+or sitting on the bare rock near the top of the chimney. They were of
+two kinds, but all equally happy and unconcerned.
+
+"If I only had the gun I could knock over about twenty at once," Jim
+whispered. "I believe I could even kill a lot with my pea-shooter."
+
+"Could you? Well, Jimkin, I've got some strong rubber cord in my
+trunk, and you might make one of those horrid forked-stick things."
+
+"That's a splendid idea, Katy. Get your rubber, and I'll cut a stick.
+Hurry up!"
+
+Ten minutes afterwards the weapon was ready. But now it occurred to
+Jim that he had no "peas" for his "shooter." So he and Katy both
+hurried down to where they knew there was a bit of beach not covered
+by ice. They scraped away the new snow, and raked up double handfuls
+of small pebbles.
+
+Jim's hands grew so cold during this operation that he had to go in
+and warm them before he could handle his "rubber gun." But the birds
+still stayed in the trees, as is their custom when a heavy snow-storm
+is raging, and the excited young hunter waited only long enough to get
+the stiffest of his fingers into decent shape.
+
+Creeping around to the rear side of the rock, he climbed slowly up
+until he could peer over the edge, and found himself not more than a
+dozen feet away from the little feathered group sitting by the
+chimney-top. Taking the best of aim, and pulling the rubber as far
+back as it would go, he let fly, and one of the largest of the birds
+tumbled over the edge. The boy had hard work to refrain from shouting
+with pride at this early success, though he wasn't sure he had killed
+the bird.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVI.
+
+FINDING SNOW-BIRDS AND LOSING THE CAPTAIN.
+
+
+Jim knew he must keep quiet, so he stood like a statue, trying to
+forget his stinging ears, until the flock had recovered from its
+surprise, when he knocked over a second bird.
+
+It was slow and very cold work, but the boy stuck to it bravely until
+his fingers became so stiff that he could not manage his little
+weapon, and then he crept down to the stove, to dance about and wring
+his hands with pain as the heat of the room set them aching.
+
+As soon as possible he went out again--missed twice and hit once. Just
+as he was taking aim a fourth time his foot slipped, and he tumbled
+backwards, followed by a small avalanche, which half buried him at the
+foot of the rock. When he picked himself up, every feather had
+disappeared.
+
+Running round to the front, he found two dead birds and three wounded
+ones, whose necks were speedily wrung. Never was a boy prouder than
+this young sportsman, as he laid his trophies in a row and admired
+them.
+
+"What a delicious broth they will make!" cried Katy, who longed to
+taste something really good.
+
+"I'm hungry enough to eat 'em raw, like an Indian. Oh, Tug, look what
+I've shot!" Jim added, as his friend opened the door and stood shaking
+off the snow.
+
+"Good for you! I've got nothin' 'cept a mighty good appetite. Why,
+they're cross-bills and red-polls!"
+
+"What are _they_?"
+
+"Birds that come down in winter from away up north. This little
+streaked sparrow-like fellow, with the rosy breast and the red cap, is
+the red-poll; they say he never breeds south of Greenland. Now look at
+these larger ones--see how strong the bills are, and how their points
+cross! That's so they can twist the hard scales off the cones and get
+at the seeds."
+
+"Yes," said Jim; "they were hanging upside down and every way on the
+cones, and I could hardly see them to take aim."
+
+"That's 'cause their plumage is such a vague sort of red and green, so
+near the color of the leaves and scales on those evergreen trees. The
+hawks and owls can't see 'em, either, half as well as if they were
+bright, and that's where the little fellows have the advantage of
+their big enemies. Did you notice any other kinds?"
+
+"There was one different one, a little larger than any of these, that
+I caught a glimpse of--it was green, just like the hemlock leaves, and
+kept inside out of the storm--"
+
+"Like a sensible bird, eh? Correct! I guess he was a pine grosbeak."
+
+"That means 'pine _big_beak' doesn't it? It ought to, for this fellow
+had a beak twice as thick as any bird I ever saw, except a cardinal
+from South Carolina that a man had in a cage last summer. Do you think
+they'll come back?"
+
+"I reckon so. None of these winter birds are shy--lucky for us! and I
+think the shelter of these trees and the warmth of our smoke will
+fetch 'em, especially if we scatter some crumbs out on the roof."
+
+"But we have none to scatter," Katy protested.
+
+All three then went to work picking the birds, whose bodies looked
+surprisingly small after their puffy coats had been taken off. "See
+what a warm undershirt of down this one wears at the roots of his
+feathers!" Tug pointed out, holding up a red-poll.
+
+"Wish I were a bird," said Jimmy; "I'd get out o' this in no time."
+
+"Perhaps if you were, this would be the very place you would most want
+to come to and stay in," Katy remarked, "just as these poor little
+things did. The 'if' makes a lot of difference, Master Jim."
+
+By this time it began to grow dusk, and though the snow was falling as
+fast as ever, the air had grown much warmer, as though the storm would
+end in rain. Aleck had not come yet, and the three, in their snug
+house, looking out upon the deep drifts and the clouded air, and
+listening to the melancholy sound of the wind in the trees, became
+more and more anxious for his appearance.
+
+When it had grown quite dark, and the broth Katy had made was ready,
+together with cakes of corn-meal, and tea, or, rather, hot water
+flavored with tea and sugar--the best meal they had seen for many a
+day--Tug said that if the Captain did not come before they got through
+eating he would go and look for him. So they tried to keep up each
+other's spirits; but when the meal was done, and still no brother
+appeared, all their merriment faded.
+
+"Jim and Rex ought both to go with you, Tug; and you must take along
+the lantern, and these extra corn cakes I have baked, and some
+bacon--"
+
+"The bacon's raw," Jim protested.
+
+"Well, stupid, you could fry it over some coals on the end of a stick,
+couldn't you?" exclaimed Tug, impatiently. He was getting very tired
+of Jim's constant objections.
+
+"And you must take this little bit of brandy, because you know, he
+might--might be--"
+
+"Now, Katy, dear Katy," said Tug, his own eyes moist, as he threw his
+arm around the shoulders of the girl, who had broken down at last, and
+was crying bitterly. "Don't cry, Katy. If _you_ give in, what are
+we goin' to do? You are the life of the party, and there ain't nothin'
+we wouldn't any of us--and specially me--do for you. Really now,
+Katy--Here, you young cub, what are _you_ bellerin' about? If I catch
+you crying round here again, discouragin' your sister in this style,
+I'll thrash you well!"
+
+[Illustration: "DON'T CRY, KATY!"]
+
+Tug was thoroughly excited and distressed by this last and heaviest
+trouble, and most anxious of all to make the rest believe he wasn't
+anxious. As usual, when excited, he dropped into the slang he had been
+striving to forget. But this added force to his speeches, for when it
+occurred everybody understood that he was very much in earnest.
+
+"I knew a young fellow," Tug himself used to say, when laughed at for
+this peculiarity, "whose father was a Dutchman, but who could never be
+persuaded to learn that language. 'Why not?' we used to ask him.
+'Well, fellows,' he would say, 'my daddy talks English till he catches
+me up to some mischief; then he begins to talk Dutch, and goes for his
+whip; so I've got a terrible distaste for Dutch.' It's with me as it
+was with that man. When I am mad, or mean business, I'm pretty likely
+to talk in the 'Dutch' I learned when I was a boy."
+
+The two boys and the dog--for Rex had nursed his foot until it was of
+use to him again, protected by bandages--bundled themselves up, took
+the lantern, the hatchet, and luncheon, and started out. Katy said
+she should not be a bit afraid, and would keep up a good fire. As they
+disappeared, letting in a flurry of snow before they could shut the
+door, she dropped into a seat (if truth must be told) to finish her
+crying. Let her do it, poor girl!--few of her associates, or yours, my
+pretty maiden, ever had better cause. We will flounder along with Tug
+and Jim, who are bowing their faces to the storm, and toiling up the
+dark and treacherous hillside.
+
+When the top of the ridge had been gained they paused to get breath
+and to shout Aleck's name. No reply came, and they pushed on down to
+the isthmus, where the snow, which was becoming more and more sleety,
+swept about their faces with double force. In a few moments, however,
+they reached the shelter of the woods, which covered pretty much the
+whole of that part of the island; and then came the question whether
+it would be better to work along the beach or plunge into the woods.
+
+There seemed very small chance of success, in the midst of this
+darkness and storm, either way, but they felt sure that some accident
+had happened to the Captain, and they were eager to help him. After
+talking it over, they decided upon the right-hand or southern shore of
+the island, because that was to leeward, and better sheltered, and
+marched on as rapidly as they could. They had no strength to talk,
+but hand-in-hand pushed ahead, stopping now and then to shout, but
+never getting an answer.
+
+"There's one good thing about this storm," Tug remarked, after a
+while, as they halted to rest in a sort of cleft in the rock. "Those
+confounded dogs will be likely to stay indoors and not bother us."
+
+"I wonder where they keep themselves at night?"
+
+"If our island is like the rest, this limestone rock is full of caves.
+There's no telling, for instance, how deep this here opening we're
+sitting in goes back; and in some of the Puddin' Bay [Put-in-Bay]
+islands big caves have been explored that people go away into to see
+the stalactites. There are plenty of rocky holes, therefore, where
+they could find good shelter and beds of leaves that the wind had
+blown in. But we must get out of this, Youngster."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVII.
+
+ANOTHER ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD DOGS.
+
+
+They trudged slowly on again until they thought they must be close to
+the farther end of the island, when they found progress interrupted by
+a low headland of rocks partly covered by the brush of a fallen
+tree-top. In trying to get past it they became entangled in the
+branches, and Tug said he "'lowed they'd have to light the lantern."
+
+With great care, therefore--for matches were precious--this was done,
+and its rays at once showed them that they were not the first persons
+who had been there that night. Branches were freshly broken, and the
+snow was trampled. They set up a combined shout (and bark) as soon as
+this was perceived, but nothing came back except the dull echo of
+their voices and the rustle of the sleet and snow among the leafless
+and dripping branches.
+
+"Well," said Tug, when he realized this, "our cue is to follow the
+tracks anyhow."
+
+Crushing through the branches, they saw that the tracks, which had
+approached from the other side of the rocks and brush, led them to
+the trunk of the tree, and that then Aleck (if, indeed, it were he who
+had made them) had walked along the trunk towards its roots. Of course
+they followed, Tug going ahead with the lantern; but when they arrived
+at the great base of upturned roots they could not see where Aleck had
+leaped off, or that he had leaped off at all. On one side the snow lay
+smooth and untouched; on the other, close under and around the mass of
+dead roots, was a little thicket of low bushes and a shoulder of black
+rock. Beyond these the snow had not been disturbed.
+
+This was very mysterious, and chilled their hearts with a nameless
+fear. They came close together on the high log, and talked almost in
+whispers. Jim held Tug's arm with both hands, and trembled so that his
+teeth chattered, and the tears rolled down his cheeks; while Tug
+himself, old and brave and strong as he was, was so scared (as he
+often said afterwards) that every creak and moan of the laboring,
+ice-coated trees seemed a frightful voice, and all the flitting lights
+and shadows cast by their lantern among the dark trunks and swaying
+hemlock branches took on shapes that it chilled his blood to look at.
+Even Rex seemed to catch the panic, and cowered at their feet with
+bristling hair.
+
+There had been only a moment of this helpless, causeless terror--and
+no doubt they would quickly have thrown it off--when they were roused
+by a real danger, which they knew in an instant. All ghosts and
+goblins, forms and voices, vanished at once, for they heard the
+wolfish howl of the dreaded dogs.
+
+"Only mastiffs or hounds," you may exclaim, "such as we pass on the
+street every day, and babies play with, rolling over and on them
+unharmed!"
+
+Very true; but these dogs had become savage again by their wild life;
+and no traveller in his sledge on the steppes of Siberia, or postman
+belated in the Black Forest at New Year, was ever in more danger from
+wolves than were these two lads from the dogs, if the animals chose to
+attack them. Perhaps they had not yet been quite long enough in the
+wilderness to have overcome their once well-learned fear of men, and
+so would hesitate to attack, in open fight, the beings that heretofore
+had been their masters; but this was all the hope the boys could have.
+
+"The dogs!" cried Jim, in a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Yes," said Tug, through his teeth. "Here! give me the lantern, quick:
+we must have a fire."
+
+The tangle of dead roots was quite dry, and kindled easily when the
+lantern-candle was held against it, so that it was scarcely a minute
+before a bright blaze was crackling.
+
+That moment had been enough, however, for the near approach of the
+dogs, as they knew by the increasing loudness of their cries, to
+which Rex bravely responded; and it was not long before they heard
+them crashing through the underbrush, and saw their eyes--fiery pairs
+of dots which reflected the firelight in flashes of green or
+red--though the forms of the savage animals were hidden in the gloom.
+
+Tug had hastily lopped off a young sapling and trimmed it into a long,
+rough club, which he now held in the fire, in hope that the green wood
+would get hardened, or perhaps even ablaze. Jimmy clutched the hatchet
+tightly in his right hand, and his open jackknife in his left, while
+Rex bristled and barked. All the goblin fright had vanished, and the
+boys no longer trembled because sleet and wind made uncanny noises, or
+the firelight seemed to summon eldritch forms from the aisles of
+darkness between the hemlocks.
+
+There seemed to be three of the fierce brutes, and they stopped as
+they came in sight of the fire and the group ready to receive them;
+but after a short pause the largest dog, with a tremendous bark,
+rushed forward, the others following savagely at his heels. Rex was
+crouching and ready, so that before either of the boys could seize his
+collar he had sprung to meet his foes, and had gone down under their
+combined weight.
+
+It was one of the strangest dog-fights known to history, and had the
+strangest end. In his broad collar, his long hair, and his greater
+health the Newfoundland had the advantage; but he was one and his foes
+were three, and they had no chivalrous ideas of fairness or mercy in a
+fight, but were savages, bent not only upon the death of their victim,
+but upon tearing him in pieces and devouring him afterwards.
+
+No sooner did Tug see Rex leap, and perceive the charge upon him, than
+he shouted "Give it to 'em!" and sprang into the snow, punching the
+nearest brute, bayonet fashion, with the hot tip of his sapling spear,
+while Jim got in at least one good blow with his hatchet. It sank
+almost to the haft in the neck of one of the youngest dogs, and he
+dropped dead with scarcely a shudder.
+
+Meeting this unexpected resistance, so determined, fiery (Tug's
+sapling bore a little streamer of flame, like the banner on the head
+of a Cossack's lance), and so fatal to one of their number, the two
+remaining dogs were abashed, and let go of Rex, intending to fight
+with their human assailants. But they had no time to make the change.
+Seeing that he must follow up his advantage, Tug charged again, and
+fairly put the startled brutes to flight by the combined force of his
+yells and his blazing bayonet, backed by Jim and his terrible hatchet.
+
+When the boys saw that the dogs had really run away, they turned to
+look after their own brave ally, but he was nowhere to be seen, though
+the blazing stump lit up the whole scene of the battle.
+
+"Why, where's Rex?" they asked one another, and called and whistled.
+Could he have fled into the forest? Impossible. Hark! was not that a
+faint whine?--and another?
+
+"Do you think he can be dying, and has hid himself in the brush?"
+asked Jim. "They say wounded animals do do that."
+
+"Looks like it," Tug admitted. "Here, _Rex_!"
+
+A more distinct yelp, as though the dog was in pain, came to their
+ears, and they began to search in all the shadowy places.
+
+"Poke up the fire a bit, Jimmy--let's have a little more light."
+
+Jim hastened to follow out this suggestion, and in doing so entered
+the little thicket which I have mentioned between the shoulder of rock
+and the log. Suddenly he pitched almost headlong into a dark hollow.
+He drew back hastily, but as he did so, parting the bushes, he heard
+Rex's yelping come plainly up, as though from beneath the sod.
+
+"Hello! Rex has fallen down a hole," he exclaimed. "Come here, Tug!"
+
+Sure enough, there was the mouth of a pit, how deep they could not
+tell, though they could see the Newfoundland's eyes shining at what
+did not seem so very great a distance.
+
+"Why, Rex, old fellow, are you hurt?" they called out; and the dog
+answered by a short bark, which ended in a pitiful whine of pain.
+
+"Get the lantern, Jim; we must try to see what kind of a place this
+is; and look out where you step. This is a cave country, as I told you
+awhile ago. You may fall through 'most anywhere in this darkness."
+
+The lantern was brought, and tied on the end of a pole, with a
+handkerchief. Rex began to utter a series of peculiarly short, sharp
+barks when he saw the light descending, and they knew he was dancing
+about by the way his eyes moved.
+
+When about twelve feet of the pole had been lowered the lantern
+rested, and they knew the bottom had been reached. By its faint glow
+Rex could be seen standing on his legs, apparently not much hurt.
+
+"There's something else down there that Rex seems to bother himself
+about a good deal," reported Jim, who was lying down and peering over
+the edge. "Move the lantern this way a little. It looks--Oh, Tug, it's
+a man!--it's Aleck, and he's dead!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVIII.
+
+THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINED.
+
+
+How to get down into the pit was now the great question. Guided by the
+light of the fire, steadily eating its way into the butt of the log in
+spite of the storm, they cut down a small tree and lopped off its
+branches in such a way as to make a rude ladder. Though they were in
+so great a hurry, this was slow work with their dull hatchet. Lowering
+it carefully into the pit until its end rested firmly, Jim held the
+top, while Tug went down, took the lantern, and approached the
+motionless form, whose face Rex was licking. The instant the light
+fell upon the face he saw that it was the Captain's.
+
+"It _is_ Aleck!" he called out. "Come down."
+
+"Is he dead?" asked Jim, as he scrambled down the break-neck ladder.
+
+"No," said Tug, who was kneeling by the lad's side. "His face is warm,
+and I can feel his heart beat. He's only stunned. Where's that brandy
+Katy sent?"
+
+"It's in my overcoat pocket up on the ground--I'll get it." And Jim
+scrambled up the hemlock trunk, fearless of a tumble.
+
+"Now pour a few drops between his lips," said Tug, when the boy had
+got back, at the same time lifting Aleck's head upon his knee. "Oh, if
+only we had some water! Get out!"
+
+This last was addressed to Rex, who was in the way; but it also
+answered the boy's prayer, for, in starting back, the dog stepped into
+a pool of water that lay upon the bottom of the cave. So crystal clear
+and quiet was this little pool in the lone and silent chamber of rock,
+that even when they knew it was there, and were dipping the water up
+with their hats, they could not tell by lantern-light where its edge
+was, or how near were their hands to the surface before they felt its
+icy chill against their knuckles.
+
+The dashing of this cold, pure water upon his face, and a few drops of
+the spirits, served to awaken Aleck very speedily, though at first his
+ideas were much confused.
+
+"Where am I?" was his first utterance, as it has been that of
+thousands of others in like case; and several minutes passed before he
+was able to sit up and talk to them.
+
+"I suppose--you fellows--" he began to say, presently, in a stammering
+sort of way, "would like--to know--what I'm doing--down here."
+
+"Well, Captain," said Tug, who would have liked to dance a jig, but
+was afraid to, and could only hug the dog to express his joy--"well,
+Captain, we don't want to be impertinent, Jim and me, nor what you
+might call _inquisitive_, in regard to what ain't none o' our
+business; and we hope we're not intrudin' on you here; but if you are
+willing to explain one or two matters, we'd be glad to listen."
+
+[Illustration: "'IS HE DEAD?' ASKED JIM."]
+
+"Why, I--got so tired--tramping round in the storm--that when I got to
+that brush-heap--and rocks--out there, I thought--I thought--I'd go up
+in the woods--and camp. So I came up along that big log, and stepped
+off--and that's the last I remember. But I know I've a frightful
+headache, and I wish I was home."
+
+Home! Where? In Monore? That roof was sheltering other heads. In
+Cleveland? That seemed farther away than ever. The fisherman's
+cottage? Ah, Katy would make _that_ a home to the wounded lad, if only
+they could get him there!
+
+"Do you think you could walk?" Tug asked, anxiously.
+
+"Yes, if I was out of this, and could get warm."
+
+"Well, there is a fire up there, and this ladder is not long. Drink
+the rest of this brandy: I know you hate it, but it's only a trifle,
+and it will give you strength for your climb; and then you can rest a
+bit, while we get the dog out. Here, Rex!"
+
+To do this, Tug went half-way up the ladder, and Jim handed up their
+shaggy companion, after which Tug lifted him to where he could
+scramble out.
+
+Then Aleck, by slow stages and with much help, reached the top, and
+was wrapped in overcoats, while he sat by the fire until his
+chilliness was gone, and he had eaten some of the food Katy had sent.
+This done, he felt able to begin his journey homeward. Meanwhile, Tug
+went into the pit to bring out Aleck's gun and the lantern. Standing
+on the brink of the black water, he tossed a pebble, but failed to
+strike the opposite wall. Then he hurled another with all his
+strength, and, after a time, heard it splash in the water. How far
+away lay the other end of the cave, or to what depths underneath this
+cavern-lake the cave-floor descended, he never knew. He realized how
+narrow had been the escape of all, and the strange coincidence by
+which they had been led to this spot, and had discovered the hidden
+mouth of the pit; and he thanked God, who had preserved their lives.
+
+The dull gray of the dawn was lighting up the driving rain, the slushy
+snow, and the drenched and dripping trees, when the weary boys,
+supporting their almost worn-out leader, crept down the rough hill,
+and approached the little cottage. Katy had seen them coming, and
+stood waiting in the door, looking herself as though she had not slept
+much that sad night.
+
+"Oh, Aleck!" was all she could say, as she threw her arms around her
+brother's neck, "must you always be the one to get hurt for us?"
+
+"I hope not, sis," he said, with a smile, and sank, exhausted, into a
+bunk.
+
+Then with quiet swiftness the girl heated water, washed the wounds in
+Aleck's head, and hastened to boil the corn-meal mush and the coffee,
+which formed the best breakfast she was able to give. Meanwhile she
+told how she had passed the night, making her story so bright, and
+bustling about so cheerily, that she did more to restore the tired
+boys than, in her absence, all their pulling off of soaked boots and
+stretching upon soft mattresses of springy boughs would have done.
+
+"After waiting a long, long time--it must have been until after
+midnight," Katy began the story of her night, "I had dropped asleep in
+my chair before the fire, when I was waked up by something scratching
+at the door. I knew in a minute it was those dreadful dogs, and I was
+awfully scared."
+
+"After we beat them off they must have come directly here," Tug
+remarked. "Were there more than two?"
+
+"No, but two were quite enough," Katy replied; and then continued her
+narrative:
+
+"I should have liked to have got under the bed, only there wasn't any
+bed, and so I--what do you suppose?--I got the butcher-knife and a big
+stick, and climbed up into the top berth. They growled and grumbled
+around the door, and scratched and butted at it, and every little
+while one or both of them would stand upon their hind-legs and look in
+at the window with their horrible green eyes. Ugh! I don't want to go
+through another such a night!"
+
+"Nor I!" exclaimed all three of her listeners, in chorus, each
+thinking of his own separate experience.
+
+"Passed unanimously!" cried Katy. "Now come to breakfast."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIX.
+
+DECIDING UPON A NEW MOVE.
+
+
+The warm rain continued all that day and the next night, while the
+boys rested, except that Tug went to his set-lines and brought back a
+fine pike of about six pounds' weight, which gave them a good dinner.
+By the next morning the snow had nearly all melted away, and the sun
+shone warm, while great glistening pools of water lay spread out upon
+the ice. It was evident that the long-delayed January thaw had come at
+last.
+
+The disappearance of the snow brought several things to light that
+they had not seen before. Bits of iron and general rubbish appeared
+about the door. A heap of snow which they had thought concealed a
+bowlder, exposed by its melting an old flat-bottomed skiff, turned
+upside down, and under it lay a torn sail, with its mast. Behind the
+house Tug found several articles he thought "might come handy;" among
+the rest a short piece of lead pipe, which he seized upon at once.
+Then, while Aleck and Jimmy walked out to look at the traps, Tug built
+a hot fire, and went to work at making bullets of the lead. He melted
+his old pipe in a piece of tin, which he had hammered into a spoon,
+and dropped the molten metal into cold water. The bullets, or shot,
+were not all of the same size, and were more pear-shaped than round;
+but by whittling and hammering they did very well, and in two hours he
+had a handful.
+
+"Now," said he, with a vengeful tone in his voice, "just let me get a
+shot at those or'nary curs!"
+
+Later, Aleck came back, reporting no birds, but bringing a small
+pickerel.
+
+"But I saw another flock of cross-bills, and I'm going to take my
+'pitchfork' and go after them," Jimmy added, eagerly; and at once went
+out, while Katy put on her hat and started for a short walk.
+
+"Aleck," said Tug, when they were alone, "I have wanted a good chance
+to talk with you about the fix we're in. I feel sure that, snug as we
+are, it's no good to stay here."
+
+"How are we going to get away? Our boat is useless for ice travel, now
+that the sledge is gone, even if we save her in decent condition,
+which we must see about this afternoon."
+
+"I have been looking at that little scow down on the shore. She is big
+enough to carry us in water, and I believe we could put a couple of
+low runners on her bottom, so as to move over an ice-field. Come with
+me and have a look at her."
+
+So the two lads went down to the old boat, and looked her carefully
+over, discussing all the repairs she would need, and how they could be
+made.
+
+"But why don't you think we could stay here longer?" Aleck asked,
+after a time.
+
+"Because," his companion replied, "we have almost no ammunition and
+almost no fishing-tackle. In a week from now we should have to live
+wholly on what we could catch in fishing and by traps, and we get so
+little now that I think it foolish to risk it if we can get a chance
+to escape. I reckon it'll freeze up hard again in a few days, but for
+the last time this winter. Probably the ice'll break up so badly next
+time it thaws that we couldn't sledge on it; and after that, you know,
+come the long, stormy months of spring, when, if we tried sailing, our
+boat wouldn't keep afloat with four people in it during a journey
+across the lake. If we can't get away over the ice before the next
+break-up, I believe we're goners."
+
+"It can't be very far to the mainland; but the weather has always been
+so thick I never could see far southward," Aleck remarked.
+
+"It's clear to-day," said Tug. "Let's go and take a look."
+
+Inspired with hope, the two comrades, forgetful of everything else,
+hastened up the hillside, and soon reached the pinnacle of rocks that
+formed their lookout.
+
+The air was clear, the sky cloudless, and the first glance southward
+showed them, faint upon the low horizon, yet distinct enough to be
+unmistakable, the long, dark line of the mainland. Between them and it
+all lay white, mixed with blue--a plain of ice covered with thin
+patches of rain-water. They could not see more than eight or ten
+miles; but in no direction except on the northern horizon (towards the
+centre of the lake) was there any sign of open water. They hoped, and
+this helped them to believe, that between them and the shore lay an
+unbroken plain of ice.
+
+"If that is so," said Aleck, "and it will only come on cold before it
+snows, we could skate right across."
+
+"Take us a couple of days, you'll find," Tug replied.
+
+"Pshaw! it can't be more than twenty miles."
+
+"Yes, but we're not so strong as we were when we started. We've none
+of us really had a square meal for a fortnight, and some of us have
+been knocked on the head, you know, and that don't help a man any."
+
+"At any rate, it will be best to get ready right away."
+
+"That's my ticket," Tug replied. "By the way, can we see the _Red
+Erik_? Oh, yes, there she is--all right, I reckon."
+
+"Yes, she appears to be."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXX.
+
+KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS.
+
+
+When half-way down the hill on their return they saw Katy, who had
+been at the beach, wave her handkerchief, and turn to come and meet
+them. At the same instant they caught sight of wolfish figures
+stealing along among the rocks and bushes at the base.
+
+"The wild dogs!" both exclaimed, in the same breath, and both felt
+their blood stop flowing for an instant, for in a minute or two more
+Katy would meet the brutes, and she must do so before they could get
+there to help her. They shouted to her, as they hurried at
+neck-breaking speed down the rough ledges; but she did not hear or did
+not understand them, and then they lost sight of both her and the dogs
+behind some bushes. A moment later they saw her again, but with what
+surprise!
+
+The girl stood in the middle of a smooth, grassy plat, facing the
+three dogs, which were gathered in a group, the father of the family
+in front, and only a few feet from her. All were silent, and the big
+one was stretching his neck forward, as if debating whether he dared
+lead his mate and the pup any closer. Katy caught a glimpse of the
+boys, and quickly raised her right hand, as though signing to them not
+to advance; but she never took her eye off the animals, nor ceased to
+speak to them in coaxing tones, while she held out her left hand
+beckoning them to come nearer. Thus far this had had no effect. The
+big leader could not make up his mind to trust her, though as yet he
+showed no disposition to attack.
+
+"What shall we do?" Aleck whispered to Tug, in an agony of suspense.
+"She can't keep that up long. Let us rush in."
+
+"All right," Tug whispered back; "but we must get a stone or a club!
+'Twon't do to go at 'em naked-handed."
+
+Clubs were not handy, but each took heavy stones in both hands, and
+began a stealthy advance. At that same instant they saw the foremost
+dog begin to wag his tail slowly, while, one by one, as it were, the
+hairs upon the back of his neck were lowered. The lads halted, and
+watched the scene with astonishment and anxiety. Katy still spoke
+coaxingly, and at last took a gentle step forward. The dog, though
+suspicious, still wagged his tail. She quietly walked backward three
+or four steps, and sat down upon a bowlder--an act which the lesser
+dogs behind at once imitated. "Good dog! fine fellow! come here; come,
+Tiger," she said, over and over, changing the name every time in
+hopes of hitting some one that might have been this mastiff's before
+he was an outcast. Finally, as she sat there with her eyes steadily on
+his, and beginning to feel very tired, the animal's big square face
+suggested a picture she had seen of a German prince, just then
+beginning to become famous.
+
+"Why, Bismarck!" she called out, in confident tones, "don't you know
+me? and don't you want a bone? Good old Bismarck!"
+
+She knew instantly that she had hit it. The dog dropped his ears and
+hung his head, walked slowly up, and laid his great muzzle, big as a
+tiger's almost, in her lap, while slowly and suspiciously his
+followers came nearer and nearer to her by slow advances.
+
+"Well, I vum!" muttered Tug, in utter amazement, while Aleck was too
+astounded to say even that much. "I'm 'fraid we shall spoil that very
+pretty tea-party unless we sneak home another way; and I 'low two or
+three bullets in the gun would do no harm."
+
+But their first movement was heard. The mastiff lifted his head,
+erected his mane, and with a hoarse growl sprang towards the lads.
+Katy was terribly frightened, but kept her presence of mind.
+
+"Bismarck!" she commanded sternly, "keep quiet! come back here, sir!"
+and the great dog, growling and showing his teeth, stopped his
+course, and slowly returned to his mistress.
+
+"Boys," the girl called out, when she saw this, "go right along, and
+pay no attention to the dogs. When I see you safely near the house
+I'll come. Don't be alarmed for me."
+
+"Come on, Tug," said Aleck; "the sister knows best."
+
+Just before they reached the door they turned and saw her walking
+slowly towards them, the huge, lean father-mastiff close by her side,
+quiet and submissive, and the mother of the wild crew following tamely
+in his footsteps; while the whelp, that had never known, as the older
+dogs had, what it was to have a human master, straggled along behind,
+apparently in great doubt whether his respected parents had not lost
+their senses.
+
+Tug hastily entered the house, and quickly appeared at the window with
+his gun at his shoulder, ready to shoot if the mastiff showed any
+signs of treachery; but he did nothing of the sort. Forty yards or so
+from the house, however, he declined to go any farther, and Katy,
+without once looking round, walked steadily on to the door, where her
+brother caught her in his arms, almost at the point of fainting, for
+the strain upon her nerves had nearly exhausted her strength.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXI.
+
+ABANDONING THE ISLAND.
+
+
+After luncheon the three boys went over to inspect their old boat, and
+came back towards evening, bringing the oars, some straps of iron that
+had guarded her keel, the drag-ropes, and one or two other things.
+They had succeeded in pulling the boat ashore, but she had been too
+badly damaged to be of any further use to them.
+
+Three days were now occupied busily in shooting, fishing, and putting
+runners on the scow. These runners were simply strips of board (which
+they had taken from the house) about four inches wide and fourteen
+feet long--the length of the boat's bottom. With the iron from the
+sled runners and from their own boat they shod these boat runners
+rudely, and strengthened the frame.
+
+During this time the dogs had been almost always within sight, and
+their near approach during the night would frequently awaken the
+sleepers in the cabin, Rex quickest, of course. Katy was sure that if
+the animals could have been fed they would speedily have become
+docile; and when Tug proposed to shoot them for food, everybody
+resisted, at least, until they should be in a worse strait than now.
+Nevertheless it was probably fortunate for the mastiff family that it
+kept out of gun-range.
+
+The next and last day of their stay on the island was very cold, and a
+heavy wind brought hosts of birds, so that they captured twenty
+snow-flakes, and shot over thirty cross-bills, red-polls, and other
+small fry, which were placed on the roof as fast as obtained, where
+they froze solid, and thus kept fresh. This made Katy the most happy
+of all, for she alone knew that everything was gone except about two
+messes of coffee and one potful of corn-meal mush.
+
+"Now, if only we could catch a big fish, we should be fixed grandly,"
+said Jim, as he went out to look at and bring home the lines. When he
+came back, however, he wore the long face and empty hands of
+disappointment, but left one line in hope of taking something during
+the night.
+
+At sunset the gale went down, the stars glistened like gems, and the
+frost showed no signs of ceasing. By the light of a great fire of
+drift-wood on the beach the little scow was partly loaded, and then
+all hands went for the last time to their mattresses of hemlock
+boughs. What was ahead they had little notion, but they were now used
+to peril, and eager to begin their journey, not only because each one
+felt that he could scarcely be worse off, but from the excitement of
+commencing new adventures.
+
+[Illustration: REPAIRING THE OLD SCOW.]
+
+The morning of departure dawned clear and cold, continuing the
+promises of good weather.
+
+Jim's early visit to his set-line next morning yielded him one small
+pickerel, while the traps gave a solitary snow-bird. These, with some
+other feathered mites, Katy cooked, while Aleck and Tug finished the
+packing. It was not a bad breakfast, you may think, for shipwrecked
+persons, but try it once for yourself--fish fried in bacon grease,
+some fragments of stewed snow-bird, and weak coffee. No bread, no
+butter, no potatoes, no green relish, no hot cakes, no anything except
+pickerel and weak coffee. But they thought it the best meal they had
+had on the island; and after a hasty washing and stowing of dishes
+they buckled on their skates, took their familiar places at the
+drag-ropes, and with a cheer started southward, steering by the
+compass.
+
+Their old enemies came dashing down the hillside as the expedition
+took up its march, and stood upon the beach, seeming greatly
+astonished at the departure of the people at the cottage. Rex barked
+an angry farewell, which caused them to race out upon the ice as
+though to punish him for his impertinence; but they stopped short of
+bullet-range, greatly to Tug's disgust, and presently turned and
+trotted back to resume their wild career. When last seen they were
+prowling about the deserted house, trying to push their way into the
+door, or to break through the glass of the little window. I have no
+doubt they succeeded; and I hope that they managed to exist until the
+fishermen came the next summer and took them off, for, after all,
+these dogs knew no different way of acting, and therefore could not be
+blamed for their savagery, even though it was needful that our heroes
+should guard against it.
+
+The ice was in good condition, and the skaters made fair progress, so
+that by noon the dusky line of the mainland was plainly visible ahead.
+
+At last Jim called out that he couldn't skate another stroke, and
+threw himself down, utterly "done for." Aleck ordered a halt at once,
+and began to build a small fire--for fuel had not been forgotten.
+Nobody understood how fatigued they had become by the unwonted
+exercise in their weak condition, until they found that an hour's halt
+seemed of little account, and decided to make it two. After that they
+went on slowly and lamely until near sundown, by which time the island
+had almost disappeared, and the mainland was growing distinct. Then
+they camped, stewing snow-birds for supper, and making a big corn-meal
+cake, which they baked in the skillet. Immediately afterwards beds
+were made up on the cargo, underneath the canvas, and each one slept
+as well as he could.
+
+The next day several hummocks stood in the way, and just about noon
+they came to a channel of open water about a mile wide. It was not
+rough, and they slid their boat over the edge of the ice into the
+water without any difficulty.
+
+"If we had only known enough to have made us a good boat of this shape
+before starting, we should have got along much better," Aleck told
+them, and they all agreed with him, talking it over while they picked
+a few lean, and very cool bird-bones for luncheon before beginning the
+ferriage.
+
+The load sank the weak scow so deeply that the water ran into cracks
+in her side, despite their calking; and as they were afraid to embark
+the whole expedition, two trips were made. This was slow and freezing
+work; and when finally all had got across, and had skated on about a
+mile, everybody was so cold and tired and sore that a camp was made
+under the shelter of a tall hummock. Aleck comforted the pride of the
+younger ones, who worried over their exhaustion, by telling them it
+was because they were so nearly starved; but this was poor
+consolation, they thought, so long as there seemed no chance for any
+increase in their supplies, or means of regaining their strength.
+
+"Now," he remarked, "see what we have for supper to-night--two
+snow-birds and a small piece of corn-bread apiece. That would not make
+a full meal for one of us. If any accident prevents our getting ashore
+to-morrow I don't know what we shall do, for we have only enough food
+for breakfast, and a 'powerful weak' one at that!"
+
+"That's hardest on me," said Tug, "for breakfast is my strong point.
+If I can have only one meal a day, I want to take it in the morning."
+
+"That'll be your fix to-morrow, I guess," was the gloomy rejoinder.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day's run was a slow one, for the ice was bad in many
+places, and several hummocks had to be explored to find passable
+crossing-places. They could sight islands off at their left, but the
+nearest was several miles away; and though they knew they belonged to
+the Put-in-Bay group, they did not think it would pay to swerve from
+their course so long as the ice permitted them to advance towards the
+mainland. So they kept on, and the shore came nearer and nearer, until
+they could see that they were entering a great "bight," and that one
+mass of land, three or four miles towards the left, which they had
+taken for an island, was really a headland; so they shaped their
+course for it.
+
+Near the beach stood a little house surrounded by small fields and
+hemmed in by the leafless woods. Towards this cottage they made their
+way, and its owner evidently saw them coming, for a grizzled old man,
+helping himself with a cane, hobbled down to meet them as they
+approached the beach.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXII.
+
+AN ASTONISHED FARMER.
+
+
+"Wall, I swanny!" was the farmer's exclamation, as he stared at the
+strange-looking outfit invading his shores. "Who be ye? and where did
+ye come from?"
+
+They began to tell him, and at every sentence his "Wall, I swanny!"
+was thrown in, to show the astonishment with which he listened. At
+last he seemed to recollect himself.
+
+"Ye mus' be drea'ful tired--nigh about beat out--and cold, too. Come
+into the haouse and git suthin' to eat. There ain't nobody to hum, but
+I guess I can find ye suthin'."
+
+_Something!_ Why, my dear reader, they found, in the buttery and
+milk-room and cellar of that little house on the shore, a dinner the
+like of which, for goodness, they believed never was equalled. They
+ate and ate, laughing and almost crying by turns over their good
+fortune, the happiness of feeling safe and warm again taking off their
+hearts a load, whose weight they had not appreciated until it was
+removed. Meanwhile the old gentleman gossiped on in a pleasant
+strain.
+
+"My wife," he told them, "has gone down to the Port to see da'ter an'
+her husband, for a day or two. My son, he runs on the Lake Shore
+Railroad in the winter, and so I'm alone. They wanted me to go down to
+the Port, too, but I don't think any great things of the feller
+Samanthy married, and I told mother I 'lowed I'd be more comf'able
+stayin' home 'long with the cow and the chickens."
+
+"What is this Port you speak of, sir?" Aleck asked him.
+
+"What? Why, Port Linton, to be sure--don't ye know where that is? Oh,
+I forgot, ye're lost, ain't ye. He! he! Wall, Port Linton is a town on
+the railroad, and also on the shore, to the west'ard o' here, or,
+leastways, to the suthard, 'cause we're out on a pint here, and the
+Port is up at the head of the bay, behind the big ma'sh. Ye could see
+it if 'twan't for them big sycamores. 'S about five mile 'cross the
+water."
+
+"Can you let us stay with you to-night, and to-morrow we'll go on to
+the Port?"
+
+"Oh, yes, ye can stay, an' welcome. If mother was home I'd hitch up
+and take ye in, but I ain't got no horse to-day, so I s'pose that's
+the best thing ye can do. But you'll have to double up some, 'cause I
+ain't got four beds."
+
+Their rich supper and deep sleep and full breakfast made a new crew
+of them, and next morning they were eager to get on. It seemed as
+though ages had passed since they had been in civilization, and Tug
+began to wonder whether he would recognize a railway car when he saw
+it. When they were ready to go, Aleck heartily thanked the kind old
+farmer for his hospitality, and asked how much he should pay him for
+their entertainment.
+
+[Illustration: "'WA'AL, I DECLARE!'"]
+
+"Oh, I don't want nothin'--nothin' at all," he said. "You're what they
+might call mariners in distress, and I just helped you as well as I
+could. I ain't done nothin', an' I don't want no money."
+
+"Oh, but we have eaten so much, and made you so much trouble. I shall
+not feel right unless you let us pay you."
+
+"Wall, if you're so earnest about it, I 'low a dollar would be about
+right. I reckon ye didn't hurt me mor'n about that's worth."
+
+Surely this was small enough, but the farmer was entirely satisfied,
+and said he was sorry to say good-bye.
+
+They had swung along over the ice in good style after leaving the
+farmer's cottage, and the buildings and ice-bound shipping of the
+village, which in summer was a busy port, but in winter was sleepy
+enough, were now in plain view.
+
+There was to be the end of their troubles so far as the present
+scrape was concerned, but they were not a great deal nearer Cleveland
+than when they started; and their minds, relieved of present
+anxieties, began to be crowded with thoughts of the future, and how
+they were going to accomplish their purpose any better now than before
+they had started.
+
+They were to be aided, in this respect, in a way they had not
+suspected, however, and the help was now approaching in the shape of a
+skater who came on towards them with swift, strong strides.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXIII.
+
+THE "TIMES" CORRESPONDENT.
+
+
+As this skater approached, they could see that he was a tall young
+man, wearing cap and gloves of sealskin, and a fur-trimmed overcoat.
+He had skates of the newest patent, and, altogether, seemed to be what
+Tug pronounced him under his breath, "a swell."
+
+He slackened his pace as he came up, and then, seeing the boat they
+were dragging, and the queer appearance of the whole outfit, stopped
+short, raising his hat to Katy.
+
+"What kind of an expedition is this, pray tell?" he said pleasantly,
+but with his face full of curiosity.
+
+"I'm 'fraid we ain't any too scrumptious," Tug replied, off-hand, "but
+you could hardly expect it, I s'pose, seein' we've been a month or
+more on the ice."
+
+"A month on the ice! How? Where?"
+
+So they told him, each one talking a little, but making a short story
+of it. He did not interrupt by any "I swannys!" as the old farmer had,
+but kept his eyes--Katy thought they were the sharpest eyes she had
+ever seen--upon each speaker's face, as if committing every word to
+memory.
+
+"That's a mighty good story," he said. "What are you going to do now?"
+
+"We shall go on to my uncle's in Cleveland right away, that is, if we
+have money enough to take us there."
+
+"I suppose you wouldn't object to earning a little more money, then?"
+the stranger remarked, interrogatively.
+
+"Nothing would suit Tug and me better," Aleck rejoined. "Do you know
+how we can do it? My name is Aleck Kincaid, and this promising youth
+here is Thucydides, otherwise 'Tug,' Montgomery. This is my sister
+Katy, and the youngster is my brother Jim."
+
+"I am Harry Porter," the young man announced, shaking hands with them
+all, "and I am glad to get acquainted with you. Now, sit down a
+minute, and I'll make you a proposition. I live in New York city, and
+am on the staff of _The Times_, but am out here for a few days on a
+visit to my father. Your adventures would make a capital story--what
+we call a 'sensation'--in that newspaper. Do you think you could write
+it out in good shape?"
+
+"I'm afraid not, sir," Aleck said. "I've never felt that I had any
+faculty in that direction--but I could make you an automatic brass
+valve if you wanted it!"
+
+"Could you? That's more than I could do. Well, now, you see, you have
+the facts, but you must make use of my training to put them into
+readable shape, so that the story will be worth money to some
+newspaper. I can see how two or three very good articles, indeed, can
+be made, and what I propose is this: you come to a boarding-house,
+kept by a friend of mine, in Port Linton, and stay there as long as is
+necessary to tell me everything. Then I can write it all into a
+connected story, and we'll divide the profits."
+
+"But supposing _The Times_ shouldn't want to print it?"
+
+"I'll take care of that," Mr. Porter replied.
+
+"But we would have to wait a good while to get the money back,
+wouldn't we?" Aleck asked. "And we want it now worse than we ever
+shall again, probably."
+
+"Ye--es, that's a difficulty," Mr. Porter admitted, slowly. Then he
+thought over it a minute or two in silence. "I'll tell you what I'll
+do," he said at last, "and I think I shall be safe. I estimate that
+you can give me facts enough for ten or twelve columns--say ten; and
+that for this 'special and exclusive' they will pay me twenty dollars,
+or more, a column. So if you are willing to take one hundred dollars
+for your information, I'll run the risk of getting that back and
+another hundred on top of it for the labor of writing."
+
+"I am sure that we shall be very glad to do it if you think you are
+not cheating yourself."
+
+"That's _my_ lookout," said the newspaper man. "And, now, Miss
+Kincaid, if you will take a seat in the boat, I think we should all
+regard it as a pleasure to draw you the rest of the way, for I mean
+to bear a hand at dragging."
+
+Katy demurred, but all the boys insisted, so she unstrapped her
+skates, nestled warmly into the boat, where Mr. Porter folded his
+fur-trimmed coat about her, saying he should be too warm with skating
+to wear it, and they set off gayly.
+
+The plan thus made upon the ice was fully carried out, beginning that
+very evening, which was Friday; and on Tuesday morning Mr. Porter gave
+Tug twenty-five dollars and Aleck seventy-five--the latter "for the
+family," as he said. Besides this, they sold their scow for fifteen
+dollars, feeling that they had a right to do so, since, if the
+fishermen who had left it on the island (the name and position of
+which they learned) should ever return for it, they would find left in
+its place the _Red Erik_.
+
+The goods that they cared to keep were packed and sent on to Cleveland
+by freight. At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, therefore, the four
+adventurers--yes, _five_, for Rex was not forgotten--feeling
+themselves already famous in New York, and hence around the whole
+world, took the train for Cleveland, and reached their uncle's house
+in time for his one-o'clock dinner. All were heartily welcomed, and
+told their adventures again and again--in fact, until they became so
+thoroughly tired of being "trotted out" that Tug one day declared that
+he almost wished he had never left the island.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXIV.
+
+A HAPPY CONCLUSION.
+
+
+All the members of our party, to whose courage and independence of
+mind my story has borne witness, immediately and anxiously exerted
+themselves to relieve their hospitable relative of the burden of their
+support, and it was not long before they succeeded.
+
+Aleck and Tug found profitable work to do. Katy was eager to resume
+her studies, and therefore gladly accepted an invitation to stay with
+her aunt and help her in her sewing before and after school-hours. Jim
+roomed with his brother, and went to school also, acting morning and
+evening as an office-boy for a lawyer to whom Mr. Porter had given him
+a letter of introduction.
+
+To prepare themselves for these different stations used up their stock
+of money, but by close economy they came through without any
+debt--yes, even with some money left--just nineteen cents among them
+all! To this Tug's pocket contributed nothing, but he was happy.
+"There's one great comfort in being 'dead broke,'" he told them. "You
+know precisely where you are, and that matters can get no worse. You
+are ready to begin all new again."
+
+This sense of beginning anew was a tonic that strengthened the hearts
+of all of them; for each one knew that, although he had no money, his
+feet were planted firmly on the first round of the ladder which, if
+steadily climbed, might lead to prosperity.
+
+With this satisfactory state of things the story might end, but twenty
+years and more have passed since that hard winter which made their
+journey to the island and escape from it possible; twenty years, in
+which no such hard winter has been seen again. Aleck is manager and
+part owner of a manufactory of gas-fixtures and brass fittings in
+Pittsburgh, and Jim is his cashier. Tug lives in Cleveland, where he
+is busy, as an inventor, and expects some day to be made rich by his
+improvements in railway-brakes and in oil-pumping machinery; but
+nobody addresses him as "Tug" except his wife (whom _he_ calls Katy)
+and his little boy, who never tires of hearing how papa and mamma and
+Uncle Aleck went adrift on an ice-floe in Lake Erie.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+Archaic syntax and inconsistent spelling were retained.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ICE QUEEN***
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Ice Queen, by Ernest Ingersoll</title>
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+<body>
+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Ice Queen, by Ernest Ingersoll</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: The Ice Queen</p>
+<p>Author: Ernest Ingersoll</p>
+<p>Release Date: March 20, 2012  [eBook #39210]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ICE QUEEN***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton,<br />
+    and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="main">
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="542" alt="" />
+</div>
+
+<p class="caption">THE ICE QUEEN<br />
+By ERNEST INGERSOLL</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i001"></a>
+<img src="images/illus002.jpg" width="600" height="489" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;JIM GOT IN AT LEAST ONE GOOD BLOW.&quot;&mdash;[See page
+<a href="#Page_218">218</a>.]</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<h1 class="booktitle">THE ICE QUEEN</h1>
+
+<p class="h3">B<span class="smcap">y</span> ERNEST INGERSOLL</p>
+
+<p class="h5">AUTHOR OF<br />
+"FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING," "KNOCKING ROUND THE ROCKIES," ETC.</p>
+
+<p class="spacer">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="h4"><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></p>
+
+<p class="spacer">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="h4">NEW YORK<br />
+HARPER &amp; BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE</p>
+
+<p class="spacer">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="h5">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by<br />
+<span class="larger">HARPER &amp; BROTHERS,</span><br />
+In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.</p>
+
+<hr class="thin" />
+
+<p class="h6"><i>All rights reserved.</i></p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr">CHAP.</td>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdrfirst">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_I">I</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Thrown upon their Own Resources</td>
+  <td class="tdr">9</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_II">II</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"The Youngster's" Plan</td>
+  <td class="tdr">15</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_III">III</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Fitting out the "Red Erik"</td>
+  <td class="tdr">22</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_IV">IV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Making a Start</td>
+  <td class="tdr">30</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_V">V</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Comfort in a Log Cabin</td>
+  <td class="tdr">36</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VI">VI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Norse Tales</td>
+  <td class="tdr">47</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VII">VII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The First Day on the Lake</td>
+  <td class="tdr">57</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_VIII">VIII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Jim's Rebellion</td>
+  <td class="tdr">66</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_IX">IX</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Skating by Compass</td>
+  <td class="tdr">79</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_X">X</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">An Ugly Ferriage</td>
+  <td class="tdr">89</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XI">XI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Camping against an Ice Wall</td>
+  <td class="tdr">94</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XII">XII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Snowed Under</td>
+  <td class="tdr">102</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIII">XIII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Saved from Starvation</td>
+  <td class="tdr">108</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIV">XIV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Arctic Visitors</td>
+  <td class="tdr">117</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XV">XV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Christmas Bird-catching</td>
+  <td class="tdr">122</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVI">XVI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">How Tug Made "Twitch-ups"</td>
+  <td class="tdr">130</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVII">XVII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Breaking up of the Ice</td>
+  <td class="tdr">138</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XVIII">XVIII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Rescuing the Wanderers</td>
+  <td class="tdr">145</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XIX">XIX</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Adrift on an Ice Raft</td>
+  <td class="tdr">155</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XX">XX</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">A Night in an Open Boat</td>
+  <td class="tdr">167</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXI">XXI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Escape to the Shore</td>
+  <td class="tdr">176</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXII">XXII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Rex Fights Unknown Enemies</td>
+  <td class="tdr">179</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXIII">XXIII</a>.
+      <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Exploring The Island</td>
+  <td class="tdr">182</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXIV">XXIV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Wild Dogs again</td>
+  <td class="tdr">193</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXV">XXV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Perils of a Midnight Search</td>
+  <td class="tdr">202</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXVI">XXVI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Finding Snow-birds and Losing the Captain</td>
+  <td class="tdr">205</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXVII">XXVII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Another Encounter with the Wild Dogs</td>
+  <td class="tdr">214</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXVIII">XXVIII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Accident Explained</td>
+  <td class="tdr">221</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXIX">XXIX</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Deciding upon a New Move</td>
+  <td class="tdr">229</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXX">XXX</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Katy Tames the Wild Dogs</td>
+  <td class="tdr">233</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXXI">XXXI</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Abandoning the Island</td>
+  <td class="tdr">237</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXXII">XXXII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">An Astonished Farmer</td>
+  <td class="tdr">245</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXXIII">XXXIII</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The "Times" Correspondent</td>
+  <td class="tdr">251</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#Chapter_XXXIV">XXXIV</a>.</td>
+  <td class="tdlsc">A Happy Conclusion</td>
+  <td class="tdr">255</td>
+</tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Illustrations">
+<tr>
+  <td>&nbsp;</td>
+  <td class="tdrfirst">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"Jim Got in at least One Good Blow"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i001"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Discussing the Plan</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i002">19</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"A Moment Later They were Off"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i003">33</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Supper in the Log Cabin</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i004">41</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"Lay on!"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i005">51</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Crossing the Hummock</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i006">67</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Jim and Katy Bringing the Rushes to Camp</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i007">75</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"The Little Fire was soon Blazing Merrily"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i008">85</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Camping against an Ice Wall</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i009">97</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"A Sharp Report was Heard"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i010">115</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Katy Trapping the Snow-buntings</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i011">127</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Setting the New Traps</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i012">131</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"Rex Struck out and Swam across"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i013">151</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"They were Able to Drag his Lifeless Form out upon the Ice"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i014">157</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"Try to Steady Her"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i015">169</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">The Cabin on the Island</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i016">187</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Attacked by the Dogs</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i017">199</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"Don't Cry, Katy!"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i018">209</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"'Is he Dead?' asked Jim"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i019">223</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">Repairing the Old Scow</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i020">239</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td class="tdlsc">"'Wa'al, I Declare!'"</td>
+  <td class="tdr"><a href="#i021">247</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="h2">THE ICE QUEEN.</p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_I">Chapter I.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THROWN UPON THEIR OWN RESOURCES.</p>
+
+<p>The early dusk of a December day was fast changing into darkness as
+three of the young people with whose adventures this story is
+concerned trudged briskly homeward.</p>
+
+<p>The day was a bright one, and Aleck, the oldest, who was a skilled
+workman in the brass foundry, although scarcely eighteen years of age,
+had given himself a half-holiday in order to take Kate and The
+Youngster on a long skating expedition down to the lighthouse. Kate
+was his sister, two years younger than he, and The Youngster was a
+brother whose twelfth birthday this was.</p>
+
+<p>The little fellow never had had so much fun in one afternoon, he
+thought, and maintained stoutly that he scarcely felt tired at all.
+The ice had been in splendid condition, the day calm, but cloudy, so
+that their eyes had not ached,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> and they had been able to go far out
+upon the solidly frozen surface of the lake.</p>
+
+<p>"How far do you think we have skated to-day, Aleck?" asked The
+Youngster.</p>
+
+<p>"It's four miles from the lower bridge to the lighthouse," spoke up
+Kate, before Aleck could reply, "and four back. That makes eight
+miles, to begin with."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Aleck, "and on top of that you must put&mdash;let me see&mdash;I
+should think, counting all our twists and turns, fully ten miles more.
+We were almost abreast of Stony Point when we were farthest out, and
+they say that's five miles long."</p>
+
+<p>"Altogether, then, we skated about eighteen miles."</p>
+
+<p>"Right, my boy; your arithmetic is your strong point."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, <i>I</i> should say his feet were his strong point to-day," Kate
+exclaimed, in admiration of her brother's hardihood.</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't a bad day's work for a <i>girl</i> I know of, either," remarked
+Aleck, as he took the key from his pocket and opened the door of their
+house, which was soon bright with lamplight and a crackling fire of
+oak and hickory.</p>
+
+<p>The house these three dwelt in was a small cottage in an obscure
+street of the village, but it was warm and tight. Kate was
+housekeeper, and The Youngster&mdash;whose real name was James, contracted
+first into Jim, and then into<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> Jimkin&mdash;was man-of-all-work, and
+maid-of-all-work too, sometimes, when Kate needed his help.</p>
+
+<p>While these two are getting tea, and Aleck is carefully wiping the
+skates and putting them away where no rust can have a chance at the
+blades, or mice gnaw the straps, let me tell you a few things about
+the family.</p>
+
+<p>Jim could remember his father only vaguely, but Kate and Aleck could
+tell us all about him. His name was Kincaid, and he was a
+master-builder of houses. He had bought and fitted up the cottage, and
+had put savings in the bank, though Mrs. Kincaid was sick much of the
+time, so that money was spent that would have been laid by "for a
+rainy day" if she had been strong and well.</p>
+
+<p>Unfortunately, the rain came sooner than any one thought for. One day,
+about five years before the beginning of our little history, papa was
+brought home hurt by falling from a scaffold at the top of a house. He
+was not dead, and all thought he would be well again in a few weeks at
+most; but instead he grew slowly worse, and after a time died.</p>
+
+<p>Then the poor mother, always weak, did the best she could, and Kate
+tried to help her, while Aleck stopped his school-going, and went to
+work in the brass foundry. At first, though, he could earn but a
+little, and Mr. Kincaid's savings slowly melted away until almost
+nothing was left. Then the tired and desolate mother, never strong,
+bade her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> children that long farewell that seems so terribly hopeless
+to all of us when we are young, and the three "mitherless bairns" were
+thrown upon their own resources.</p>
+
+<p>The question arose as to what they should do. Jim was now eight years
+old, and going to school. Kate had not neglected to do some studying,
+and a great deal of reading, too, though she had always been so busy;
+and a few weeks before her mother's death she had begun to study
+regularly with a lady who lived near, whom Katy repaid by picking
+various small fruits as they matured in the lady's large garden.
+Aleck, as I have said, was working steadily, and getting enough wages
+to keep them all in fair comfort, since they owned the house and
+enough garden to give them plenty of vegetables. So, after talking the
+prospect over, they decided to stay in their little house and live
+together. A letter was written to Uncle Andrew, in Cleveland, who had
+offered Kate and Jimmy a home, telling him they would try it alone a
+while before burdening any of their friends.</p>
+
+<p>This decision had been made almost four years before my story opens,
+and it had not been regretted. They had even saved some money, but the
+larger part of this had been spent in repairing the house, and in
+fitting up a new boat for Jim and one of his friends, who thought they
+knew a way to make a little money in the summer vacation if they had a
+good boat. This boat had been completed only in
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> time to prove how
+good it was, before the winter had closed the river with ice at an
+unusually early date, and now the pretty craft was safely stored in a
+warehouse at the schooner-landing, a mile below the town.</p>
+
+<p>All slept very soundly after their skating holiday&mdash;even Rex, the
+great Newfoundland dog, who was a member of the family by no means to
+be overlooked; but their ears were not stopped so tight that the
+clangor of the church bells about midnight failed to arouse them with
+its dreadful alarm of fire. Hastening to an upper window, one glance
+at the blaze-reddened heavens showed our friends that the group of
+factories in the southern part of the town was burning, and one of
+these was the brass foundry where Aleck worked.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck hurried away, and they did not see him until after sunrise, when
+he came home tired, wet, and soot-blackened. The whole shop had burned
+to the ground, he reported, and it was only by great risk and exertion
+that he had been able to rescue his father's precious chest of tools.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't think," said the young man, as he sat wearily down to Katy's
+hot coffee, "that my job would be so short when McAbee told me
+yesterday I could work there 'as long as the foundry lasted.'"</p>
+
+<p>During that day and the next Aleck tried every possible chance of
+employment in the village, but found nothing;
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> and by the time evening
+came he had made up his mind that no regular employment equal to his
+old place was to be had there for months to come.</p>
+
+<p>There was no doubt about it. The time had arrived when they must avail
+themselves of Uncle Andrew's kindness, and seek in his hospitable
+house at least a temporary home.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_II">Chapter II.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">"THE YOUNGSTER'S" PLAN.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," said Aleck, "though I've about seventy-five dollars ahead,
+yet when we have bought what we shall need, there will not be more
+than forty dollars left. Now, if we go to Cleveland in the cars and
+take our things with us, it'll cost us twenty-five dollars or more,
+and leave us almost nothing to get started with there."</p>
+
+<p>"S'posin'," said Jimkin the Wise, "s'posin' we don't go in the cars.
+Cleveland's on the lake, and the lake's all ice; let's skate down to
+uncle's!"</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" grunted Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>"Pshaw!" said Kate.</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't we skate eighteen miles yesterday, and couldn't we have gone
+farther?" persisted Jim, unabashed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's more than a hundred miles to Cleveland. Think you could do that
+in one day? Besides, how would you know the way?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't say I could do it in one day. But couldn't we go ashore and
+stop at night? That's the way the Hall boys did, who skated up to
+Detroit last winter."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I read in the newspaper yesterday," said Kate, "that the lake was
+frozen uncommonly hard, and was solid ice all the way along the shore
+as far as the headlands of Ashtabula."</p>
+
+<p>"If we could be sure of that," Aleck admitted, "there might be some
+use in trying; but one can't be sure. Besides, how could we take along
+our baggage?"</p>
+
+<p>"Pull it on a sled," said Kate, "the way they do in the arctic
+regions. Men up there just live on the ice, sleep at night and cook
+their food and travel all day, and they don't have skates either.
+Gracious! Who can that be?"</p>
+
+<p>No wonder Katy was astonished, for there came echoing through the
+house a noise as if somebody was pounding the wall down with a stone
+maul. Aleck hastened to put a stop to it by opening the door.</p>
+
+<p>He was greeted by the grinning face of a round-headed, chunky lad
+nearly his own age, named Thucydides Montgomery; but as this was too
+long a name for the Western people, it had been cut down very early in
+life to "Tug," which everybody saw at once was the right word, on
+account of the lad's strength and toughness. The mammas of the village
+thought him a bad boy, getting their information from the small boys
+of the public school, whom, in his great fondness for joking, he would
+sometimes frighten and tease.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck knew him better, and knew how brave and goodhearted
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> he was. Jim
+had good cause to be fond of him, for, in behalf of The Youngster,
+during his first week at school, Tug had soundly thrashed a bullying
+tyrant; while Kate gratefully remembered various heavy market-baskets
+he had carried for her, since he lived near by. A closer tie between
+our little family and their visitor, however, was the fact that, like
+them, he was an orphan, and, like them, had relatives in Cleveland,
+whom he had often thought he should like to be with better than
+staying with his aunt here in Monore.</p>
+
+<p>When Tug had joined the circle gathered before the big fireplace, and
+had begun to talk about the brass-works, he was promptly hushed by
+Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>"Put that up now, and attend to me. This urchin here, who has become
+very cheeky since he began to go to school&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"And came under my care," Tug interrupted, loftily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, no doubt. Well, The Youngster finds we all want to go to
+Cleveland, but can't afford the railway fare, and so he coolly
+proposes that we skate there."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why don't you do it? I'll go with you," said Tug, quietly.</p>
+
+<p>Jim shouted with triumph. Kate laughed, and clapped her hands at the
+fun of beating her big brother, and Aleck looked as though he thought
+he was being quizzed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean it?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I do. I want to go down as badly as you do. I haven't any
+stamps, and the walking, I'm told, isn't good. I prefer to skate."</p>
+
+<p>"Katy says we might drag our luggage on sleds, as they do in the
+arctic regions; but supposing the ice should break up, or we should
+come to a big crack?"</p>
+
+<p>"I have read," Kate remarks again, "that they carry boats on their
+sledges, and pack their goods in the boats, so that they will float if
+the ice gives way."</p>
+
+<p>"Take my boat!" screamed Jim, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"That would call for a big sled."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, didn't you two fellows build a pair of bobs last winter big
+enough to carry that boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Doubtful," answered Aleck. But when they brought out the plan of the
+boat, and then measured the bobs, which were stored in the woodshed,
+they found them plenty wide, and Tug was sure they were sufficiently
+strong.</p>
+
+<p>Kate looked at them rather dubiously, and said she had never read of
+arctic boats mounted on heavy bobs, but that they always seemed in the
+pictures to have long, light runners under them; but Jim reminded her
+curtly that "girls didn't know everything," so she kept still, and the
+planning and talking went on.</p>
+
+<p>Young people who are under no necessity to ask permis<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>sion of older
+persons, and, besides, are pushed by circumstances, decide quickly on
+a plan which looks forward to adventure. Generally, I fear, they come
+to grief, and learn some good lessons rather expensively; but
+sometimes their energy and fearlessness carry them safely through what
+the caution of old age would have stopped short of trying to perform.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i002"></a>
+<img src="images/illus019.jpg" width="500" height="502" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">DISCUSSING THE PLAN.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>They sat up pretty late discussing the plan, but before Tug went to
+what he said he "s'posed he must call home," they had determined to
+try it if the weather held firm.</p>
+
+<p>This was on Friday. They hoped to get away early in the coming week.
+Then all three went to bed, Jim jubilant, and looking forward to a
+long frolic; Kate half doubtful whether it was best, but hopeful;
+Aleck sure that, for himself, he didn't care, hating to put his sister
+and brother to any risk, yet seeing no better way of resisting
+poverty; Tug resolute, and bound to stand by his friends, whatever
+happened. So they slept, and bright and early next morning the quiet
+preparations began, Tug declining to answer any questions as to how he
+arranged the matter of his going with his aunt.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_III">Chapter III.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">FITTING OUT THE "RED ERIK."</p>
+
+<p>The first thing was to settle upon their preparations.</p>
+
+<p>"What will you want to take, Tug?"</p>
+
+<p>"Precious little, I guess. Besides my clothing, which won't make much
+of a bundle, I don't own much except my shot-gun, and my weasel-trap,
+and my odds-and-ends chest, and some hooks and lines. I'm going to
+sell all the rest of my duds."</p>
+
+<p>"Who'll buy 'em?" asked Jim, doubtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Never you mind who, infant. 'This stock must be closed out below
+cost,' as the old-clo' men say. I can put all my baggage in a
+nail-keg."</p>
+
+<p>"Then that's fixed," Aleck remarked. "Now for <i>you</i>, Katy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think the little trunk that was mamma's, and my handbag for brush
+and comb and such things, will hold all that belongs to me&mdash;that is,
+of my own <i>own</i>," she replied, laughing. "Of course, the cooking
+things, and so on, belong to all of us."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jim, your traps and mine will go into the other little chest, I
+think&mdash;at any rate, they must. Now for the general list."</p>
+
+<p>The general outfit was then talked over for more than an hour, when,
+looking at his watch, Aleck said:</p>
+
+<p>"Now this plan all depends on what luck I have in renting the house. I
+heard yesterday that Mr. Porter (the owner of the burned factory)
+would have to leave the hotel, and wanted to find a small furnished
+house. I am going to see if I can't let ours to him."</p>
+
+<p>So Aleck went off, and Tug and Jim started down to examine the boat,
+study how much she would hold, and see what would be the best way of
+mounting her upon the bobs, which they spoke of as "the sledge." They
+were not back until afternoon, and found that Aleck had just come in,
+full of success. Mr. Porter would rent the house, and would allow them
+a closet in which to store all the small goods they wished to leave
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what about the boat?" he asked, as he concluded the story.</p>
+
+<p>"She'll do beautifully. Jim and I think we'd better deck her over from
+the mast forward, and cover it with painted canvas, so as to make a
+water-tight place to stow the provisions."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a good idea."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We thought you'd say so, and so we took exact measurements, and can
+make a deck here, and fasten it on down there."</p>
+
+<p>"All right; now, how do you think we'd better fasten the boat to the
+sledge?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's where we want you to help us decide. I don't believe its
+weight is great enough to hold it firm."</p>
+
+<p>"It's the first thing to be arranged," said Aleck, "and after dinner I
+guess we'll have to go down to the wharf."</p>
+
+<p>An hour later the three boys were standing beside the boat, gazing
+first at it and then at the pair of strong bobs they had brought
+along.</p>
+
+<p>"We must take that coasting-board off the bobs and put in a heavy
+reach-pole pretty near as long as the boat, that's certain," said Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"And," spoke up Jimmy, "we've got to prop her up on the sledge so
+she'll stand even, and won't tip."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you're both right," Aleck agreed. "The best way is to saw chairs
+out of two-inch plank which will just fit her bottom, and in which she
+will sit solidly."</p>
+
+<p>"But," Tug broke in, "that won't hold her firm in the racket she has
+to go through. She must be bound down to that sledge, and I reckon the
+best way is to draw bands of stout canvas&mdash;big straps would cost too
+much&mdash;over the boat, from one side of the sledge to the other."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They examined and re-examined, but could none of them see any better
+plan; so they measured, and on their way home bought enough of the
+heaviest duck to make three bands, each three inches wide.</p>
+
+<p>This transaction brought out a bit of Tug's loyalty. As Aleck took out
+his purse to pay for the canvas, Tug pushed his hand away and laid a
+dollar bill on the counter.</p>
+
+<p>"You can just put up your cash," he cried. "This is my affair. If you
+fellows furnish the boat and sledge and all the rest, I'm going to
+pay, myself, for what new stuff we have to buy. It's little enough I
+can do, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>With this view there was no use of arguing, and Tug had his way that
+day and during all the rest of the preparation, spending the whole of
+his savings and the money received from the sale of his books and
+"contraptions."</p>
+
+<p>While Tug sawed out the chairs, and screwed and spiked them firmly to
+the sledge that evening, the other two boys worked at the bands, and
+Katy sewed. They all sat in the kitchen, in order to be where Tug
+could work, and before they went to bed both tasks were nearly done.</p>
+
+<p>The next day was Sunday.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>On Monday the sledge was finished, and the boat was set upon it.
+Tacking tightly over it the canvas bands, two in front and one towards
+the stern, the whole affair proved almost as stiff and firm as though
+formed of one piece.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What was the boat's name?" you may feel like interrupting me to ask.</p>
+
+<p>It had not been christened yet, but when, as they sat by the fire on
+Sunday evening, Katy read aloud the story of "Red Erik," they all
+agreed that that was the name they wanted.</p>
+
+<p>Now the <i>Red Erik</i> was fitted to carry one mast, which passed through
+a hole in the forward thwart, and was stepped into a block underneath.
+The sail carried by this mast was a square sail of pretty good size,
+supported by a gaff at the top and a boom at the bottom. When it was
+not in use it was rolled around the mast, the gaff and boom being laid
+lengthwise along with it; and by wrapping the sheet around, the whole
+was lashed into a bundle, which lay very snugly upon the thwarts under
+one gunwale, where a couple of leather gaskets were buckled about it
+to keep it from sliding. There was also a jib-sail.</p>
+
+<p>While they were overhauling this gear, the question of what they were
+to do for a tent came up, and Katy asked whether the sails could not
+be made useful for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly, the mainsail was large enough to form a very decent shelter
+when stretched over a low ridge-pole, but it needed loops of rope at
+the ends in order to be pegged to the ground and thus held in place.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"But there ain't any ground, and you can't drive wooden pegs into
+ice," objected Katy, at this point of the planning.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," said Aleck, "we shall have to get half a dozen iron pegs, and
+I have some railway spikes that will be just the thing."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so," said Tug. "Take 'em along. Now, the next thing is poles.
+The gaff will do for one, but the other one we'll have to make,
+because we want to use the boom for a ridge-pole."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll tell you how we'll fix it," Aleck explained. "We'll put an
+eye-bolt in the far end of the boom, and call that the front end of
+the tent. We'll make a front upright post out of hickory, and have the
+lower end of it shod with iron, so as to stick in the ice&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hold up! I've a better idea than that even," Tug exclaimed. "I
+suppose you want to save carrying any more timber than you can help.
+Well, let's cut off the handle of the boat-hook&mdash;that's hickory&mdash;until
+it is the right length, and its iron point will stick in the ice, or
+the ground (if we set her up ashore) first-rate. Then we'll go to the
+blacksmith, and have a cap made with a spike in it to go through the
+eye in the end of the boom. When we want to use the boat-hook we can
+take the cap off."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's a good way; but how about the gaff?"</p>
+
+<p>"Set a short spike in the far end to stick in the ice, and let the
+ridge-pole rest in the jaws of the gaff; the canvas will hold her
+steady."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I suppose so. You're an inventor, Tug. Go down to-morrow and get
+the irons made."</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, as I said, loops were sewed on the sail, and it was thus
+arranged to serve as a tent. It had a queer shape when set up in the
+yard on trial, for the sail was broader at one end than the other,
+though it did very well indeed. An end piece was lacking; but this was
+supplied by putting on tapes so as to tie the broad foot of the jib to
+one edge of the rear of the tent, while the sharp top end was folded
+around on the outside and tied to one of the side pegs. For the front
+they could do no better than hang up a shawl or something of that
+kind, if needed, since they decided that a few yards square of spare
+canvas which they had must be kept for a carpet upon the ice floor.</p>
+
+<p>This done, there remained to screw into the forward end of the sledge
+two eye-bolts, to which the ropes were to be attached for dragging the
+boat. Each of these ropes was about twelve feet long, and had at one
+end an iron hook, so as to be put on and taken off very quickly. Three
+of them were prepared, but, as you will see, it was rare that more
+than two were ever in use at once on the march. They could easily be
+hooked together into one long line, however; two of them would serve
+as end-stays when the tent was set up; and they were often of the
+greatest importance to the young adventurers, in enabling them to
+overcome difficulties, or to extricate themselves from some perplexing
+or dangerous situation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>All these arrangements, by hard work, were finished on Tuesday
+evening, the very last task being the making of a box with
+double-hinged covers, which should fit snugly under the stern-thwart.
+This was to be the kitchen chest or mess kit, holding the cooking
+utensils and dishes. When its two covers were spread out and propped
+up it formed a low table.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_IV">Chapter IV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">MAKING A START.</p>
+
+<p>Katy, meanwhile, had been looking after clothing and provisions. On
+Tuesday evening, when Tug came in after tea, she was ready to read to
+him a full list, as follows:</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Boat Outfit.</span>&mdash;Sailing and rowing gear complete; one piece of spare
+canvas three yards square; one oil lantern and a gallon of oil; one
+compass; a locker under the stroke-thwart, containing calking-iron,
+oakum, putty, copper nails, gimlet, screw-driver, screws, sail needle,
+thread, wax, etc.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Camp Outfit.</span>&mdash;Tent (<i>made out of the sails</i>), pegs, poles, etc.; one
+axe; one hatchet; one small handsaw; one shovel; one clothes-line; one
+mess chest, containing the fewest possible dishes, tin cups, knives,
+forks, etc., also a skillet, a coffee-pot, etc.; one iron kettle; one
+covered copper pail.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Personal Baggage.</span>&mdash;One trunk for Aleck's and Jim's clothing; one trunk
+for Katy's clothing; Tug's box (<i>clothing, and what he says are
+"contraptions"</i>); small valise for Katy's toilet necessaries and other
+small articles.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Bedding</span> (<i>tied up in close rolls</i>).&mdash;For Aleck, three blankets and a
+thick quilt.</p>
+
+<p>For Jim, the same.</p>
+
+<p>For Tug, three blankets and a piece of old sail-cloth.</p>
+
+<p>For Katy, a buffalo-robe trimmed square, two flannel sheets, three
+blankets, and a heavy shawl.</p>
+
+<p>Thick woollen nightcaps or hoods for all.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Food</span> (<i>enough to last two weeks, it is supposed, and consisting
+chiefly of the first seven articles named</i>).&mdash;Corn-meal, coffee,
+sugar, crackers, dried beef, bacon, and ham; also small quantities of
+potatoes, beans, dried corn, tea, chocolate, maple sugar, buckwheat
+flour, and condiments. (Katy did not count the luxuries of the first
+day's evening meal.)</p>
+
+<p>All these supplies, as far as possible, were put into bags made of
+strong cloth or of heavy paper, or into wooden boxes, and then were
+stowed under the forward deck. To carry them and the rest of the
+luggage down to the wharf, a box was fastened upon Jim's hand-sled,
+and several trips were made.</p>
+
+<p>At last Wednesday afternoon came, and the preparations for the
+adventurous journey were complete. All the morning had been spent by
+Tug and Jim in packing away goods in the boat, while Aleck and Kate
+finished the home-leaving, bringing down a final sled-load with them
+about two o'clock. Besides this, Katy's arms were full of
+"suspicious-looking"
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> bundles, as Tug noticed, the contents of which
+she refused to let any one know before night.</p>
+
+<p>The boat lay hidden underneath the warehouse wharf, and of the few who
+knew of their intentions nobody seemed to have let out the secret;
+moreover, the day was unusually cold and somewhat windy, so that few
+skaters were out, at least, so far down the river. Thus they were not
+annoyed by inquisitive visitors. Ten minutes after Aleck and Kate
+arrived the final package had been stowed, the mantle of canvas spread
+over, the oars and rolled-up tent laid on top, and Tug announced
+everything ready.</p>
+
+<p>"Then let's be off," said Aleck, as he buckled the last strap of his
+left skate, and stood up.</p>
+
+<p>"Not till you give the word of command, Captain."</p>
+
+<p>"Captain!" echoed Jim, standing very straight.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain!" Kate caught up the word, and made a funny girlish imitation
+of an officer's salute. "Not till you give the order, sir!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oho!" laughed Aleck. "That's election by acclamation, I should say!
+All right; only, if I'm to be Captain, remember you must do as I say
+at once, and save any arguing about it until afterwards. When you get
+tired you can vote me out as you voted me in. Will you agree?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes&mdash;agreed!" cried all three.</p>
+
+<p>"Then my first order is 'Forward!'" and so saying he
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>seized a
+drag-rope and sent the sledge-boat spinning out upon the smooth ice
+far from under the shadow of the wharf, showing how easily it could be
+run in spite of its weight, which was not less than five hundred
+pounds.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i003"></a>
+<img src="images/illus033.jpg" width="500" height="505" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF.&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>A moment later they were off on the first strokes of a trip that
+proved far more eventful than any of them anticipated&mdash;Aleck with the
+drag-rope, Tug by his side, Jim pulling his sled, Rex leaping and
+barking, and Kate bringing up the rear with her hands on the
+stern-rail of the boat. Two or three boys and men called after them,
+and one followed a little way, but he was sent back with short
+answers, and in a few moments the church spires, the big, bell-crowned
+cupola of the High School, and the lofty spans of the railway bridge
+had been left far behind. Not much was said, for even heedless Jim
+felt that this was a serious undertaking, and the pleasant scenes they
+had known so long might never be revisited.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_V">Chapter V.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">COMFORT IN A LOG CABIN.</p>
+
+<p>The pain of this farewell did not long cloud their faces. Tug and Jim
+had had no luncheon, and were growing anxious for something to eat.
+Down at the mouth of the river stood a small cabin, often occupied in
+early spring by the sportsmen who went for a day's duck-shooting in
+the great marshes that spread right and left on both sides of the
+stream. It was buried among big cottonwood and sycamore trees, and was
+pretty snug. Besides, it had a fireplace, into which somebody had
+stuck a long iron bolt pulled out of some bit of wreckage on the
+beach, and which served as a great convenience in the rude cooking of
+the sportsmen.</p>
+
+<p>At this cabin our party proposed to spend the first night. They
+thought it would be an easy letting down from sleeping in their beds
+at home to the tenting they feared they might have to do afterwards.
+Katy had been the one to suggest this, and Tug had earnestly supported
+the idea.</p>
+
+<p>"Things don't seem so hard when they come upon you
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> gradually, as the
+kind-hearted man said when he cut off his dog's tail a little piece at
+a time, so the pup wouldn't mind it."</p>
+
+<p>The sun was just disappearing straight up the river behind them as the
+cabin came in sight; and before its half-closed door</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'All <i>bloody</i> lay the untrodden snow,'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>as Kate exclaimed, misquoting her "Hohenlinden" to suit the red glow
+of the rich evening light.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah for supper!" screamed Jim; and with an extra spurt they swung
+the boat up to the bank.</p>
+
+<p>A little sweeping with a broom made of an alder branch cleared the
+cabin of the snow that had blown into the cracks and fallen down the
+mud-and-stone chimney. This done, Aleck called to them to listen to
+his first orders, which he had written down in a note-book, and now
+read as follows:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Captain's Order No. 1.</span>&mdash;Any order given by the Captain must be
+obeyed by the person to whom it is addressed, unless his reason
+for not doing so will not keep till camping-time; merely <i>not
+liking</i> the duty is no excuse.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Captain's Order No. 2.</span>&mdash;The Captain will say when and where
+camp shall be made, and immediately upon stopping to camp the
+duties of each person shall be taken up
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> as follows: the
+Captain shall secure the boat, get out the tent, and proceed to
+set it up; Tug shall take the axe and get fuel for the fire;
+Kate shall see to the building of the fire and the preparation
+of food; Jim shall help Kate, particularly in carrying articles
+needed, and in getting water; and all, when these special
+duties are finished, shall report to the Captain for further
+duty.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Captain's Order No. 3.</span>&mdash;Any complaints or suggestions must be
+made in council, which will commence after camp work is
+completed and supper is over, and not before.</p></blockquote>
+
+<p>"There," said Aleck, "do you agree to that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes&mdash;agreed!" shouted three voices in chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Then pitch in, all of you; you know your work."</p>
+
+<p>At this Tug seized the axe, Aleck and Jim went to the sledge, and Katy
+began to kindle a little blaze on the hearth with some bits of dry
+wood she found lying about, so that when Tug had brought an armful of
+sticks, a good fire was quickly crackling. Then the iron pot, full of
+water, was hung upon the old spike, where the blaze began curling
+around its three little black feet in a most loving way.</p>
+
+<p>"Jimkin," called the girl to her brother, who was gazing with delight
+at the bright fire, "Jimkin, bring me all those paper packages at the
+stern of the boat, and be careful of the white one&mdash;it's eggs."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I guess there won't be much tent to set up to-night, Aleck," he
+remarked, as he found the Captain, who had hauled the sledge well up
+on the bank and tied it securely to a tree, now busy in dragging out
+the sail.</p>
+
+<p>"No," was the reply, "but the canvas'll come handy. Tell Tug I say
+he'd better get a big heap of wood together, for we're going to have a
+cold night. The wind has turned to the north, and is rising."</p>
+
+<p>When he had taken the canvas up to the cabin, he called Jim to help
+him, and they brought in the mess chest, the rolls of bedding, and the
+piece of spare canvas which had covered the prow. Then, telling Jim to
+take the little sled that had been dragged behind the boat, and haul
+to the door the wood Tug had cut among the trees not far away, Aleck
+seized the shovel and began heaping snow against the northern side of
+the house, where there were many cracks between the lower logs. But
+his hard work to shut them up in this way seemed to be in vain, for
+the wind, which was blowing harder and harder every minute, whisked
+the snow away about as fast as he was able to pile it up. Kate,
+stepping out to see what he was about, came to his rescue with a happy
+thought.</p>
+
+<p>"I read in Dr. Kane's book of arctic travels, that when they make
+houses of snow they throw water on them, which freezes, and holds them
+firm and tight. Couldn't you do that here? It's cold enough to freeze
+anything."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Aleck thought he might, and bidding Kate go back to her fireside, he
+called the other boys to help him; then, while Jim stuffed the cracks
+with snow, Aleck and Tug alternately brought water from a hole cut in
+the river ice, and dashed it against the chinking. Some of the water
+splashed through, and a good deal was tossed back in their faces and
+benumbed their hands, so that it was hard, cold work; but before long
+a crust had formed over the snow-stuffed cracks, and Katy came to the
+door to say that she couldn't feel a draught anywhere. The roof was
+pretty good, and when, tired and hungry, but warm with their exercise
+(except as to their toes and fingers), the three lads went in and shut
+the door, they found their quarters very snug, and didn't mind how
+loud the gale howled among the trees outside. Rex, especially, seemed
+to enjoy it, curling down at the corner of the fireplace as though
+very much at home.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Katy bustled about, setting out plates, knives, and forks on
+the top of the mess chest, which she had covered with the clean white
+paper in which her packages had been wrapped. She had put eight eggs
+to boil in the kettle, which were now done, and were carefully fished
+out, while the coffee-pot was bubbling on the coals, and letting
+fragrant jets of steam escape from under the loosely fitting cover. A
+cut loaf of bread lay on the table, and beside it a tumbler of currant
+jelly, "as sure as I am a Dutchman"<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>&mdash;which was Tug's favorite way
+of putting a truth very strongly indeed, though he wasn't that kind of
+a man at all. The eagerness to taste this sweetmeat brought out the
+melancholy fact that by some accident there was only one spoon in the
+whole kit.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i004"></a>
+<img src="images/illus041.jpg" width="600" height="512" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">SUPPER IN THE LOG CABIN.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"We'll fix that all right this evening," Aleck remarked. "I'll whittle
+wooden ones out of sycamore."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I broil some mutton-chops, or will you save those for
+breakfast?"</p>
+
+<p>"Broil 'em now," cried Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold your opinion, Youngster, till your elders are heard," was Tug's
+rejoinder. "I vote we save 'em."</p>
+
+<p>"So do I."</p>
+
+<p>"And I."</p>
+
+<p>"Done," says Captain Aleck. "Give us the chops for breakfast, Miss
+Housekeeper."</p>
+
+<p>"Then supper's all ready," she said, and took her seat on a stick of
+wood, pouring and passing the coffee, while the eggs and the bread and
+butter went round. By the time the meal was finished it had become
+dark, but this did not matter, since there was no need to go out of
+doors.</p>
+
+<p>"How shall I wash the dishes?" asked Katy, with a comical grin, as she
+rose from the table. "I couldn't bring a big pan."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," suggested Aleck, "you can clean out your kettle,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> refill it
+with water&mdash;Jim, there's business for you!&mdash;and then wash them in
+that."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a matter never bothered me much when <i>I</i> was camping," added
+Tug, dryly. "I just scrubbed the plates with a wisp of grass, and
+cleaned the knives and forks by jabbing 'em into the ground a few
+times."</p>
+
+<p>While the dishes were washing Aleck opened the tent bundle, and laid
+the mast across two pegs that somebody had driven into the north wall
+of the room just under the ceiling beams, perhaps to hang
+fishing-poles on. Then, with Tug's aid, he tied to the mast the inner
+hem of the sail-cloth, which thus hung loosely against the wall, like
+a big curtain, shutting out every draught.</p>
+
+<p>"That's splendid!" cried Katy, watching them from the end of the room
+where the fire was.</p>
+
+<p>"So is <i>this</i>!" came a voice from overhead, making them all look up in
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>It was Jim, who, unnoticed by any one, had clambered into the loft,
+which had been floored over about two thirds of the room, and who was
+now thrusting his red face down through the open part.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think I've found?"</p>
+
+<p>"Give it up. I knew of a man who died after asking conundrums all his
+life," answered Tug, gravely, "and I've fought shy of 'em since."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tell us at once, Jimkin," called out Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Straw!</i>" shouted Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Pshaw!" was the next rejoinder heard.</p>
+
+<p>"No rhymes, Katy," Aleck admonished. "Is it clean, Youngster?"</p>
+
+<p>"Cleaner than he is, I should say, by his face," said Tug, and with
+some reason, for the loft was dusty.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't know; you can see for yourself," and down came a great yellow
+armful.</p>
+
+<p>It was pounced upon, and, proving dry and fresh, the delighted Jim was
+ordered to send down all he could find, which was laid on the floor,
+not far from the fire, and covered with the spare canvas. This made a
+soft sort of mattress, upon which each one could spread his blankets,
+and sleep with great comfort, since there was plenty for all.</p>
+
+<p>"Sha'n't have so good a bed as this another night," groaned Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't tell&mdash;maybe better!" said the cheerful Tug.</p>
+
+<p>The warmest place was set apart for Katy, and Aleck made a small
+screen, covered with a newspaper curtain, which separated her from the
+other three, who were to sleep side by side. These preparations made,
+the fire was heaped high with fresh wood, and then the little quartet
+took their ease, lounging on the springy straw before it,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> and
+indulging in a quiet talk over the busy day just finished, or what
+they were likely to meet on the morrow.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck said something about being able to travel by compass in case
+they were caught in a snow-storm, which was what he dreaded the most,
+when Jim asked him to explain the compass to him, leaving Katy's side
+and going over to where his big brother was stretched out at the other
+corner of the fireplace. The girl, thus deserted, went to the valise
+in which she kept her small articles, and came back with a book.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_VI">Chapter VI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">NORSE TALES.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you reading?" asked Tug, who was the last boy in the world
+to be interested in a book, unless it was one about animals, but who
+had nothing else to do just then.</p>
+
+<p>"A book of old stories."</p>
+
+<p>"What about?&mdash;adventures, and things of that sort?"</p>
+
+<p>"Partly. Some of them are fairy stories&mdash;about queer little people,
+and animals that talk, and heavenly beings that help lost children,
+and people that have hard times."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, those are the very fellows we want to see. Let's hear about
+'em&mdash;mebbe we can give 'em a job."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you would like it, I'll read you this story I've just
+begun," said Katy, good-naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Much obliged. I think that would be tip-top."</p>
+
+<p>So Katy read to him, as he lounged on the straw and gazed into the
+bright fire, an old myth-story of the North Wind. How, away in a far
+corner of Norway, there once lived a widow with one son. It was
+midwinter, and she was weak, so the lad was obliged to go to the
+"safe" (or
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> cellar dug near the house, where the food was kept) to
+bring the materials for the morning meal. The first time he went, and
+the second, and again, at the third attempt, the fierce North Wind
+blew the food out of his hands. These three losses vexed the lad
+greatly, and he resolved to go to the North Wind and demand the food
+back. After long travelling he found the home of the giant, far
+towards the pole, and made his demand. The North Wind heard him, and
+gave him a cloth which would serve all the finest dishes in the world
+whenever the boy chose to spread it and call for them. On his way home
+he stopped at a tavern for the night, and, spreading his cloth, had a
+feast. The landlady was astonished, as well she might be, and thinking
+what a useful thing such a tablecloth would be in a hotel, she stole
+it while the lad was asleep, and put in its place one that looked like
+it, but which had no secret power.</p>
+
+<p>The lad, not suspecting the change, went home, and boasted gleefully
+to his mother of what he had brought. But when he tried it, of course
+the false cloth could do nothing, and the old lady both laughed at him
+and scolded him. Vexed again, the lad hastened back, and accused the
+North Wind of fraud. So the giant gave him a ram which would coin
+golden ducats when commanded. Stopping at the tavern as before, the
+landlord exchanged this remarkable animal for one from his own common
+flock, and the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> lad found himself fooled a second time. Going back a
+third time, he told the story to the North Wind, who gave the angry
+lad a stout stick which, when it had been told to "lay on," would
+never cease striking till the lad bade it to stop.</p>
+
+<p>At the tavern, the landlord, thinking there was some useful
+enchantment in the stick, tried to steal it also, but the boy was wide
+awake. He shouted, "Lay on," and the landlord found himself being
+clubbed till he was nearly dead, and gave back all that he had taken.
+Then the boy went home, and he and his mother lived rich and happy
+ever afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>Tug's vigorous applause aroused the attention of the other two, who
+may have been listening a little, and Aleck asked what the book was.</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Dasent's 'Norse Tales,'" Katy replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Who or what is 'Norse'?" Jim inquired.</p>
+
+<p>This was a question Tug had been wanting to ask too, but had felt
+ashamed to expose his ignorance&mdash;one of the few things not really mean
+which a boy has a right to be ashamed of.</p>
+
+<p>"The Norse people," Katy said, "are the people of Scandinavia (or the
+<i>Northmen</i>, as they were called in ancient times), and these stories
+are those that old people have told their children in Norway and
+Sweden for&mdash;oh! for
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> hundreds of years. Many are about animals, and
+others&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Give us one about an animal," Tug interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>Very well, here's one that tells why the bear has so short a tail:</p>
+
+<blockquote>
+<p>One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a
+string of fish he had stolen.</p>
+
+<p>'Whence did you get these?' asked the Bear.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing, and caught them,'
+said the Fox.</p>
+
+<p>So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox
+tell him how he was to set about it.</p>
+
+<p>'Oh, it's an easy craft for you,' said the Fox, 'and one soon
+learned. You've only to go upon the ice, and cut a hole, and
+stick your tail down into it; and so you must go on holding it
+there as long as you can. You're not to mind if your tail
+smarts a little; that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold
+it, the more fish you'll get; and then, all at once, out with
+it, with a cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too.'</p>
+
+<p>Yes; the Bear did as the Fox said, and held his tail a long,
+long time down in the hole, until it was fast frozen in. Then
+he pulled it out with a cross pull, and it snapped short off.
+That's why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail to this day.</p></blockquote>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i005"></a>
+<img src="images/illus051.jpg" width="600" height="449" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;LAY ON!&quot;</p>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When this short and stirring tale of a tail had been concluded, the
+Captain's voice was heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Now for bed!" he ordered, winding up his watch, whose golden hands
+pointed to nine o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>Partially undressing, they tucked themselves into their quilts and
+blankets on the crackling straw, and silence followed. Sleep was slow
+to close the eyes of the younger ones, who were kept awake by their
+strange situation; and Rex, lying at Katy's feet, frequently raised
+his head as the roaring wind shrieked through the tall trees outside,
+or rattled a loose board in the roof with a strange noise.</p>
+
+<p>The first one to awake next morning was Aleck, who looked at his watch
+by the glimmer of the coals, and was surprised to find it after eight
+o'clock, though only a gray light came through the little window of
+the cabin. Creeping out, he raked the embers together, laid on some
+fresh wood, and hung the kettle on the spike. Then he called his
+companions, who sat up and rubbed their eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Katy, you lie still till the boys go off. We'll bring you some water,
+and then you can have the house to yourself for a while. Get out of
+this, you fellows! Jim, bring a pail of water for the cook. Tug, you
+and I will go and see how the boat has stood the night."</p>
+
+<p>Two minutes later they were gone. After Jim had brought the fresh
+water (he was slow about it, because he
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> had to rechop the well-hole)
+the girl sprang up to make herself neat, and was busy at breakfast
+when the boys pounded the door like a battering-ram with the
+axe-handle, "so as surely to be heard," and begged to know if they
+might come in.</p>
+
+<p>"Good-morning!" she greeted them. "How is the weather?"</p>
+
+<p>"Weather!" exclaimed Tug, spreading his hands before the fire, and
+working his ears out from underneath a huge red comforter just as I
+have seen a turtle slowly push his head beyond the folded skin of his
+neck. "Weather! It's the roughest day I ever saw. I don't believe old
+Zach himself could skate a rod against that wind."</p>
+
+<p>(Zach was a six-foot-three lumberman in Monore, who was noted for his
+great strength.)</p>
+
+<p>"Then how can we go on?" asked Katy, dropping eggshells into the
+coffee-pot.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid we can't," Aleck said, soberly; "at least, until this gale
+goes down. It is very, very cold, and I'm sure we are much better off
+here. Don't you all think so?"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>You</i> bet!" shouted Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"You <i>bet</i>!" Jim echoed.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I must worry about dinner," said Katy, with a pretended groan
+which made them all laugh.</p>
+
+<p>At breakfast came the promised chops. Then, while
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> Katy and Jim set
+the cabin into neat shape, the older lads went after more wood, and,
+having done this, walked out to the neighboring marsh and cut great
+armfuls of wild rice and rushes, with which to make their straw beds
+thicker and softer. This, and other things, took up the morning, and
+then all came in to help and hinder Katy while she got dinner.</p>
+
+<p>When it had been set out they found half a boiled ham, potatoes, some
+fried onions ("arctic voyagers always need to eat onions to prevent
+scurvy, you know," Katy explained), and even bread and butter; but the
+last item represented almost the end of their only loaf.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon the wind moderated, the clouds that had made it so
+dark in the morning cleared away, and the sun came out. Under the
+shelter of the long wharf and breakwater they walked out on the ice to
+the lighthouse, where they had been so often in midsummer; but now it
+was shut up, for there would be no use in burning a signal-light on
+the lake after the cold weather of the fall had put a stop to
+navigation, until spring recalled the idle vessels.</p>
+
+<p>Supper was simple, but they had lots of fun over it, and then all set
+at work to help Aleck make straps of canvas to put over the shoulder
+and across the breast when they were hauling on the drag-rope. This
+contrivance saved chafing, and gave a better pull. Jim had pooh-poohed
+the taking
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> of a sail-needle and some waxed twine along as
+unnecessary, but Aleck had persisted; and here was its service the
+very first day. Before the trip was through with, everybody wanted a
+hundred little articles they did not possess, worse than they would
+have missed this sail-needle had it not been brought.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_VII">Chapter VII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE FIRST DAY ON THE LAKE.</p>
+
+<p>No howling gale disturbed their rest that night, and on the next
+morning, which was Friday, the third day out, breakfast had been
+disposed of long before the hour of rising on the previous day. What
+had they for breakfast? Hot and tender buckwheat cakes, with syrup
+made from maple sugar melted in a tin cup. The boiled ham and some
+crackers were put where they could be got at easily for luncheon.</p>
+
+<p>The stowing of the loose goods in the boat took no longer than Katy
+required to get the mess kit packed after breakfast. As the day was
+fine, and the ice, as far as they could see to the southward, whither
+their course lay, was smooth and free from snow, the sled was loaded
+with cut wood and rushes, ready for making a fire, and Jim was
+appointed to drag it.</p>
+
+<p>As they were leaving the cabin, after a last look to see that nothing
+had been forgotten, Katy spoke up:</p>
+
+<p>"Why can't we take along some of this nice straw? It doesn't weigh
+anything to speak of."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we can't," says Jim, crossly. "Girls are always trying to do
+things they know nothing about."</p>
+
+<p>"May's well begin to rough it now as any time; can't expect a cabin
+and a straw mattress every night," was Tug's somewhat gruff remark as
+he went to the sledge.</p>
+
+<p>"But," the girl persisted, rather piqued when she saw how her
+suggestion had been received, "it might be very nice to spread it on
+the floor of the tent. Seems to me you might take it."</p>
+
+<p>She was talking to Aleck now, who, she knew by his face, opposed the
+plan; but he, seeing how much in earnest she was, went back, gathered
+up a big armful of the cleanest straw, and heaped it in the stern of
+the boat, while she brought a second bundle.</p>
+
+<p>This matter settled, Aleck and Tug put their heads through the new
+harness, and were soon rushing along at a stirring pace, while Katy
+skated behind, holding on to the stern of the boat to steady it; Jim
+followed with his sled, and Rex galloped here and there as suited him.</p>
+
+<p>The ice for miles together had been swept clean by the wind, and was
+like a vast, glaring sheet of plate-glass. Most of it was a deep,
+brilliant green. Here and there would be stretches of milky ice, and
+now and then great rounded patches would suddenly meet them, which
+were black or deep brown, and at first frightened them by making them
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>
+believe a patch of open water suddenly yawned in their path. But, when
+they examined closely, they could see that this black ice was two or
+three feet thick, like all the rest on the open lake.</p>
+
+<p>They were never at any time more than a mile or so from the edge of
+the great marshes which bordered the low margin of the lake, and at
+noon they knew they had skated twelve miles, by reaching a certain
+island standing just in front of the reedy shallows.</p>
+
+<p>Thither they gladly turned for luncheon; skates were unbuckled, a big
+fire was built, the snow was cleared away, and the spare canvas spread
+down to sit upon, while Katy prepared to warm up the extra supply of
+coffee she had made in the morning for this purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Not much talking had been done on the march; breath was too badly
+needed to be wasted in that way; but now "tongues were loosed," and a
+rattling conversation kept time with the crackle of the dead sticks on
+the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain," said Tug, "have you noticed how that ridge in the ice bends
+just ahead, and seems to stand across our course?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I have, and I fear it will be troublesome to cross. Jimkin,
+you're nimble; climb that cottonwood, and tell us what you can see."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Jim, and was quickly in the tree-top.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It looks like a rough, broken ridge, stretching clear to shore. I
+guess we'll have to climb over it. I can't see any break."</p>
+
+<p>"Where do you think is the easiest place?"</p>
+
+<p>"About straight ahead, where you see that highest point. Right beside
+it is a kind o' low spot, I think."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then," said the Captain, "we'll aim for that. Hurry up your
+lunch, Katy, and let's be off."</p>
+
+<p>Half an hour later they arrived at the bad place.</p>
+
+<p>"It must be a <i>hummock</i>," said Katy, "such as I have read about in Dr.
+Kane's book&mdash;only not so large, I suppose. He says that the ice-sheet,
+or floe, gets cracked and separated a little; then the two floes will
+come together again with such force that they lap over one another, or
+else grind together, and burst up edgewise along the seam."</p>
+
+<p>"That's just the way this is; but, hummock or no hummock, it must be
+crossed," said Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe I could find a better place," suggested Jim, "if I should go
+along a little way."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, try it, Youngster. And, Tug, suppose you take a scout in the
+other direction."</p>
+
+<p>Tug went off, but soon returned, reporting a worse instead of better
+appearance, and Aleck, who had climbed over, came back to say that the
+ridge was about twenty-five yards wide.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How does it look?" asked Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it looks as though a lot of big cakes of ice had been piled up
+on edge, and then frozen into that rough shape, or lack of shape. I
+should say the ridge is ten feet high in the middle, and on the other
+side it is a straight jump down for about six feet. But it's worse
+everywhere else. We must take our skates off the first thing."</p>
+
+<p>This done, they stood up, ready to drag the boat as near to the
+hummock as possible. But it was hard pulling, for the slope was pretty
+steep and rough.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's that Jim, I wonder?" cried Aleck. "I'll teach The Youngster
+not to run off the minute any work is to be done. <i>Jim!</i>"</p>
+
+<p>But no boy answered the call, nor several others. Tug stood up on the
+boat, and Katy climbed to a high point of ice, but neither could see
+anything. Then they all became alarmed, fearing he might have fallen
+into one of those holes that here and there are found in the thickest
+ice, and always stay open. It is an easy matter to skate into one, but
+a very hard one to get out again. It was the thought of this that made
+Katy run in the direction whither Jim had started, but her brother
+called her back.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait, Katy. We'll put on our skates. Probably The Youngster's hiding,
+and I'll box his ears when I catch him. This is no time for fooling."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>With quick, nervous fingers they fastened their straps, and then
+rushed down along the foot of the hummock as though on a race, Tug
+carrying one of the drag-ropes. The tracks could be followed easily
+enough until they left the good ice and turned in towards the hummock,
+where they came to an end, which looked as though Jim might have taken
+off his skates. Here the boys hallooed, then climbed to the top of a
+great, upturned table of blue ice, and called again. But the most
+complete silence followed their words&mdash;such a silence as can never be
+known on land among the creaking trees or rustling grass; an absolute,
+painful stillness. Not even an echo came back.</p>
+
+<p>At this they were puzzled and frightened, and Katy wanted to cry, but
+fought back her tears. They descended, and went slowly onward, now and
+then getting upon elevated points, and calling. At last they stopped,
+utterly at their wits' end where or how to search next, and Katy's
+tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked.</p>
+
+<p>"Cheer up, Sis," said Aleck, and took her hand in his as they skated
+slowly onward; "cheer up! we'll try again on that big block ahead."</p>
+
+<p>This block overlooked a broader part of the hummock, and wasn't far
+from land. They struggled over the jagged border, and hoisted Katy
+upon it to see what she could see.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing," was her report; "nothing but ice, and ice,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> and ice, and a
+gray edge of marsh. Oh, Jim! Jim! where are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Here&mdash;help me out.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>Each looked at the other in amazement, for the voice, though faint,
+seemed right beside them.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Here, down between the cakes&mdash;help me out.</i>"</p>
+
+<p>The words came distinctly, and gave them a clew. Katy peeped over the
+farther edge of the block, and there she saw the little fellow's face
+peering up at her out of the greenish light of a sort of pit into
+which he had fallen. Two great cakes of ice had been thrown up side by
+side, leaving a space about two feet wide and ten feet deep between
+them. The blowing snow that filled most of the crevices of the hummock
+had here formed a bridge, which had let Jim through when he stepped
+upon it, never suspecting the chasm it concealed.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurt?" asked Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bit, but pretty well scared. I thought you fellows were never
+coming. I've been in here two hours."</p>
+
+<p>"Two hours! Oho, that's good! Twenty minutes would about fill the
+bill. You ain't tired so quick of a warm, snug place like that, are
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just you try it, and see how you like its snugness. Drop me an end of
+that rope, will you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Give him the rope's end, Tug; he deserves it in another
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> way, but we
+haven't time to-day. Now, then&mdash;yo-heave-o!" and up came the lost
+member, not much the worse for his adventure.</p>
+
+<p>Then began the difficult work of crossing the hummock. In front of the
+boat lay a steep slope of glassy ice, and beyond and above that a
+series of steps and jagged points, forming about such a plateau as a
+big heap of building-stone would make, only here the fragments were
+larger.</p>
+
+<p>All four, going to the top of the first slope, pulled the boat upward
+until the forward runners were just balanced on the crest. Then a hook
+on one of the ropes came loose; four young people fell sprawling; and
+the boat dropped backward with a rush to the very bottom of the ridge,
+where it upset.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said Aleck, when they had set the boat upright again, and found
+nothing broken; "now let us take out all the loose stuff, and so
+lighten her as much as we can."</p>
+
+<p>This was done.</p>
+
+<p>"We three fellows," was the Captain's next order, "will drag her up
+again, and Katy must go behind with the boat-hook, and stick it into
+the ice behind the boat, to hold it, like a chock-block under a wagon
+wheel, whenever it shows any signs of slipping back. Now, everybody be
+careful."</p>
+
+<p>The steady pulling, with Katy's pushing and guiding, got
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> the front
+runners safely over the edge of the sloping side, and gave them a
+chance to rest. But when they tried to move it forward enough to bring
+the stern up, the boat couldn't be budged, because the ice in front
+was so full of ruts and ridges.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_VIII">Chapter VIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">JIM'S REBELLION.</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you what, boys," Tug cried, after a great effort, "there's no
+use trying any more till we have smoothed a road, and I think,
+Captain, you'd better set all hands at that."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid that is so. Jim, please go back and get the axe, the
+hatchet, and the shovel. Now, while Tug and I dig at this road, you
+and Jim, Katy, can bring some of the freight up here, or perhaps take
+it clear across, and so save time. The small sled will help you."</p>
+
+<p>It was tedious labor all around, and the wind began to blow in a way
+they would have thought very cold had they not been so warm and busy
+with work. As fast as a rod or two of road was cleared, the four took
+hold and dragged the boat ahead. These slow advances used up so much
+time that when the plateau had been crossed, the sun, peering through
+dark clouds, was almost level with the horizon. It now remained to get
+down the sudden pitch and rough slope on the farther side. But this
+was a task of no small importance, and Aleck called a council on the
+subject.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i006"></a>
+<img src="images/illus067.jpg" width="600" height="439" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">CROSSING THE HUMMOCK.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My lambs," he began (the funny word took the edge off the unfortunate
+look of affairs, as it was intended to do)&mdash;"my lambs, it is growing
+late, and it's doubtful if we can get this big boat down that pair of
+stairs before dark. Don't you think I'd better order Jim and Katy to
+pack up the small sled with tent and bedding and kitchen-stuff?"</p>
+
+<p>"'Twon't hold it all!" interrupted Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, Youngster, you can come back after the bedding. Take the
+cooking things first, and you and Katy go back to the island where we
+lunched, and make a fire. Tug and I&mdash;eh, Tug?&mdash;will stay here and chop
+away till dark, and then we'll go back to camp with you when you come
+after the blankets, and help you carry the tent."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to leave the boat here all night?" asked Jim, in alarm.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, of course; what'll harm it? Now be off, and make a big fire."</p>
+
+<p>So the younger ones departed, and by and by Jim returned for a second
+load. He found the two older boys cutting a sloping path through the
+little ice bluff on the farther side of the hummock, and pretty tired
+of it. They were not yet done&mdash;the shovel not being of much service in
+working the hard blue ice&mdash;but it was now getting too dark to do more,
+so they piled the snug bundles of blankets into Jim's sled box, and
+gave him the rope, while Tug and Aleck put
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> their shoulders under
+opposite ends of the tent roll. Then together they all skated away
+through the thickening windy twilight, and over the ashy-gray plain of
+ice, towards where Katy's fire glowed like a red spark on the distant
+shore.</p>
+
+<p>It was a weary but not at all disheartened party that lounged in the
+open door of the tent that night, while a big fire blazed in front,
+and supper was cooking. This was the first time the sail had been
+spread as a tent, and it answered the purpose nicely, giving plenty of
+room. The straw Katy had been so anxious about had to be left in the
+boat, so that they got no good of it. Jim chaffed his sister a good
+deal about this, and Tug rather encouraged him, thinking it was a fair
+chance for fun at Katy's expense; but when he saw that Katy really was
+feeling badly, not at Jim's teasing words, but for fear she had made
+the boys useless trouble, Aleck came to the rescue. Seizing The
+Youngster by the shoulder, he spun him round like a teetotum, and was
+going to box his ears, when Katy cried out, "Oh, don't!" and saved
+that young gentleman's skin for the present.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll punish you in another way. Take your knife, go over there
+to the marsh"&mdash;it was perhaps a hundred yards away&mdash;"and cut as many
+rushes as you can carry."</p>
+
+<p>The Youngster never moved.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want the rushes," said Katy, trying to keep the peace, but
+her brother paid no heed.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Did you hear what I said?" he asked again of Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I did."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that was a Captain's Order, and I advise you to obey."</p>
+
+<p>"Do it yourself!" shouted the angry Jim, sitting down by the fire.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck looked at him an instant, saw his sulky, set lips, and then
+walked over to a willow bush near by. From the centre of this bush he
+cut a thriving switch, and carefully trimmed off all the twigs and
+crumpled leaves. It was as pliant and elastic as whalebone. It
+whistled through the air, when it was waved, like a wire or a thin
+lash. It would hug the skin it was laid upon, and wrap tightly around
+a boy's legs, and sting at the tip like a hornet. It wouldn't raise a
+welt upon the skin, as an iron rod or a rawhide might do, but it would
+hurt just as bad while it was touching you.</p>
+
+<p>Jim knew all this, and it flashed through his brain, every bit of it,
+as he saw Aleck trim the switch.</p>
+
+<p>"Better scoot, Youngster," Tug advised, with a grin that was meant
+kindly, but made Jim madder than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Please get the rushes," coaxed Katy.</p>
+
+<p>But when Aleck came back the boy still sat there, defiant of orders.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, James," he said, as he stood over him, "you have been ordered by
+your Captain to go and get some rushes.
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> You refuse. You are
+insubordinate. I'll give you just one minute to make up your mind what
+you will do."</p>
+
+<p>Jim glanced up, saw the determined face and stalwart form of his
+brother; saw Tug keeping quiet and showing no intention of
+interfering; saw the awful willow. He rose quickly from his seat, and
+darted away into the scrub alders and willows as hard as he could run,
+but not towards the rushes.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck didn't follow him. "Never mind," he said. "Go on with your
+supper, Katy. That boy gets those rushes before he has any grub to eat
+or blankets to lie in, unless you both vote against it, and I don't
+think you will, for it was a reasonable order."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Captain," said Tug, "I think we might ease up on it a little.
+It was a little rough on The Youngster sending him alone in the dark
+to get the stuff. If you had sent me with him, I suppose he'd have
+gone fast enough. If you'll say so now, I allow he'll surrender and
+save his hide. For that matter, I don't mind getting 'em alone if
+you'll let the kid go. I was going to propose it myself just as you
+gave the order."</p>
+
+<p>"That's very kind of you, Tug; but I couldn't allow you to get them
+alone. You may help if you want to."</p>
+
+<p>"May I tell him so?" Katy asked, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, if you can find him."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'll find him&mdash;look out for the bacon;" and the girl went off into
+the gloom and the bushes, calling, "Jim! Jim!"</p>
+
+<p>It was a good while before she came back, and the boys, tired of
+waiting, had forked out the bacon, and were eating their meal, which
+was what the poets call "frugal," but immensely relished all the same.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Katy and the culprit stalked out of the ring of shadows that
+encircled the fire, bearing huge bundles of yellow rushes.</p>
+
+<p>"That ain't fair!" cried Tug. "You ought to have let me gone, Katy."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I didn't mind, and I wanted Jim to hurry back."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't want her to carry none," said Jim, more eager about
+self-defense than grammar. "If I give up, I want to give up all over,
+and not half-way."</p>
+
+<p>"Good for you, Youngster," Aleck shouted, leaping up. "Give us your
+hand!"</p>
+
+<p>Thus peace was restored, and the boy sat down happily to his
+well-earned supper, while the older ones spread the crisp reed-straw.
+Finding there wasn't quite enough, they went off to the marshes and
+brought two more armfuls, which made a warm and springy couch for the
+whole party.</p>
+
+<p>These "rushes" were not rushes, properly speaking, but the wild rice
+which grows so abundantly on the borders of
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> the great lakes, and
+throughout the little ponds and shallow sheets of water that are
+dotted so thickly over Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. It is like a
+small bamboo jungle, for the close-crowding stiff reeds often stand
+ten feet or more above the water. They bear upon the upper part of
+their stalks a few ribbon-like leaves, and each reed carries a plume
+which in autumn contains the seeds, or the "rice."</p>
+
+<p>The botanical name of the plant is <i>Zizania aquatica</i>; and among it
+flourish not only the common white and yellow water-lilies, but that
+splendid one, the <i>Nelumbium luteum</i>, which Western people call the
+lotus.</p>
+
+<p>This rice formed an important part of the food of the Indians who
+lived where it grew. In and out of the marshes run narrow canals, kept
+open by the currents, and through these the Indian women would paddle
+their canoes, seeking the ripe heads, which they would cut off and
+take ashore to be threshed out in the wigwam, or else they would shake
+and rub out the rice into a basket as they went along. At home the
+rice would be crushed into a coarse flour in their stone mortars, then
+made into cakes baked on the surface of smooth stones heated in the
+coals.</p>
+
+<p>The stalks, round, smooth, and straight, were of service to the
+Indians also. Out of them they made mats and thatching for their
+lodges, and they served as excellent arrow-shafts, a point of
+fire-hardened wood, of bone, or of flint having been fixed in the end.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i007"></a>
+<img src="images/illus075.jpg" width="600" height="498" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">JIM AND KATY BRINGING THE RUSHES TO CAMP.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>In warm weather these broad, submerged marshes, undulating in
+color-waves&mdash;green in spring, golden-yellow in midsummer, and warm
+reddish-brown in October&mdash;as the breeze swept across the vast extent
+of pliant reeds, formed the home of a great variety of animals, whose
+numbers were almost unlimited. There, in the darkly stained water,
+lurked hosts of small shells and insects&mdash;dragon-flies, beetles, and
+aquatic bugs and flies, whose habits were always a matter for
+curiosity. Then, where insects and mollusks were so numerous, of
+course there were plenty of fishes, great and small, the little ones
+feeding on the bugs and snails, the larger on them, and some
+giants&mdash;like the big pike&mdash;on these again. Nor did this end the list.
+After the big fish came the muskrat; after the muskrat&mdash;in the old
+days, at least&mdash;sneaked the wolverine; after the wolverine crept the
+stealthy panther; and for the panther an Indian lay in wait.</p>
+
+<p>The marshes were full of birds, too, in the bird-season&mdash;small, piping
+wrens; suspicious sparrows; ducks and rails and gallinules of many
+kinds and many voices; herons and cranes and hawks; coming and going
+with the seasons, making the yellow reeds populous with busy lives,
+and vocal with their merriment. Now, however, all was silent.</p>
+
+<p>Our travellers would have preferred skating across the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> marshes rather
+than outside upon the windy lake, but it was reported that warm
+springs came out of the ooze in many parts of the rice morass, keeping
+the ice so weak (though not melting it quite away) as to make skating
+unsafe. This danger was not so great, perhaps, in a winter so
+unusually cold as this one was proving itself to be, as it had been
+shown to be in milder seasons; but they did not want to run risks.</p>
+
+<p>"How noisy it will be all around this islet in three months from now!"
+Aleck remarked, as they were preparing for bed. "Then you will hardly
+be able to hear yourself speak for the frogs."</p>
+
+<p>"Before there were any lighthouses on the lake," said Tug, "sailing
+was pretty much guesswork; but my father told me the sailors, when
+they approached the shore, used to know where they were by listening
+to the bull-frogs. The bulls would call out the names of their
+ports, you know: San&mdash;<i>d&uacute;sk</i>&mdash;y! To&mdash;<i>l-&eacute;-e-e</i>&mdash;do! Mon&mdash;<i>r&oacute;e</i>!
+De&mdash;<i>tr&oacute;i-i-i-i</i>&mdash;it!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_IX">Chapter IX.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">SKATING BY COMPASS.</p>
+
+<p>The next day was Sunday. Fortunately, the sacred day had found them in
+such a position that they could spend it quietly. Katy persuaded Jim
+and the two young men to listen while she read them some chapters from
+the little Testament she had carefully packed among her "necessary
+articles."</p>
+
+<p>This, together with the work that <i>must</i> be done, took up a good part
+of the morning, and the afternoon was spent in making a trip to the
+boat, looking the situation over carefully, and laying plans for a
+very early start the next day. Supper over, they soon crawled into
+bed, and woke at day break, ready for work, and all the better for
+their day of rest.</p>
+
+<p>After a hasty breakfast camp was broken, and work was resumed at the
+hummock. All hands labored with such a will that long before noon they
+had let the boat down to the smooth white plain upon the other side;
+and though it got away from them at the last minute, and went spinning
+off on its own account, no harm was done.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The onward march was then resumed, and splendid headway made. At noon
+a short halt was called and gladly accepted, all lounging upon the
+straw and boxes in the boat, munching crackers and cheese, and
+drinking Katy's cold chocolate. The sun had been out all the morning,
+and the ice was not only a trifle soft, but frequently rough, which
+had made the skating and dragging a little harder work than before.</p>
+
+<p>No land appeared ahead, but Aleck knew the name and position of a
+lighthouse just visible upon an island at the mouth of a river away
+off at their right. He therefore took out of his pocket a small map of
+the western end of the lake, that he had copied from a big chart, and
+began to study it. He found that it was about fifteen miles across the
+end of the lake to a certain cape on the southern shore, which lay
+beyond the great marshy bay into which emptied the river just
+mentioned. He took the direction of this cape from where they were at
+present, by compass, and made a note of it in his pocket-book. It was
+almost exactly southeast. Aleck reckoned on reaching so near there by
+sundown that the party could go ashore if very hard pushed by any
+misfortune or bad turn of the weather, though it was too long a march
+to make unless they were compelled.</p>
+
+<p>"But supposing we find open water, and have to change our course?"
+asked Katy.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, we shall know, at all events, that we mustn't go east of
+southeast, and must try to keep as close to that direction as
+possible. I don't like this sunshine and westerly breeze. I'd much
+rather the weather kept real cold."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" said Jim. "It's much nicer when it's warm."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid of snow and fogs, Youngster. Now let us be off."</p>
+
+<p>No snow or fog came to bother them, however, and at sunset they were
+out of sight of any landmark, and travelling by the compass, like a
+ship at sea.</p>
+
+<p>You may ask, How could they be sure they were following it truly,
+since they had no object, like a long bowsprit, to guide the eye in
+ranging their course into line with the needle point, as the steersman
+on a ship does when he glances across his binnacle?</p>
+
+<p>This is the plan they took: The compass was a small one, but it was
+hung in a box so as always to stand level. It was, in fact, an old
+boat compass which Mr. Kincaid had had for many years. This was set
+exactly in the middle of the seat at the stern of the boat, where Katy
+still skated, with her hands resting upon the stern-board. Here she
+could keep her eye easily upon the face of the compass, and make a
+straight line from its pointer through the middle of the boat. When
+the compass point "southeast" and the stem-post of the yawl were in
+line, she knew they were
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> going on a straight course. When these were
+out of line, she knew her team had swerved, and she called out
+"Right!" or "Left!" to bring them back to the true course, just as a
+quartermaster would order "Port!" and "Starboard!" to his helmsman.</p>
+
+<p>The sun went down slowly at their right hands as they rushed along,
+and as Jim saw his shadow stretching taller and taller, he found it
+difficult to keep pace with the older lads. Noting this, the Captain
+ordered a halt, and put Jim into the boat as a passenger, tying his
+sled behind.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you want to ride also?" asked Tug of Katy, very gallantly.</p>
+
+<p>Katy was tired, and one of her skate-straps chafed her instep a
+little, but she didn't propose to give up.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no," she said, cheerily. "I have so much help by resting on the
+stern of the boat that I can go a long time yet before I give in.
+Besides, who would steer?"</p>
+
+<p>So they rushed away again, the clink-clink of their strokes keeping
+perfect time on the smooth ice. All at once&mdash;it was about four o'clock
+in the afternoon now&mdash;a dark line appeared ahead, and in a few moments
+more they could plainly see open water across their path.</p>
+
+<p>When they became sure of this they went more slowly, and in about ten
+minutes had approached as close as they dared to a wide space like a
+river, beyond which white ice
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> could be seen again. Here all knew they
+must spend the night, for it would be foolish to attempt to cross
+before morning.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," remarked Tug, as they came to a halt, "according to orders,
+it's my duty to take the axe and cut fuel; so I can loaf, for there's
+no wood to chop round here that I see;" and he pretended to search in
+every direction.</p>
+
+<p>"Loaf? Not a bit of it," shouted Aleck, with a grin. "My order to you
+is, Unload that tent, and set it up on the ice! Jim will help you.
+I'll help Katy make a fire."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you would," said the girl. "I'm 'fraid I shouldn't make it go
+very well out here. I have never built a kitchen fire on ice."</p>
+
+<p>"This is the best way."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, Aleck took two of the largest pieces of wood from Jim's
+sled, and laid them down a little way apart. Then he laid across them
+a platform of the next largest sticks, and on top of this arranged his
+kindling, ready to touch a match to.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't set the fire going till we are quite ready for it, and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm cold," Jim complained.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Youngster, I've heard that the Indians never let their boys
+come near the lodge fire to get warm, but bid them run till they work
+the chill off. You'd better
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> move livelier if you want to get warm,
+for we can't afford any more fire than is necessary for a short bit of
+cooking. Katy, what do you propose to have?"</p>
+
+<p>"I thought I would make tea, boil potatoes, and bake some johnny-cake
+in my skillet. May I?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, but you must economize fuel."</p>
+
+<p>With this warning, Aleck struck a match, and the little fire was soon
+blazing merrily in the "wooden stove," as Katy called it. Only one or
+two sticks had been burned clear through before the fire had done its
+work, and was put out in order to save every splinter of wood
+possible. They sat down in the shelter of the boat to eat their
+dinner, and enjoyed it very much, in spite of the cold, their
+loneliness, and the gathering darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the tent had been set up. Over its icy floor were laid the
+thwarts taken out of the boat, the rudder, and two box covers, which
+nearly covered the whole space. On top of this was placed as much
+straw as could be spared, and upon the straw Aleck and Tug spread
+their blankets.</p>
+
+<p>Dinner out of the way, the after-part of the boat was cleared out and
+re-arranged, until a level space was left. Here, upon a heap of straw,
+beds for the younger ones were arranged. Then the spare canvas was
+spread across like an awning, and was held up on an oar laid
+lengthwise. This made a snug cabin for Katy and the wearied Jim, who
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>were not long in creeping into it. Rex followed, and slept in the
+straw at their feet, which was good for them all.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i008"></a>
+<img src="images/illus085.jpg" width="600" height="476" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;THE LITTLE FIRE WAS SOON BLAZING MERRILY.&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>With the coming of darkness came also a damp sort of cold, that caused
+them to huddle close in their blankets; and though they presently fell
+asleep, it was with a shivering sense of discomfort that spoiled the
+refreshment.</p>
+
+<p>Midnight passed, and Aleck, only half awake, was trying to tuck his
+blankets closer about him without disturbing his bedfellow, when the
+tent was suddenly struck by some large object, and considerably
+shaken. Alarmed and puzzled at the same time, Aleck paused to listen
+an instant before rising, when the shrieks and barking of the sleepers
+in the boat came to his ears. He sprang out of his blankets only in
+time to see two shadowy objects rise from the camp, and drift away
+across the face of the moon, which was just rising.</p>
+
+<p>"Wh-what w-was that?" came from two scared figures sitting
+bolt-upright in the yawl, their tongues stuttering with terror and
+cold combined.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know." Aleck was as bewildered, if not quite as much
+frightened, as they.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" cried Tug's voice, behind; "you're a pretty set to be scared
+out of your wits and wake everybody up on account of two birds.
+They're nothing but snow-owls. Go to bed, or we'll all freeze."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Wh-wh-what are they?" asked Jim, his teeth playing castanets in spite
+of all his efforts to control them.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell you in the morning," was the reply. "Go to bed. Come in, Cap'n.
+Owls are nothing. Come to bed."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed good advice, however gruffly given; but you can hardly
+expect a person to mince his phrases at two o'clock of a winter's
+morning, on an ice-floe. Aleck was ready to comply, but he was too
+cold.</p>
+
+<p>"I must get warm first, and so must you, Jim." Katy had wisely
+disappeared some time before, and said she was pretty comfortable.
+"Come and run with me till we get our blood stirring."</p>
+
+<p>Neither of the boys had dared undress at all, so it only remained for
+Jim to creep out from under the canvas, and limp stiffly to his
+brother's side. Then hand in hand they raced up and down the ice half
+a dozen times in the pale greenish moonlight. Once or twice they
+disturbed an owl perched on the ice, or heard wild hooting&mdash;a sound so
+hollow and unearthly that they could not tell whether it came from
+near by or far off.</p>
+
+<p>This strange voice and the gray, silent half-light on the wide waste
+gave them a very lonely and dismal feeling, and when they had put
+themselves into a glow by exercise, they were very glad to creep back
+into their beds.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_X">Chapter X.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">AN UGLY FERRIAGE.</p>
+
+<p>The sun had been up an hour when Aleck woke again, and pulled Tug's
+ear, at which that young gentleman sat up and was going to fight
+somebody right away. But Aleck pounced on him, and pinned him down
+before he could stir or strike.</p>
+
+<p>"No time for fooling," he laughed in his chum's face; "but if there
+were I'd like to take you out to the creek here and duck you for your
+disrespect to your superior officer. Will you touch your cap if I let
+you up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ye-e-s," Tug replied, as he felt the strength of the Captain's grip;
+"but I'm not sure about your duckin' me!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nor I," laughed Aleck, and he leaped away, to go and wake up the
+others by kicking on the side of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>The morning was beautiful, and by the time breakfast was ready the
+tent had been struck, and the big boys had come back from an
+exploration to say that they could go almost to the brink of the open
+water.</p>
+
+<p>"It must be a 'lead,'" exclaimed Katy. "That's the name arctic
+travellers give to a wide crack in the ice, by taking
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> advantage of
+which, whenever it leads in the right direction, vessels are able to
+make their way through the 'packs' and 'fields.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Probably their <i>leading</i> vessels through is where they get the name,"
+Aleck remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Shouldn't wonder," said Tug; "but however well that plan may work in
+the arctic regions, we must <i>cross</i> this one."</p>
+
+<p>Getting everything ready at the brink of the canal occupied fifteen
+minutes. Then, all the cargo easy to be moved having been taken out,
+the boat (sledge and all, as an experiment for this short trip) was
+launched without mishap. The sledge bobs hanging on her bottom
+weighted her down, and canted her so much, though the water was
+perfectly smooth, that it was necessary to make the trip very
+carefully. The young voyagers were thus taught that for any real
+navigation the boat must always be removed from the sledge. By noon,
+however, the last ferriage was successfully made, and they had
+repacked and were ready to go on again as soon as they had eaten a
+"bite." While despatching this, Katy suddenly exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I have never once thought about our visitors last night. I'll
+confess I was dreadfully frightened. How did you know they were owls?"</p>
+
+<p>"Saw 'em," Tug replied, shortly, with his mouth full of dried beef.
+"Couldn't be anything else this time o' year."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Where do they come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"From 'way up north. Don't your arctic book say anything about 'em?
+Maybe it calls 'em the 'great white' or 'snowy' or 'Eskimo' owls."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I remember something about them. The Eskimos have a
+superstitious fear of them, haven't they?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and lots of other people, for that matter. Why, only last winter
+one of 'em lit on the roof of a house out in the country where I was
+staying, and the old woman there began to rock back and forth, and
+whine out that some dreadful bad luck was coming. But that's all
+nonsense."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess its cry has given it a witch-like reputation," said Aleck.
+"It sounded uncanny enough last night; didn't it, Jim? But what were
+they doing away out here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I s'pose they were flying 'cross the lake, and had stopped to
+rest on our tent-ridge, till we startled them. I bet they were worse
+scared than you were. You see, their proper home is in the arctic
+regions. That's where they build their nests, putting them in trees
+and in holes in rocks. But when winter comes up there, and the snow
+gets so deep and the cold so severe that all the small animals he
+feeds on have retired to their holes or else left the country, Mr. Owl
+has to get up and flit too, or he will starve to death. So he works
+his way down here. They say these great
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> white owls&mdash;why, they're
+bigger than the biggest cat-owl you ever saw&mdash;never go far south of
+this, and I know that we don't see many of 'em except when we have a
+very severe winter. But I've talked enough. Let's get out of this."</p>
+
+<p>The sunshine by this time was interrupted by dark clouds that rose in
+the west, and puffs of damp, chilly air began to be felt by the
+skaters, who wrapped themselves a little closer in their overcoats as
+they measured their steady strokes. Still no land came in sight, but
+they thought this must be owing mainly to the thick air to the
+southward. Once they thought they saw it, but the dark line on the
+horizon proved to be a hummock, not so bad as the one lately passed,
+but still troublesome, and closely followed by a second. The lifting
+and tugging tired them all greatly, and after the second barrier had
+been climbed they found themselves on ice which was incrusted with
+frozen snow, and exceedingly unpleasant to skate upon. But a few rods
+farther on there appeared a narrow stream of open water, beyond which
+the ice looked hard and green.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us cross, and camp on the other side," said Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," Aleck answered, in a troubled voice. "Do you see that snow
+storm coming, over there? It'll be down upon us in a jiffy, and
+there's no telling what next. Yes, let's cross before it gets dark, if
+we can. There's a hummock over there that will shelter us a bit from
+the wind, I think."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The anxious tone of his voice alarmed his companions, and all set at
+work with a will. Yet the snow-flakes had come, and were thick about
+them, before the second ferriage had been made, and the wet and
+ice-clogged boat was lifted out of the water.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody <i>said</i> as much, but it is safe to believe that each of our four
+friends <i>thought</i>, to himself, that if every day's work in advance was
+to be like this one, they had undertaken a prodigiously difficult and
+dangerous experiment in this skating expedition; and perhaps each one
+wondered whether the winter would be long enough to carry them to
+their destination at this rate of progress, even should they be able
+to surmount the fast-recurring obstacles in safety.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XI">Chapter XI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.</p>
+
+<p>"Now what?" asked Tug, holding his head very high to prevent the snow
+going down the back of his neck. "Now what?"</p>
+
+<p>"Now," Aleck answered, in a tone of command, "get the boat up there
+under the lee of that hummock. Everybody take hold."</p>
+
+<p>The ropes were seized with a will, but the heavy boat could not be
+dragged in the snow until it had been lightened; then by great
+exertion it was taken over the fifty yards that lay between the water
+and the hummock. At that spot the ice had been thrust up like a smooth
+wall about fifteen feet high, which overhung slightly, so as to form a
+cosey shelter from the storm. The bow of the boat was swung close
+against its foot, while the stern was slanted away until there
+remained a space of about eight feet between it and the smooth face of
+the hummock at that end. Tug and Jim went back after the sled and what
+baggage had been left behind at the "lead," while Aleck and Katy began
+to contrive a shelter.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To manage this they cleared out the movable things in the boat,
+arranging all the cargo (except the mess chest), as fast as it was
+removed, in the shape of a wall extending across from the stern of the
+boat to the hummock. In this way, with the help of thwarts, two oars,
+and some blocks of ice, a rough wall was raised, about four feet high,
+enclosing a three-cornered space eight feet in width, having the
+hummock and starboard side of the boat for its sides, and the cargo
+wall (through which a hole had been left as a doorway) for its end or
+"base."</p>
+
+<p>Next, a roof must be contrived. The mast and two oars were set in a
+leaning position from the outer gunwale of the boat, where they rested
+firmly upon the thwart-cleats, up against the hummock, to which they
+were securely wedged.</p>
+
+<p>It had now become dark, and Katy lighted the lantern. Tug and Jim,
+covered with snow, brought their last sled-load and added it to the
+wall, throwing all their little stock of firewood, which amounted to
+about three bushels, into the hut. Then all hands set to work in the
+wind, which blew in sharp gusts now and then over the crest of the
+hummock, to stretch the sails upon the rafters formed by the mast and
+oars and thus form an awning-roof.</p>
+
+<p>The handling of the heavy mainsail proved an extremely difficult
+matter. Once it blew quite away from their grasp, and went off in the
+darkness, but Jim and the dog gave
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> chase, and soon caught it, Rex
+grabbing it with his teeth, and so holding on to it till the others
+came to the rescue. At the next attempt they succeeded in fastening
+one end, after which the task grew easier.</p>
+
+<p>The mainsail fairly in place, the jib was next hoisted across the end,
+and here its leg-of-mutton shape was a great advantage, for when the
+broad lower part was hung against the hummock wall the narrowing peak
+just fitted between the sloping roof and the top of the wall.</p>
+
+<p>When the two sails had been fastened, the party found themselves
+covered rudely but pretty tightly, and the spare canvas remained to
+serve as a carpet, which was greatly needed. Plenty of snow and cold
+were "lying round loose" yet, but to be inside was far better than to
+be out of doors. That this safety and warmth were possible to their
+frail structure was owing, of course, to the fact that it stood under
+the lee of the tall ice wall, which acted as a shield against the
+force of the gale.</p>
+
+<p>"Really, the wind does us more good than harm now," Aleck remarked,
+"for it drifts the snow under the boatsledge and against the wall,
+and, if it keeps on, will soon stop up all the holes, and leave us
+boxed into a tighter house than our old snow-chinked cabin back at the
+river."</p>
+
+<p>"Mebbe it'll bury us," said Jim, in an awful whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess not. Anyhow, we can have a fire first&mdash;there are
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>holes
+enough left yet to let the smoke out. Tug, just shovel the drifted
+snow out of the house, or pack it between the bobs under the boat,
+while I whittle some kindling. There won't any more blow in&mdash;the
+drift's too high now."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i009"></a>
+<img src="images/illus097.jpg" width="600" height="469" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Shall I boil tea or coffee?" asked Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"Coffee, I guess; and give us some fried bacon and crackers&mdash;but lots
+of coffee."</p>
+
+<p>"Why couldn't we use our oil stove now?"</p>
+
+<p>"We don't really need to. We have some wood, and can build a fire well
+enough inside here, and the oil is easier carried than the wood for a
+greater need. Ready, Tug?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"All right. Here are our kindlings. Katy, open your lantern, and let
+me set these shavings afire. Matches are too precious to be wasted or
+even risked."</p>
+
+<p>A minute later a brisk little fire was burning, snow was turning to
+water, and cold water to hot, while coffee was thinking that presently
+it would be in the pot, and slices of bacon were saying good-bye to
+their fellows, as one by one they dropped into the frying-pan.</p>
+
+<p>It was a strange scene, but the actors in it were too tired and hungry
+to notice how they looked, as they watched with eager interest the
+progress of supper-getting. They were not cold, and wraps were all
+thrown aside, for the wind was cut off, and the fire, small as it was,
+made a great deal
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> of heat in the confined space. The atmosphere of an
+Eskimo house of ice, though there may be no better fire than a little
+pool of train-oil in a soapstone saucer, where a wick of moss is
+smoking and flaring, will become so warm that the people remove not
+only their furs, but a large part of their under-clothing, and this
+when the temperature outside is fifty degrees or so below
+freezing-point.</p>
+
+<p>"It is just about big enough for a play-house," Katy remarked, as she
+jostled one and another in moving about.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad the snow blows over, and doesn't settle on the roof. If it
+did, I'm afraid the canvas would sag down awfully, or the oars break."</p>
+
+<p>"How will we sleep to-night?" asked Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Aleck, "I think we must all sleep in the boat somehow.
+Katy and you can lie on the straw in the stern-sheets, as usual, and
+Tug and I will bunk in somewhere for'ard. If we had plenty of wood to
+keep the fire going, it would be comfortable out here, but we must
+economize. If this snow keeps on, I don't know when&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Supper!" called Katy, and Aleck didn't finish what he was saying; but
+they all felt a little more serious about their situation. Though Jim
+objected, Aleck ordered him to put out every bit of the fire, and
+perched up in the boat they ate their supper by the light of the
+lantern.</p>
+
+<p>"It's precious lucky we found this straw in the cabin,"<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> said Tug, as
+he sat upon it, with a tin cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other
+a sandwich made of two pieces of cold johnny-cake and a slice of
+bacon.</p>
+
+<p>"That's cool! The <i>luck</i> is that Kate had the good sense to make us
+bring it. I know two young fellows who objected."</p>
+
+<p>"I know <i>three</i>," Katy spoke up. "Fair play. You sneered at me at
+first, Mr. Captain, as much as anybody. You needn't play goody-goody
+over the rest of them."</p>
+
+<p>"Go in, Katy!" they both cried. "Give it to him! He was going to leave
+every bit behind&mdash;and the rushes too."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well," pleaded Aleck, "I know now it was a good idea, and I'm
+not always so&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;big a fool as you look, eh?" exclaimed Tug, giving them all a laugh
+at the face made by the tall fellow, who was thus cheated out of his
+smooth apology.</p>
+
+<p>"Never you mind; I'll get even with you before long."</p>
+
+<p>Then the Captain took out his watch and wound it. Holding it in his
+hand he said: "Now it's <i>my</i> turn. I'll give you merry jesters just
+four minutes to finish your supper and make your beds. Then I blow out
+the lantern. Oil is precious."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XII">Chapter XII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">SNOWED UNDER.</p>
+
+<p>There was a roguish twinkle in the Captain's eye, as though oil was
+not so precious but that they might have burned a few more drops of
+it; but an order was an order, and everybody was quite ready for
+darkness when it came, except Tug.</p>
+
+<p>Then, how pitchy it was, and how the wind sung and whizzed over their
+rough-edged shield of ice, now and then catching the border of the
+ill-stayed tent and giving it a furious flap, as though about to throw
+it over! But weariness and warmth&mdash;for often snowy nights are not so
+cold as clear ones&mdash;closed ears as well as eyes, and when they awoke
+it was gray light in the tent, and half-past seven o'clock in the
+morning.</p>
+
+<p>Katy was the first one to peep over the gunwale of the boat, though
+Aleck was already awake.</p>
+
+<p>"Is the place full of snow?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, but the canvas sags a good deal."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you keep under your blankets till Tug and I&mdash;get
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> out of this,
+mate!&mdash;have cleared up the floor a little, and built a fire. I'm
+afraid we won't get away from here to-day."</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast the two larger lads crawled over the wall, sinking up
+to their waists in the snow as they stepped off. Struggling out, they
+climbed up a little way upon the crest of the hummock, where it had
+been swept clear of snow by the wind, which had now subsided; but
+nothing could be seen through the veil of thick-flying flakes except
+the dirty gray of their canvas roof and the thin wisps of smoke that
+curled upward from beneath it. All else was pure white, sinking on
+every side into a circle of foggy storm. Around the outer side of the
+boat and the end of the house drifts had been heaped up even on to the
+edge of the canvas, so that their house had become a cave between the
+ice and the snow-bank.</p>
+
+<p>"It's snug enough," said Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but I should hate to starve to death or freeze there, all the
+same," Aleck replied.</p>
+
+<p>"But it ain't very cold&mdash;and&mdash;and&mdash;say! we've lots of food, haven't
+we?"</p>
+
+<p>"Enough for about ten days, if we put ourselves on precious short
+rations; but most of it&mdash;the flour and bacon and so on&mdash;must be
+cooked, and this takes fire, and fire needs fuel, which is just what
+we haven't got. If we should
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> use every bit of wood there is except
+the boat and sledge, there wouldn't be enough to cook our food for ten
+days. Besides, though it isn't cold now, it's likely to turn mighty
+cold after this snow-storm, and then we must have a fire, or freeze."</p>
+
+<p>"But we could get ashore back at the Point in a day's travel. Or, for
+that matter, the south shore can't be far off, though we can't see it
+through this fearful storm."</p>
+
+<p>"If we had clear ice it would be all right, but how can we travel in
+this snow? It can't be less than two feet deep everywhere for miles
+and miles. You and I might go a little way, but Katy and The Youngster
+couldn't budge twenty steps. It's really a serious scrape we have
+brought ourselves into; and we ought to have thought about this before
+we started. Talk about Dr. Kane! He never was worse off in the arctic
+regions than we're likely to be right here in a day or two, unless
+something happens."</p>
+
+<p>Aleck certainly was very down-hearted, and his companion did not seem
+much disposed to "brace him up," as he would have expressed it. He
+could only reply, in an equally discouraged voice,</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see what <i>can</i> happen out here&mdash;for good."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor I. Let's go in; it's no use standing here in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> storm. But,
+mind you, no word of all this to the others yet."</p>
+
+<p>All day long the snow sifted down in fine, dense flakes that piled up
+higher and higher around their house, though there was enough wind to
+keep it from collecting on the roof, which was very fortunate. They
+sat in the boat, half nestling in the straw; told stories; made Tug
+tell them everything he could think of about animals and shooting;
+invented puzzles, Aleck setting some hard sums; mended clothes&mdash;this,
+of course, was Katy's amusement; and guessed at conundrums. Here Jim
+outshone all the rest. He was sharper with his answers than any of
+them, and finally proposed the following:</p>
+
+<p>"Ebenezer Mary Jane, spell it with two letters?"</p>
+
+<p>They knit their brows over it, pronounced it impossible to solve, and
+gave it up.</p>
+
+<p>"I-t, <i>it</i>," says Jim, and carried off the honors.</p>
+
+<p>Tired of this, they listened while Katy read from the precious book of
+Norwegian stories, and then chapter after chapter out of the little
+red Testament.</p>
+
+<p>"'Twouldn't be a bad scheme for some raven to bring <i>us</i> food," said
+Tug, thoughtfully. "I reckon Elisha's wilderness wasn't a worse one
+than this ice-plain."</p>
+
+<p>"The Eskimos, Dr. Kane writes, eat the raven himself sometimes, in
+their snow-deserts, which Elisha wouldn't have done on any account, I
+suppose."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No. That would have been like &AElig;sop's fable of killing the goose that
+laid the golden eggs."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, so it would," Katy responded; "but the Eskimos have lots of
+other birds to eat&mdash;auks and guillemots, and eider-ducks, and
+mollemokes."</p>
+
+<p>"But they're on the sea, where those birds live in enormous flocks,
+like our wild pigeons up in the pine woods&mdash;millions of 'em!" Tug
+exclaimed, with outstretched arms. "No such a thing on our lake after
+the blackbirds leave the marshes."</p>
+
+<p>"Except owls," interposed Jim; "and we can't eat them."</p>
+
+<p>"I feel as though even an owl-stew wouldn't be bad about now," Aleck
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, when lunch-time came, both the big boys vowed they were
+not a bit hungry, and refused to eat. Katy took only a cracker, but
+Jim ate three crackers and the last bit of the cold ham, picking the
+bone so clean that, big as it was, Rex, who was frightfully hungry,
+could get little comfort out of it, though he gnawed at it nearly all
+the afternoon. Then Tug smashed it for him, and gave him another try,
+which he appreciated highly.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Rex!" said Katy, with a sigh. "Travellers get so badly off they
+have to kill and eat their dogs sometimes"&mdash;Rex stopped crunching, and
+looked up with a glance of alarm at this&mdash;"and if we should&mdash;"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What a grand time Rex would have at his own bones!" interrupted
+Tug&mdash;a joke the utter absurdity of which wrinkled the faces that had
+become straight into hearty laughter. Towards evening a fire was
+built, which used the last of the sticks and one of the box-covers
+before the biscuits could be baked in the skillet, the ham fried, and
+tea made.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm 'fraid it won't be long before I shall have to try the little
+stove," said Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"I had no idea we were so near the end," Aleck muttered, under his
+breath.</p>
+
+<p>The meal that evening was a very dull one, and if they did not go to
+sleep at once after they had gone to bed, certainly there was little
+fun-making among the weather-bound prisoners. Aleck said afterwards he
+thought he slept about an hour that night, and Katy was sure she
+didn't really get soundly asleep at all; but it is difficult to lie
+awake <i>all</i> night, though your rest may be so broken that you think in
+the morning you have never once lost your knowledge of what was going
+on.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XIII">Chapter XIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">SAVED FROM STARVATION.</p>
+
+<p>When they arose next morning the air was much lighter, for it was no
+longer snowing. Breaking their way out after breakfast, Aleck and Tug
+climbed to the crest of the hummock above the house, where pretty soon
+they were joined by Katy and Jim, anxious to get a look abroad. There
+was not much satisfaction in this, though. On all sides stretched an
+unbroken area of white&mdash;a spotless expanse of new snow such as you
+never can see on land, for there was nothing to break the colorless
+monotony, except where the hummock stretched away right and left, half
+buried, and as white as the rest, save at a few points where crests of
+upturned ice-blocks stood above the drifts.</p>
+
+<p>"There is a higher point a little way over there," said Aleck to Tug;
+"let's go across, and see if it will show us anything new."</p>
+
+<p>"Mayn't we come?" asked Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Youngster, stay with Katy. It would be a useless journey for you,
+and we'll soon be back."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And off they went, floundering up to their waists much of the time.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim," says Katy, "I see, just beyond the hut"&mdash;pointing in the
+direction opposite to that in which the lads had gone&mdash;"a space under
+the edge of the hummock where the ice seems pretty clear. Understand?
+And look! don't you see that long, dark line there? I wonder what it
+can be? Let us go and find out. We can get along easily enough after a
+few steps."</p>
+
+<p>Jim strode ahead, and stamped down a path for Katy through the snow
+that lay between their house and the clear space of ice that had been
+swept by the eddy under the hummock, until, a moment later, they were
+both running along upon a clean floor towards the object they had
+seen. Now they could make it out clearly; and at the first discovery
+Jim tossed his cap high in the air and gave a hurrah, in which the
+girl joined, wishing she too had a cap to throw up. What do you
+suppose it was that had so excited and gladdened them? Can't you
+guess?</p>
+
+<p><i>A log of wood frozen into the ice!</i></p>
+
+<p>"Now we can have all the fire we want."</p>
+
+<p>"And I can keep the coffee hot for the second cup."</p>
+
+<p>Then they looked at one another, and laughed and clapped their hands
+again. Were two children ever before made so happy by the simple
+finding of a log?</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Just then they heard Aleck's voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Hallo-o-o! Where are you?"</p>
+
+<p>Jim jumped up, and was about to shout back, but his sister threw her
+hand over his mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop, Jimkin! Let them look for us, and have the fun of being
+surprised by our great discovery."</p>
+
+<p>So both kept quiet, and let the boys shout. By and by they saw their
+heads bobbing over the drift, and presently Tug came running towards
+them, with Aleck close behind.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you answer? Didn't you hear us? Hello! Whoop&mdash;la! Wood, or
+I'm a Dutchman!" and all echoed his wild shout, and tried to imitate
+his dance, until the joy was bumped out of them by sudden falls on the
+slippery ice.</p>
+
+<p>It was a tree trunk of oak, that had been floating about, frozen into
+the ice, above the surface of which fully half of it was to be seen.
+The stubs of the roots were towards them, while the upper end of the
+tree, which had been a large one, was lost in a drift more than forty
+feet distant.</p>
+
+<p>"There is enough good wood here," said Aleck, "to keep us warm for two
+months, if we don't waste it; and we ought to be very thankful."</p>
+
+<p>"Then let's have a fire right away!" Jim exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Youngster," was the Captain's response. "Fetch the axe,
+and we'll soon light up."</p>
+
+<p>When Jim had disappeared, Katy asked her brother what he had seen.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Nothing," was the reply. "And it would just be impossible to move
+half a mile a day in this snow. It's one of the deepest falls I ever
+saw. We've got to stay here, for all I see, till it melts, or crusts
+over, or blows away, or something else happens."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we have plenty of fuel now."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but we can't live on oak&mdash;though we might on acorns. But here
+comes Jimkin. Let's say no more about it now, Katy."</p>
+
+<p>As the chips flew under Tug's blows, Katy gathered an armful, and
+hastened back to kindle a fire, while Jim and Aleck busied themselves
+in clearing a good path, and in hauling the hand-sled from under the
+boat, where it had been jammed into the drift out of the way. By the
+time it was ready Tug had chopped a sled-load of wood, and they hauled
+it to the house. It had been very awkward climbing over their wall of
+boxes, but they had been afraid to move any part of it, for fear of
+throwing down the snow which had banked it up and made the place so
+tight and warm. However, there was one box which must shortly be
+opened in order to get at more provisions; so it was carefully moved,
+and the wood piled in its place, leaving a low archway underneath,
+through which they could crawl on their hands and knees.</p>
+
+<p>"That's just like an <i>igloo</i>," said Katy.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What's an 'igloo'?"</p>
+
+<p>"An Eskimo house made of frozen snow, in the shape of a dome, and
+entered by a low door, just like this one. By the way, are you getting
+hungry?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; bring us something to eat."</p>
+
+<p>They went back to their chopping. Pretty soon Katy came running out,
+bringing some crackers, a little hard cheese, and the last small jar
+of jelly&mdash;"just for a taste," she explained. Then she broke out with
+her story:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, boys, there's a whole lot of little birds&mdash;white and
+brown&mdash;around the house. They seem to like to get near the smoke. I'm
+going to throw out some crumbs."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do," said Tug, eagerly, "and I'll get my gun."</p>
+
+<p>"What? to shoot them! Oh, no."</p>
+
+<p>"But they will make good eating."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye-e-s, I suppose so," agreed the kind-hearted girl; "but I hate to
+have them shot."</p>
+
+<p>"It's hard, I know," Aleck said, sympathizing more with his sister
+than with the birds, I fear; "but we need everything we can get. It
+may be a great piece of good-fortune that they have come, and&mdash;Hold
+up, Tug; aren't you afraid if you shoot at them they will be scared
+away for good?"</p>
+
+<p>"No fear of that," was the answer; "and we have no other way. Come
+along, Katy, and keep Rex quiet."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Luncheon was stuffed in their pockets, and all hastened towards the
+house.</p>
+
+<p>There they still were&mdash;several flocks of birds resembling sparrows,
+but larger than any common sparrow, and white; so white, in fact, that
+they could only be seen at all against the snow by glimpses of a few
+brown and black feathers on their backs. In each flock, however, there
+were one or two of a different sort, easily distinguishable by their
+darker plumage and rusty brown heads. Tug said they were Lapland
+longspurs, and had pretty much the same habits as their numerous
+associates. The whole flock of birds was very restless, constantly
+rising and settling, but showed no disposition to go away, and took
+little alarm at the four figures that stealthily approached.</p>
+
+<p>"What are they?" whispered Aleck to Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"White snow-flakes, or snow-buntings," he whispered back. "Mighty good
+eating."</p>
+
+<p>Creeping quietly into the house, Tug took his shot-gun out of the boat
+and hastily loaded it, but with great care to see that the priming was
+well up in the nipple and a good cap on. Then he slung over his
+shoulders his shot-pouch and powder-horn&mdash;a short, black,
+well-polished horn of buffalo, of which he was very proud, for it had
+been a curiosity in Monore&mdash;and begged them all to stay in the house
+and let him alone, unless he called to them, and, above all, to keep
+the dog inside.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This said, he crawled forward out of the low doorway, holding his gun
+well in front of him, and the other three sat down to wait for the
+result.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely a minute had passed before a sharp report was heard, and a
+little thud upon the canvas roof. At this sound Rex leaped up, and was
+greatly excited. His ears were raised, his eyes flashed, and he gave
+several short, quick barks. But Aleck had twisted his fingers in the
+dog's mane, and forced him to drop down and keep quiet.</p>
+
+<p>Very soon afterwards there rang out a second report, and again, after
+time enough to reload, a third. Then the sportsman's voice was heard
+calling, and all ran out to see how many he had bagged.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i010"></a>
+<img src="images/illus115.jpg" width="400" height="524" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;A SHARP REPORT WAS HEARD.&quot;</p>
+</div><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XIV">Chapter XIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE ARCTIC VISITORS.</p>
+
+<p>"Help me catch these wounded ones!" cried Tug, dancing round in chase
+of several wing-tipped and lame birds that were floundering in the
+snow.</p>
+
+<p>The others rushed after them too, and it was exciting sport, for the
+chase often led them into deep drifts and down the scraggy sides of
+the hummock; it thus became the scene of many comical tumbles and
+failures, for several of the birds, having been shot as they crowded
+together in a bunch, were only slightly wounded, and able to make a
+vigorous attempt to escape. Rex took part also, but his work consisted
+chiefly in barking himself hoarse, for all he accomplished was the
+finding of one dead bird; and this, as he was not a retriever, he
+devoured on the spot.</p>
+
+<p>When, panting, red-faced, and tired out, they gathered again at the
+door, they counted up seventeen fat buntings and one long-spur as the
+result of the three shots. Three of these were badly mangled, and were
+given to Rex; the others they began at once to make into a stew for
+supper, which they always ate about sundown. This meal also
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> took the
+place of a dinner, as they ate only "a bite" at noon.</p>
+
+<p>While they were plucking the birds&mdash;and their bodies seemed wofully
+small when the thick coat of feathers had been removed&mdash;they asked Tug
+many questions about the buntings. He could not answer all of them,
+but the substance of what he told them was this:</p>
+
+<p>The snow-buntings&mdash;white snow-birds, or snow-flakes&mdash;belong to the far
+northern regions, where they go in summer to make their nests, often
+within the arctic circle. As soon as their young are able to fly they
+must begin their southward migration, for the excessive cold and the
+deep snow cut off all the grass-seeds, mosses, and insects upon which
+they feed in summer. So they begin to spread southward, not into
+British America alone, but also into Lapland and Russia, and the lower
+parts of Siberia. The bird seems to be a lover of cold, and used to
+scant fare and the roughest climate. It is not always, therefore, that
+they are to be seen in the United States south of the Great Lakes.</p>
+
+<p>Around these lakes, however, they are likely to come in large flocks
+after a cold snap or a deep fall of snow. The wild rice tracts and
+frozen marshes afford them an abundance of seeds and dried berries,
+upon which they grow fat. Though seeming less in danger than most
+other birds, since our hawks are gone southward, these buntings are
+exceedingly restless and timid, which makes them scurry away at the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>
+least alarm. Yet their timidity is not enough to insure their safety,
+for though they are constantly rising up and settling again, their
+flights are so short and uncertain that, as we have seen, a good
+marksman has no difficulty in shooting them. They are so small,
+however, that in this country of large game-birds they are never shot
+for food unless a necessity like the present one compels it. With the
+first bit of warm weather the snow-buntings and their companions, the
+long-spurs, whirl away to the bleak northward, crowding close upon the
+heels of Winter as he retreats to his polar stronghold.</p>
+
+<p>In the cool mountainous parts of the Far West there are several
+species of birds closely akin to the snow-flake, whose summer homes
+are among the peaks. They belong to the same genus (<i>Plectrophanes</i>),
+but none of them are so white as the Eastern bunting; in fact, like
+the ptarmigan, he is pure white only in midwinter, changing in summer
+to a dress much mottled with warm brown and black, traces of which
+remain in his winter hood and collar.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you suppose brought the snow-flakes away out hither on the
+ice?" Tug was asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we're not so far from land&mdash;though we might as well be a hundred
+miles away for all the good it will do us!&mdash;and I suppose they were
+flying across to the marshes and islands on the north shore. Probably
+our smoke attracted them."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Having got done with their birds, the boys returned to their chopping.
+Two or three large pieces were hacked out as back-logs to build their
+fire upon, instead of making it right on the ice; and since this last
+load was not needed in the wall, which had been banked up anew, it was
+spread around on the floor of the house to lift their canvas carpet
+above the chilly and often wet floor, for the weather was not cold
+enough now to keep it frozen always hard and dry under the tent.</p>
+
+<p>Evening came, and with it a feeling of homelike comfort queer to think
+about, yet not quite impossible under the circumstances, forlorn and
+dangerous as they were. The boys perched themselves on the gunwale of
+the boat, and watched Katy making snow-bird stew and steeping the
+fragrant tea.</p>
+
+<p>Then, how good it tasted! What a royal change from steady bacon and
+crackers, or tough dried beef, and water!</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if they'll come again?" said Aleck, examining his friend's
+gun. "Costs a heap o' powder, though, and the noise scares them. Say,
+Tug, don't you know how to build traps?"</p>
+
+<p>"I could make a figure four," piped Jim, "if I had the box."</p>
+
+<p>"Guess we could manage that. Ugh! what a frightful smoke!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I should say so," added Katy, rubbing her smarting eyes. "I think, if
+you would punch a hole under the wall, there would be a better
+draught. That hole in the corner of the roof don't make a very fine
+chimney."</p>
+
+<p>Tug took his ramrod and worked the snow away from a crevice at the
+foot of the wall, near the floor. The cooler air outside sucked in to
+take the place of the heated air within, which ascended to the hole at
+the edge of the roof, and a draught was set in motion, taking enough
+of the smoke out to make the place endurable while they ate their
+supper.</p>
+
+<p>How good that bird soup was! And what fun they had, eating it out of
+their tin cups with wooden spoons! There was only one bowl for the
+tea, which had to be passed around for each to drink from in turn.
+They forgot their difficulties for a little while, and were as merry
+as anybody could be. All at once Katy stopped short in a laugh, with
+an exclamation of astonishment:</p>
+
+<p>"I do believe we've never one of us thought what day it is! This is
+Christmas eve!"</p>
+
+<p>The evening was given to chatting, as they sat in the darkness half
+illumined by the red embers of their fire, for they wanted to save
+their lantern oil, and would not allow themselves to burn it
+uselessly; nor was it late when they went to sleep.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XV">Chapter XV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">CHRISTMAS BIRD-CATCHING.</p>
+
+<p>"Merry Christmas!"</p>
+
+<p>It was the Captain's voice, who felt it a part of his duty to be the
+first "on deck" in the morning, but had a rival in his sister, who was
+quite as active as he.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Merry</i> Christmas! this what you call merry?" inquired Jim,
+fretfully, as with his finger he traced figures in the frost on the
+under side of the canvas.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, let's try to make it as merry as we can," Katy cried,
+cheerfully, from the starboard corner of the stern-sheets.</p>
+
+<p>"I know what I'm going to do," said Tug&mdash;"make bird-traps. I lay awake
+a long time in the night planning them."</p>
+
+<p>"While you fellows talkee-talkee I'll build a fire;" and Aleck's tall
+form was soon bent over the heap of wood, where a blaze was quickly
+crackling. Tug and Jim followed, and all went out of doors, as was
+their custom, leaving Katy the whole igloo to herself for a little
+while.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately after breakfast Tug began on his traps.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He had brought along with him as a part of his baggage what he
+sometimes called his gunsmith shop. It consisted of a square tin box
+that would hold about two quarts of chestnuts&mdash;if he had had any
+chestnuts to put in it, which he hadn't. Besides a bag of No. 6 shot,
+this box contained one of the strangest and most worthless collections
+of odds and ends of boyish hardware that could be imagined. A
+catalogue of it would be useless. Among other articles were a
+knife-blade that long ago had parted from its handle, a brad-awl in
+the same condition, and a broken bullet-mould bound together by a long
+winding of fine wire.</p>
+
+<p>These three things the lad picked out and laid aside. Then he turned
+over the rest of the contents of the box until he had secured several
+tacks and brads of varied sizes, and a round piece of tin with holes
+in it. Next he discovered something which made him shout with a joy
+almost equal to his delight at finding the tree trunk. This best of
+all the finds, this forgotten treasure in the tin box, was a small
+coil of horse-hairs. They were the relics of a preparation he had made
+for a short camping trip into the woods three months before, while the
+October haze and bright cool air were playing among the rustling
+autumn leaves. How the scene came back to him! Now these hairs would
+serve him for a better use than mere amusement. He was carefully
+unwinding them when Jim rushed in to say that the snow-birds were
+around again.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Good!" cried Tug. "Take some crumbs out of the cracker box, and
+quietly throw them down where the snow-birds can get them. Put 'em on
+the top of the hummock first, then we'll gradually toll 'em down
+below. I'll be out in a minute."</p>
+
+<p>Jim got his crackers and vanished. Aleck was chopping wood, and Katy
+was with him. It was a cold day, but sunny, and there were no signs of
+the snow melting. Tug, alone in the house, looked fondly at his tools,
+and having nobody else to speak to, talked to himself.</p>
+
+<p>"We're like the boy and the ground-hog. 'We ain't got no meat for the
+supper, and the preacher's comin'.' So I guess I'd better leave the
+twitch-ups and make some common box traps that Kate and the kid can
+watch. Come here&mdash;you!"</p>
+
+<p>This last was addressed to a wooden box about twelve inches square, in
+which Katy had been wont to pack the small articles of table use. Tug
+turned them all out, and pulled off the leather hinges that held the
+cover. Then, taking an oak splinter from the firewood, he cut it to
+the size of a lead-pencil, and notched it in the middle. In this notch
+he tied the end of the ball of twine which formed a part of the boat's
+stores, and cut off a length of about fifteen feet. Next, he drew the
+locker out of the bearings upon which it rested, emptied it of its
+contents, and made a stick
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> and length of twine to fit it in the same
+way. Lastly, he tore two pieces a foot or so square from their one
+strong sheet of white paper. He had been at work scarcely ten minutes,
+but had ready two simple traps. Then he went outside and called to
+Katy, who came quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Katy," he said, "I have something for you to do. Please get a blanket
+and come out on top of the hummock, where you'll find me."</p>
+
+<p>While the girl went inside for the blanket Tug climbed up to the icy
+hill-top, where a small flock of snow-birds were pecking away at the
+crumbs Jim had thrown out. The lad crept stealthily towards them, and
+though the birds moved away, they were not greatly frightened, and did
+not go far. As quietly and rapidly as possible he spread down his
+pieces of paper on the highest part of the hummock, at a little
+distance apart, and not far from the edge of the ice table. Then,
+setting his boxes bottom upward, he perched each one slantwise upon
+one of his sticks, and stretched the strings away to the hummock's
+edge. On the paper underneath the boxes, and somewhat on the snow
+about them, he spread his bait of crumbs. Then showing Katy, who had
+now come out, where she could hide herself behind the edge of the
+upheaved ice cakes, he told her to wrap herself up well in the
+blanket, and to keep perfectly still till the birds came back. They
+would pick at the crumbs until
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> by and by one or two of them would be
+sure to step under the boxes.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," said he, "you jerk your string, the box falls, and Mr.
+Snow-flake is a prisoner."</p>
+
+<p>So Katy took her position, and Tug, asking Jim to help him, went off
+to make some other traps.</p>
+
+<p>"Youngster," he directed, "I want you to cut me eight square pieces of
+ice, each one about as big as a brick, and after that two slabs about
+eighteen inches square and two or three inches thick. You can take the
+axe and cut 'em out in big chunks from the hummock, and then saw 'em
+into shape&mdash;here's the saw&mdash;and mind you keep away from where Katy
+is."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want them for?"</p>
+
+<p>"For traps&mdash;never you mind why: you'll see presently," was the lofty
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>Jim thought it a little unfair, but he good-naturedly took the axe and
+saw and went to work.</p>
+
+<p>In half an hour he came to say he was done, and was quickly followed
+by his sister, whose face was beaming.</p>
+
+<p>"I've caught three!" she cried.</p>
+
+<p>"Three? Good!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they came, a big flock&mdash;about forty, I should think&mdash;and
+chattered and twittered about over the house."</p>
+
+<p>"I heard 'em," Tug exclaimed.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i011"></a>
+<img src="images/illus127.jpg" width="600" height="459" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">KATY TRAPPING THE SNOW-BUNTINGS.</p>
+</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes? Well, they seemed to enjoy warming their wings in the smoke, for
+they flew through it lots of times. Then pretty soon one spied a
+crumb, and I suppose he called his fellows, for in a minute they came
+all hopping about on the snow, and getting nearer and nearer the
+boxes. I got so nervous I could hardly hold the strings still, but I
+kept as quiet as a mouse&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Or as a cat after a mouse!" interrupted Aleck, who had come in with
+an armful of wood.</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;and pretty soon one little bird went right under the locker. There
+was another close behind him, but I was too anxious to wait, and I
+pulled the string, catching one and knocking the other over. It made
+so little noise that the rest of the flock were not alarmed, and I
+suppose they didn't miss the lost one, for pretty soon they began to
+go around the locker, and one flew right on top of it. I was afraid he
+would tumble it down, but he didn't, and in a minute another had gone
+under. But there was a third hopping right towards the paper, and so I
+just waited till he had run under, when&mdash;piff!&mdash;I had them both!"</p>
+
+<p>"Good for you, Katy!" cried the delighted boys. "You'll make a
+sportsman yet!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XVI">Chapter XVI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">HOW TUG MADE "TWITCH-UPS."</p>
+
+<p>"It's cold work, though," Katy replied, "sitting so still out on that
+ice. I am just stiff."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll fix that all right," Tug said, showing some small forked and
+notched sticks he had cut out of oaken chips. "Come out with me, and
+I'll show you how to set a trap that will drop itself, or, rather,
+where the bird shuts his own prison door."</p>
+
+<p>Gathering up Jim's blocks and slabs of ice, the whole party climbed to
+the top of the hummock, which, as I have said, was almost the only
+spot in the wide plain free from deep snow, and Tug went to work.</p>
+
+<p>Making a little hole in the ice, he wedged into it a short,
+flat-topped peg, and packed a handful of snow about its base.</p>
+
+<div>
+<p>Then with the brick-like blocks of ice he arranged a hollow square
+around the peg. On top of the peg he laid the flattened side of the
+stem of a forked stick, like a letter
+<img src="images/y-flat.jpg" height="20" width="30" alt="" />
+laid flat, and on top of
+that, as though it were a con<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>tinuation of the peg, he set a post
+about ten inches high. Asking Aleck to hold these twigs in position
+for him, he took one of the slabs, lodged an end of it on the rim of
+the little wall made by his "bricks," and gently rested the other end
+upon the top of the post, which was held in its upright position under
+the pressure, at the same time keeping the
+<img src="images/y-flat.jpg" height="20" width="30" alt="" />
+in place. This arranged,
+he spread crumbs about the trap and thickly inside. Then he announced
+it ready.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i012"></a>
+<img src="images/illus131.jpg" width="400" height="514" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">SETTING THE NEW TRAPS.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Oh, I see how it works," Katy cried. "The bird, in leaping down, is
+almost sure to perch on the forked twig, or, at least, to strike it.
+That throws it out of place, and tumbles the whole cover down,
+shutting him in."</p>
+
+<p>"Correct!" said Tug, admiringly, as he went to work on a second trap
+of the same kind.</p>
+
+<p>This set, all left the hummock (except Jim, who agreed to take his
+turn, wrapped in a blanket, at watching the strings) and joined labor
+in making two or three more of the new ice traps, for now that the
+birds were plenty, they wanted to capture as many as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"If only I had some sort of a spring," Tug announced, "I could make
+twitch-ups. I've all the rest of the fixin's, 'cause I found some
+horse-hairs in my 'shop' this morning; but I don't see how I am to get
+a springy twig or a strip of whalebone. I had some old umbrella-ribs,
+but I didn't bring 'em along. Wish I had."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Aleck thought over all his stores, but could remember nothing that
+would answer the purpose. "How about your ramrod?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Too stiff," Tug replied.</p>
+
+<p>So they gave up talking, and attended to their work. Suddenly Aleck
+went to the log, split off a strip of oak, and whittled it into a thin
+rod. "How is that?" he said, as he handed it to his comrade.</p>
+
+<p>Tug beat his hands and blew on his aching fingers a while before
+answering. Then he bent the rod gently, but before it was curved half
+as far as he needed, it broke.</p>
+
+<p>"No good. Nothing but hickory will stand the strain."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what you might do, perhaps," Katy suggested, having
+come out just in time to witness this little trial. "The handle of the
+boat-hook is hickory. If you could make an oak handle for that, you
+could split the hickory up into springles, couldn't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's so!&mdash;that's a bright idea. Try it, Tug," and the Captain ran
+off for the boat-hook. The shaft of this was straight-grained,
+well-seasoned, and tough, but an oaken staff would serve its purpose
+quite as well.</p>
+
+<p>"I should think that would answer first-rate," said Tug, "but you had
+better whittle out your oak stick first. It would be rough to be
+caught suddenly without any handle to our boat-hook."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's so," Aleck assented, and took his axe to split a suitable
+piece from the log.</p>
+
+<p>The making and shaping of a new handle, even in the rough, cost him
+much labor with his few tools. It was nearly an hour, therefore,
+before he was ready to pull the irons off the old handle and fasten
+the new one into its place; and fully another hour had passed by the
+time this difficult job had been done.</p>
+
+<p>Then, with great care, and by the help of little wedges, a clean,
+straight splinter about as thick as your finger was split from the
+tough hickory staff. It was tried by the trapmaker, very gently at
+first, and bent well, so that it was pronounced serviceable, though
+not as good as a green twig or sapling, such as one would cut in the
+woods for the same purpose. It would answer to try with, however, and
+after a bit of luncheon they watched Tug make his twitch-ups&mdash;or, at
+least, all did except the one on duty at the strings. As Tug himself
+had to take a turn, he didn't get his traps done in time to put them
+up that day.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, however, all were out bright and early to help him do
+so. The snow-flakes had been there before, however, and one
+unfortunate had stepped on a treacherous fork, and was caught.</p>
+
+<div>
+<p>Having arranged two more ice-boxes and letter
+<img src="images/y-upright.jpg" width="17" height="18" alt="" />
+traps, for which the
+pieces had been cut yesterday, they all gathered around Tug to watch
+him set his first twitch-up.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>With one of the tent spikes he dug a slanting hole in the ice, into
+which he inserted one end of his hickory splint, which was about four
+feet long, fastening it firmly by ramming ice and snow down into the
+hole beside it, which would quickly freeze solid. A short distance
+from the foot of the splint he then laid down a short board, which was
+braced at the foot (or end farthest from the splint) against the side
+of a trough cut in the ice. The remaining three sides of the board
+were then fenced in by small blocks of ice.</p>
+
+<p>Next, taking from his pocket a cord made by twisting two horse-hairs
+together, he slipped one end through a loop in the other, thus making
+a noose, and tied it to the top of the hickory splint. This done, he
+bent down the splint until he hooked its tip under the nearest end, or
+head, of the board, which was raised a couple of inches from the
+ground. Spreading the noose carefully out upon the board, he sprinkled
+within a particularly nice lot of crumbs, then laid a little train
+away from the foot of the board as a leader, and the snare was ready.
+The weight of the bird treading upon the board to get the bait would
+press it down enough to let the lightly caught whip end of the splint
+spring up: this would pull the noose with a sudden movement, and the
+bird would find itself dangling in the air by the legs or a wing, or
+possibly by the neck.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Removing their captive, and resetting the square trap, the whole party
+went out of sight to await further results. Yesterday they had
+captured thirteen birds in all, and had eaten only nine. With three
+more traps, they ought to do better to-day, and so accumulate a little
+stock ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"At any rate," Katy observed, "we've plenty of refrigerator room to
+keep them in."</p>
+
+<p>They had, indeed&mdash;a refrigerator about a hundred miles square!</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XVII">Chapter XVII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE.</p>
+
+<p>Breakfast was late the next morning, for Katy proposed to vary their
+fare by frying some snow-birds with bacon, and Jim was called upon to
+help pluck and prepare them&mdash;work which did not please that young
+gentleman very much.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose now we shall have nothing but snow-birds, snow-birds," he
+growled.</p>
+
+<p>"Do try and be a little more cheerful, Jim," said Katy. "You are
+always grumbling about something."</p>
+
+<p>"What else do you want?" asked Tug. "You have got beef, though it's
+dried, and bacon and poultry."</p>
+
+<p>"Flesh, fowl, and good red herring," quoted Aleck, from an old
+proverb.</p>
+
+<p>"All but the herring," grunted The Youngster, crossly. "Now if only we
+had some fish&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Fish!" Tug shouted, leaping to his feet. "Never thought of it, as I'm
+a Dutchman! Why shouldn't we? We have only got to cut a hole in the
+ice, and 'drop 'em a line,' as the man told his wife to do when he
+went off to Californy."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Strange we never thought of that," said Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"Strange? I'm the biggest dolt in three counties. Why, I'll catch you
+some be-'utiful muskallonge for dinner. Come on, Captain. Let's cut a
+hole while the boy is cleaning those twopenny tomtits."</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on!" cried the disgusted Jim; "I'm coming too."</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, my dear child" (Tug's voice was that of a pitying mother).
+"Remember Captain's order. You're to be a nice boy, and help in the
+kitchen. Maybe we'll let you cut the heads off our fishes, if you do
+well with the birds. Ca-a-reful!" and the tormentor dodged a club
+hurled by the angry lad, who wished (and said so) that he was only a
+little bigger.</p>
+
+<p>Jim and Katy both felt it was hard indeed that he should be deprived
+of this particular fun, in which he took so much interest, and it
+seemed as though the big fellows might have waited. The cook would
+willingly have let her scullion depart, but an order was an order, and
+he had to stay, plucking savagely at the pretty feathers of the
+innocent buntings, and declining to come back to good-humor, until the
+lads returned with the report that they had cut two holes in the thin
+ice that formed over the "lead," which, the reader will remember, was
+crossed just a few rods back, and now were ready to set their lines.</p>
+
+<p>Here was a chance of revenge. Jim's own line was the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> most important
+one in their small stock. He was tempted to refuse to let them use it;
+but he was not a bad fellow, and a better heart prevailed.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll find my line and pickerel spoon in that little box of things
+in our chest," he said.</p>
+
+<p>Tug walked up to him and offered his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Jeems, I'll accept your apology for throwing sticks of wood at your
+uncle, and call it square. Agreed?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes!" said Jim, with a laugh, and peace was restored.</p>
+
+<p>Doubtless you expect an entertaining chapter out of the fishing, but
+it can't be given if we are to stick to the facts of this cruise. No:
+the big muskallonge they hoped to catch was somewhere under the ice,
+but whether it was because he didn't see their bait, or was not
+tempted, or knew better than to bite, certain is it that none of these
+giants of winter fishing were caught. With the toothsome pickerel they
+had better luck, and several were taken on this first and on following
+days, so that Jim did not lose all the fun by his unlucky engagement
+in the kitchen. The greatest adventures of the trip were not so much
+in fishing and hunting as in being fished and hunted <i>after</i>; and
+these were to begin without much delay.</p>
+
+<p>The day the log was found and the first snow-birds were captured it
+had turned cold again, and it remained so for a whole week; but our
+heroes were kept busy in watching
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> the traps, which caught them more
+snow-birds than they could eat; in attending to the fishing; and in
+getting wood. The snow did not melt at all, for the weather was very
+cold indeed, and sometimes the wind blew frightfully, but always in
+such a way that the hummock sheltered the tenthouse pretty well, so
+that, with the help of a big fire, they could keep warm enough. For
+amusement, they marked out a checker-board, and played checkers and
+other games. They tried their hands&mdash;or, rather, their heads&mdash;at
+spinning yarns also; they examined each other in geography or grammar,
+and held spelling competitions, choosing words out of Dr. Dasent's
+book, which they came to learn almost by heart. At all these studious
+entertainments Katy was likely to be ahead. But when the subject was
+turned to arithmetic, Aleck became teacher, for that was his favorite
+study.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the week had passed, and its close completed the fifteenth day
+since they had left home, which seemed very far away now. They had no
+anxiety so long as the weather held cold; or, if any one felt worried,
+he did not talk about it.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of this week, however, the wind changed in the night to the
+southward, so that on the eighth morning of their stay in the igloo
+they found the air almost as balmy as spring, with a gentle breeze
+from the south. The sun was shining, also, and no birds came near the
+house all
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> day. This was compensated for, however, by their taking the
+largest pickerel yet. Towards noon it clouded up, and began to rain,
+melting the snow with such rapidity that the whole region was covered
+with slush. The shapeless tent-roof let streams of water pour in at
+the sides, and, altogether, affairs were very disagreeable.</p>
+
+<p>No one felt disposed to grumble, however, since, when the snow had
+been washed away, or cold weather came again to freeze solid the slush
+and surface-water, they could go ahead on their journey&mdash;something all
+were extremely anxious to do.</p>
+
+<p>The wind continued to blow from the south all night, and when Aleck
+went out next morning he hurried back with an alarmed face to report
+that distant open water could be seen in that direction.</p>
+
+<p>"The snow has almost gone. I must take a scout after breakfast, and
+see what the prospect is."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the coffee and fried pickerel had been disposed of,
+therefore, Aleck set out, taking Jim with him.</p>
+
+<p>When two hours had passed, and the scouts did not return, Tug and Katy
+became alarmed, and went to the crest of the ridge. It had grown so
+foggy, however, that nothing could be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"Hadn't we better make a big smoke," Katy suggested, "as a signal? The
+fog might lift for a minute, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> give them a chance to catch sight of
+it. They must be lost."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a good idea, as are most of your notions, Katy. I'll get some of
+that wet root-wood, and make a fire on top of the hummock."</p>
+
+<p>It was done, and another hour passed. Chilly with the fog and the raw
+wind, they had gone down into the hut to get warm, and were just
+attending to the "kitchen" fire, when their ears were startled by a
+loud, sharp noise, like the report of a distant cannon, only much
+sharper; then another, still louder; then a third, somewhat nearer;
+and, after a minute's interval, a fourth tremendous crash, close by
+the house, which trembled under their feet and over their heads as
+though an earthquake had shaken it.</p>
+
+<p>"The ice is cracking!" Tug cried, seizing Katy's hand, and dragging
+her to the boat, into which both jumped in terror.</p>
+
+<p>An instant later Tug recovered himself. "This is no use," he said.
+"Our ice is firm just here, and I don't hear her bursting any more.
+Let's go outside."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think we'd better put some of the food-boxes and things
+into the boat, so that they won't be lost if the ice here should break
+to pieces suddenly?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we might do that. Let's hurry."</p>
+
+<p>Five minutes was enough for this work, and then both
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> went out and
+climbed upon the hummock. They found the whole appearance of things
+changed towards the south and east. Where, yesterday, had lain one
+broad white field of solid ice, as far as the eye could reach, now
+were spread before them (for the fog had lifted a little, so that they
+could see better) the long, slow waves of a lake of blue water, filled
+with cakes and wide sheets of floating ice.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! oh!" Katy cried, wringing her little hands at the thought, "Aleck
+and Jim are drowned."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I guess not," said Tug, encouragingly. "They are probably safe on
+some of those big pieces of ice."</p>
+
+<p>"But how will they ever get back?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know," her companion answered, slowly. "If only this terrible
+fog would go away, so that we could see something, perhaps we might
+help them. I don't know what we can do now but to keep up our smoke."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if <i>we</i> are afloat?" Katy asked, trying to steady her voice,
+for she saw how useless it was to weep when so much might be required
+of her any minute. "Ah, Rex, good dog, what shall we do now? Can't you
+find your master?"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XVIII">Chapter XVIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">RESCUING THE WANDERERS.</p>
+
+<p>Rex wagged his tail mournfully, and looked at the strange scene,
+whining as if he understood it all, but was at his wits' end how to
+act.</p>
+
+<p>"Afloat?" Tug repeated, after a minute. "There are cracks on each side
+of us, and a narrow one part way behind, between us and that high
+hummock over there to the southward, which, in my opinion, hides the
+low, flat land, for I think it is only four or five miles to the
+shore. But it might as well have been four or five hundred while that
+snow lasted. Let's watch, and see if the crack gets wider."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you feel quite sure, Tug, that Aleck and Jim are on one of those
+big cakes of ice?" The tone of Katy's voice was very anxious.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I do, Katy. They certainly have not jumped off and drowned
+themselves on purpose."</p>
+
+<p>This made Katy smile, in spite of her anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>"They surely are not very far off; but, the most alarming part of the
+business is, how they are to get to us if that
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> big crack increases to
+the size of a river. Can you make up your mind whether it is really
+growing wider?"</p>
+
+<p>In the course of half an hour it became very plain that the crack was
+getting wider rapidly, and their icy foundation, which they had
+thought so fixed, had now become a big raft, slowly drifting down the
+lake under the pushing of the steady west wind&mdash;moving a little faster
+than its companion rafts in the wide waste, because its high hummock
+served as a sort of sail. All the cakes our watchers could see were
+much smaller than this one. Occasionally these pieces would crash
+together, and crumble, or one would slide under the other. Sometimes
+their own "floe," as Dr. Kane would have called so large a piece,
+collided with others, but always came off victorious. They came to the
+conclusion that its having the thick hummock, like a great, solid
+back-bone, rendered it far stronger than the rest, as well as a better
+sailer.</p>
+
+<p>Beside them another floe, also bearing a hummock (a section of their
+own), was pressing its way on, to the ruin of smaller ones. It was
+separated from their floe by an open canal, perhaps five hundred yards
+wide, and floated along about even with them, sometimes swinging
+nearer, sometimes receding. This great cake, an acre or more in
+extent, lay in the direction whither the absent ones had gone, and it
+was hoped that they were upon it. This would be
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> the next best thing
+to having them safely back, but the chance was a small one, at best.</p>
+
+<p>Talking over these loopholes of escape, Katy and Tug tried to forget
+their discomforts and dangers, and to show each other cheerful and
+reliant faces. Nevertheless it was dreary work.</p>
+
+<p>The weary day wore on&mdash;the day they thought would perhaps be their
+last&mdash;until night, with its starless gloom, was surrounding the
+desolate picture of grinding ice and of black, rolling waves, dimly
+seen. Chilled to the bone, for neither could bear to stay within the
+hut, they had grown silent and almost despairing, when Rex suddenly
+started to his feet, and, pricking up his ears, looked intently
+towards the great floe beside them, which had now approached much
+nearer. Then, after listening a moment, he uttered a loud bark, and
+bounded off. The two castaways followed to the edge of the ice, and
+there, having silenced Rex, could presently hear a faint halloo&mdash;her
+brother's voice!</p>
+
+<p>"Halloo! halloo-o!" they shrieked back.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us get the boat, and go after them!" cried Katy, nearly wild with
+joy and excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't do it," said Tug, in a discouraged tone. "All four of us
+couldn't budge that boat and sledge before morning. It is frozen in,
+and has got to be chopped out and dried up. Must do something besides
+get the boat."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That floe is nearer than it has been before, Tug. Maybe it'll come
+quite close."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mebbe it will. I 'low that's our only hope. We can do nothing,
+Katy, but watch, and&mdash;and pray, Katy. Let us go back to the fire. It
+is cold here, and we can do no good. Once in a while I'll come down
+and scream across to cheer 'em up."</p>
+
+<p>Reluctantly, therefore, they returned to the igloo, warmed their feet,
+and picked up something to eat, but did not go to bed. Tug and Rex
+would frequently run out and shout across to Aleck, reporting at each
+return that the water-space (as well as could be guessed in the
+darkness) seemed to be surely narrowing. Towards morning Katy was
+persuaded to lie down, consenting to do so only when promised that she
+should be roused as soon as daylight appeared. Tug himself fell
+asleep, but both awoke with the first light of dawn, and hastened
+together to the edge of the floe, where the water lay calm and smooth,
+gray as iron and cold as death, between the divided friends.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I can see them!" cried the girl, and sent a cheery call across
+the "lead," which had now narrowed to a few rods. "Poor little Jim!
+See how he has to lean against Aleck."</p>
+
+<p>"We're safe," came back the shout, "but almost worn-out. Can you move
+the boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then unroll the ball of twine, and tie one end of it to the
+clothes-line, and to the other end of the clothes-line knot all the
+drag-ropes put together. Then fasten the loose end of the twine to
+Rex's collar, and make the dog bring it to me. Understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>But Tug didn't quite understand. He was off too soon, in his haste to
+get the twine and clothes-line and ropes. Aleck hadn't finished his
+directions.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell Tug," he shouted again to Katy, "to bring the sled, and fasten
+that to the drag-ropes. When I have hauled the ropes across, and got
+hold of the sled, I'll send Rex back, and you can pull in the twine,
+and catch the ropes, and tow us across. Hurry up, if you want us
+alive! This ice may drift apart again."</p>
+
+<p>In five minutes Tug came running back, with all his preparations made.
+Now everything depended upon Rex. The twine was slipped through his
+collar, and securely knotted, Katy kneeling the while with her arms
+about his shaggy head, whispering to him what he was to do. Then, in a
+stern voice, Tug commanded:</p>
+
+<p>"Go, Rex&mdash;go to Aleck!" at the same time pushing him into the water,
+while the Captain coaxed from the other side, and even Jim roused
+himself at this joyful prospect of deliverance.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At first the dog, brave as he was, turned back, whining pitifully at
+the freezing water. But they fought him away, and finally poor Rex
+struck out and swam across to where Aleck was anxiously waiting to
+lift him out. Taking hold of the twine the dog had brought, the
+Captain reeled it in as rapidly as his stiffened fingers would let
+him, until the clothes-line began to come, and after it the heavier
+drag-ropes.</p>
+
+<p>But both clothes-line and drag-ropes together proved too short to
+reach quite across, and the floes seemed to have stopped their
+approach to each other, so that waiting would be useless, if not
+dangerous.</p>
+
+<p>"There is about ten feet lacking," Aleck shouted. "You must find some
+more rope."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't do it, unless I cut it off the mainsail."</p>
+
+<p>"Cut it off, then, and make haste."</p>
+
+<p>Tug went off on a run, and another five minutes passed by before he
+got back. Already the canal had begun to widen, so that fifteen feet
+instead of ten would be required.</p>
+
+<p>Tossing the rope into the sled-box, Tug screamed, "All right!" and the
+captain began drawing the sled to his side as quickly as possible, so
+that the two parties were again disconnected, and wholly reliant upon
+the nervous and frightened dog, which Jim was holding firmly, and
+coaxing into quiet. Swiftly splicing the rope with the new
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>piece,
+the dog was let go. This time he leaped eagerly into the water for his
+return trip, apparently feeling perfectly the responsibility laid upon
+him, though perhaps he was only frightened, and eager to get back to
+what seemed home.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i013"></a>
+<img src="images/illus151.jpg" width="600" height="470" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;REX STRUCK OUT AND SWAM ACROSS.&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Positions were now reversed. Aleck and Jim had the sled&mdash;Tug and Katy
+the twine. Drawing this in, all waited with feverish anxiety to see if
+there would be length of rope enough. There was; but so rapidly had
+the floes drifted apart that Tug held the very end of the taut line in
+his outstretched hand, and had not a bit to spare. One minute more,
+and the lines would not have reached across.</p>
+
+<p>Then they saw Aleck snatch off his overcoat, his undercoat, and his
+boots, and put them into the box of the sled, which was floating
+unsteadily at the margin of the ice. They saw him half lift the
+exhausted Jim, helping him to get into the box, and then heard him
+call out in quick words:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't try to pull at all hard until you can catch the big rope. I am
+going to swim and push a little ways, but I expect I shall be too
+chilled to do more than a little. When I stop pushing, and you get
+hold of the drag-ropes, haul us both ashore as fast as you can. Here
+goes!"</p>
+
+<p>With these words he slid into the water, swimming with his right hand,
+while with his left he pushed along the box and sled, which was half
+sunken, and in which Jimmy crouched, shaking with cold, but afraid to
+stir.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Keep it up a little longer!" Tug sung out, as he knelt on the edge of
+the ice, and carefully gathered in the clothes-line until he could
+almost clutch the end of the stronger rope. "I've almost got it! About
+two strokes more! All right! Now hold on with both arms, and we'll
+soon have you." Whereupon Katy seized the rope with him, and both
+together pulled as hard and as fast as they knew how.</p>
+
+<p>The strange little ferry-boat and its passengers seemed to approach
+very slowly, but finally it came so near that Tug stopped hauling on
+the line, and knelt down in order to lean out and grasp the box after
+Katy should have pulled it a few inches closer. Jim, seeing this
+motion, forgot how delicate was the balance, and rose up, when in an
+instant the unsteady craft tipped, and the boy went backward into and
+under the blue lake. At any rate, so it seemed to the spectators; but
+the little fellow, making a despairing clutch as he went over, had
+gripped a runner of the sled, and a second later his face appeared
+close by the ice, where the fond sister, pale as he, seized his arm
+and helped him scramble out.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XIX">Chapter XIX.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">ADRIFT ON AN ICE RAFT.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Aleck, startled by the upset of the sled and Jim's
+disappearance, had let go of his support. Now, seeing Jim safe, he was
+trying to regain it, when suddenly Tug saw him throw up his hand and
+sink out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>Tug knew what that meant, and that there was not an instant to spare.
+Tearing off his coat&mdash;he had thrown aside his overcoat in the heat of
+the work before-he watched till he saw Aleck rising through the clear
+water, then dashed in, followed by the noble dog, and grasped his
+hair. Aleck hung in his hold a dead weight, as though life had gone;
+but Tug knew that the fatal end had not come yet, and that this was
+only the fainting of utter exhaustion and the cramping paralysis of
+cold. Cold! Tug had felt the dreadful chill striking through and
+through him the instant he had touched the water. Already it was
+clogging his motions and overcoming his strength with a fearful
+numbness that would fast render him powerless. And Aleck had been in
+that stiffening, paralyzing flood several minutes!</p>
+
+<p>All this went through Tug's mind, as on a dark night a
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> flash of
+lightning enters and leaves the pupil of the eye; it took "no time at
+all," and the instant he had hooked his fingers in Aleck's hair he
+shouted to Katy to shove out the sled where he might reach it. She did
+so, and by it drew both the lads to the ice, the brave rescuer
+grasping the friendly box and towing his senseless Captain.</p>
+
+<p>Then a new difficulty presented itself. Aleck was perfectly helpless,
+and like a log in the water; or worse than that, for he would sink if
+Tug loosed his hold. How should they get him out?</p>
+
+<p>Katy saw this problem, and said to Tug, as soon as the ice had been
+reached, while she knelt at the brink of the splashing water:</p>
+
+<p>"Let me hold his head up&mdash;I can do it&mdash;until you can climb out; then
+both of us together, I guess, can drag him up on to the ice. Oh dear!
+will he ever come to?"</p>
+
+<p>Her tears blinded her eyes, but she dashed them away, and took firm
+hold upon Aleck's collar, while Tug scrambled out. Then, while Katy
+held his head above the curling, gurgling little waves that the wind
+was chasing, Tug slipped one end of the rope under Aleck's arms, and
+made a loop about his body, by which they were able to drag his
+lifeless form out upon the ice, as though he were a fish or a seal.</p>
+
+<p>"Now let's have the sled!" screamed Tug, minding neither
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>his own
+freezing garments nor Katy's anguish; and having pulled this from the
+water, he and Katy lifted Aleck upon it, and set off as fast as they
+could for the tent, whither the miserable Youngster had already
+started in a staggering trot, with many groans and rough tumbles. The
+others overtook him, and all went on together; but Jimkin got no
+comfort, for Aleck might be drowned&mdash;they did not know; while Jim,
+though certainly miserable, was alive and active, enough so, at least,
+to look after himself.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i014"></a>
+<img src="images/illus157.jpg" width="400" height="542" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAG HIS LIFELESS FORM<br />OUT UPON THE
+ICE.&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"How fortunate that there happened to be a kettle of hot water on the
+fire!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Now here we are. We'll have to drag him through the low doorway
+heels first. Help me lift him off the sled, Katy."</p>
+
+<p>Laid on straw and overcoats by the warm fire, Tug quickly stripped off
+the Captain's wet clothes, while Katy brought warm blankets, and
+wrapped him in them.</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you say you had a little bottle of brandy, Katy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; Miss Marshall told us we ought never to go on a long journey
+without it, and I brought it along for fear something like this might
+happen. Here it is."</p>
+
+<p>Taking the bottle, Tug forced a few drops between Aleck's lips and saw
+them trickle down his throat. A minute later there was a stronger
+throb of the fluttering heart, a quiver of the eyelids, and a faint,
+sighing groan, which the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> anxious watchers could just hear. At this
+sign of returning life they rose and grasped each other's hands. The
+tears Katy had so bravely kept back when she had had work to do and no
+time to cry came now in an unrestrained shower; but they were tears of
+joy, for the Captain was waking up all right.</p>
+
+<p>Now poor little Jim got some attention, and Katy left them to
+themselves while the three boys helped each other to get rid of their
+icy clothes and crawl into the blankets and warm straw of their
+bedrooms, as they called the hull of the boat. This done, Katy came
+back and made hot tea for her three tucked-up patients, which so
+revived them that Tug and Jim begged to be allowed to get up as soon
+as their clothes had been dried; but Aleck said he wanted to sleep two
+weeks, and so would stay in bed a little longer.</p>
+
+<p>As for Rex, whose heroism in bringing back Aleck's floating coat, when
+he was unable to aid his drowning master himself, had been forgotten
+until now, he was content to lie in a snug corner and wait for the
+half-frozen fish his mistress had promised him should presently be the
+reward of his faithfulness.</p>
+
+<p>That eventful day came to an end without anything further to disturb
+their peace. Aleck rose towards evening, and went out fishing with Jim
+and Tug, catching two or three pickerel. The night passed in unusual
+quiet, for the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> wind, though steady, was not a whistling gale, nor did
+the grinding roar of moving ice come to their ears, as it had
+sometimes during the previous daytime.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning the same clouds were overhead, the same vague haze hid
+the horizon, the same waste of ice and water surrounded their lonely
+camp, the same quiet breeze breathed steadily across the lake, and,
+but for occasional noises of their own making, the whole world seemed
+profoundly still. This was depressing, and the spirits of each one of
+our young adventurers sank to a level with the flat ice and the dull
+gray sky; yet it was evident that nothing could be done except to wait
+as patiently as possible for some change.</p>
+
+<p>"If yez can't be aisy, be as aisy as ye can," remarked Tug, quoting an
+excellent Irish rule of life under adverse circumstances; but the
+pleasantry met with only a faint smile from his disheartened
+companions. All thought that any <i>active</i> perils would be better than
+this motionless, objectless gloom, so threatening because so still and
+uncertain.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if we haven't stopped drifting," said Katy, as they were
+pretending to eat a bit of luncheon, for which nobody had much
+appetite; and, more for the sake of doing something than because it
+seemed to make much difference whether they had come to a standstill
+or not, they took a few chips to the edge of the floe, and threw them
+into the water. These tossed up and down on the gentle waves,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> but did
+not change their position at all, so our navigators concluded their
+floe to be at last stationary.</p>
+
+<p>"How far do you think we have drifted?" Jim asked his brother.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," Aleck replied, "I've been studying over that. We don't know
+just when we started nor exactly when we stopped&mdash;if we have
+stopped&mdash;nor whether we have gone steadily on. I have seen something
+of drifting ice, and I should say we had gone probably between twenty
+and twenty-five miles, all right out into the middle of the lake."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you have some idea of where we are?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; that's quite easily calculated by 'dead-reckoning,' as
+sailors say."</p>
+
+<p>The west wind now began to subside, and before long the air became
+still and the mists thicker, with dense, low clouds massing close
+overhead. On land it must have been a warm, thawing day. Out here it
+was always chilly, but the four persons were not uncomfortable, even
+when their overcoats were unbuttoned, partly, however, because they
+had become accustomed to constant exposure.</p>
+
+<p>Before the sun went down the air grew much cooler, and the fog thinned
+out, while the wind freshened and worked around until it blew briskly
+and very cold from the north. This soon swept away the mists, but not
+the clouds; yet light enough remained just before dusk to give Aleck a
+brief look
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> to the northward. He could see a great field of rough ice,
+apparently made up of broken pieces crushed and jammed together,
+stretching in that direction to the horizon. This horizon was broken
+in one place, however, by a darker patch, that looked as though it
+might be land; but before he could examine it more carefully it had
+become lost in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Returning to the house, the Captain ordered every preparation to be
+made for a possible removal. While Katy cooked their evening meal, the
+boys worked with axe and shovel until they had freed the runners under
+the boat, so that she could be dragged away quickly. Then the wall was
+taken down, and the boxes stowed carefully. Several of them had been
+emptied during the long halt, and it made the lads feel very grave to
+notice how low their stock of provisions and lamp-oil had run. Jimmy
+refused to see the use of all this hard work when everything seemed as
+safe as ever it was, and Aleck confessed that he had no better reason
+for his precautions than that the weather had changed, and it was best
+to be on the safe side&mdash;in which he showed himself a good commander.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't take the tent down, Jim, nor throw in the mess kit, nor roll
+away our good beds, till we find we have to; but, if the ice should
+drop from under our feet at this moment, we could scramble into the
+boat, and have our necessary property with us."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Katy, meanwhile, had set half a ham boiling&mdash;they had only one more
+left after this&mdash;and was only waiting for it to be done before going
+to bed, for it was late in the evening, and much colder than usual,
+since the hummock no longer sheltered them from this new wind, which
+blew in under the boat where the snow had been shovelled away, and
+threatened to tear the frail hut to pieces. Finally the ham was done,
+and the girl crept shivering to Jim's side amid the straw and quilts,
+thoroughly frightened and weary.</p>
+
+<p>She had not been there five minutes when there came a quick series of
+crashing reports, such as she had heard before. The ice was breaking
+up again. Tug was quickest to jump out, calling to all to stay in the
+boat till he came back. They could feel the ice shake and tip under
+them&mdash;or, at any rate, imagined they could&mdash;while the wind was blowing
+snow-flakes in their scared faces. It seemed an age, though really it
+was hardly a minute, before Tug came back and said they were afloat
+upon a small piece&mdash;a piece only a few yards square.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," said Aleck, decisively, "we must take to the boat and get off
+this cake, for the wind is blowing us right back into the open lake,
+and we couldn't live out there. I think I saw land just north of us,
+and we must try to reach it, or, at any rate, to get upon the big
+ice-field in front. It's our only hope."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>He and Tug were buttoning their overcoats and tying tippets about
+their heads and necks, but talking at the same time.</p>
+
+<p>"Now for our orders, Captain."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, listen. Katy and Jim must not step out of the boat unless
+I say so. They must light the lantern, ship the rudder, roll up the
+bedding and stow it under the thwarts, and fix everything as snug as
+they can. Jim's place will be forward; Katy will stay by the tiller;
+and remember, whatever happens, that the compass direction is due
+north. Now, Tug," he continued, "you and I will throw this kitchen
+stuff aboard, and let The Youngster pack it away the best he can.
+Then, down with the oars and mast and canvas. We must hurry."</p>
+
+<p>So saying, he snatched the kettle, ham and all, from the fire, and
+tossed it into the boat, where it lit on Jim's foot, and was greeted
+with an angry howl. The other goods and the spare canvas followed.
+Then they began to tear down the roof, and in five minutes this had
+been piled in a stiff, frozen heap on the bow of the boat, for they
+thought there would be no time to bend and fold it into shape. It was
+all the united efforts of the four could do to hoist it over the low
+gunwale.</p>
+
+<p>All these preparations took perhaps fifteen minutes&mdash;a quarter of an
+hour of terror, for now the great cake was plainly
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> rocking under
+their feet. Then calling Jim out of the boat to help them, the three
+put their heads through the collars of the drag-ropes, and tried their
+best to move the boat, but it wouldn't budge an inch.</p>
+
+<p>"We must throw off that icy canvas. I should think it weighs a hundred
+pounds," Tug remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, off with it!" ordered Captain Aleck.</p>
+
+<p>This done, they tried again, and slowly and laboriously worked the
+boat twenty or thirty paces towards the edge of the ice, when it
+became clogged with the fast-falling snow, and could be pushed no
+farther.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XX">Chapter XX.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">A NIGHT IN AN OPEN BOAT.</p>
+
+<p>What should be done? Aleck was sure that their only chance for life
+lay in getting the boat afloat; but unless it could be brought nearer
+the edge this could not be done, and perhaps it was impossible,
+anyway. Yet to stay where they were meant destruction. Katy and Jim
+climbed into the boat, and crouched down out of the snow, while the
+larger lads stood outside trying to find some way out of their
+desperate situation. They must think fast; minutes were precious; but,
+cudgel their brains as they might, only darkness, a howling
+snow-squall, and crashing blocks of ice greeted their eyes or
+thoughts. One minute passed, two minutes passed, yet they could see no
+way to help themselves. The third minute was slipping by, when a huge
+ice-cake crowded its resistless way underneath the rear edge of their
+own raft, towards which the stern of the boat was pointing, and slowly
+lifted it above the level of the water.</p>
+
+<p>At once the sledge began to feel this inclination, and started to move
+forward.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Jump in!" shouted Aleck, and leaped aboard, with Tug beside him. "Try
+to steady her!" they heard him cry, and each seized an oar, or a
+boat-hook, or whatever was nearest. But it was of little use. Slowly
+but gently the hinder part of the ice-cake rose, and the front part
+tipped down. As the slant deepened, the speed of the sliding boat
+increased, until it went with a rush, and struck the water with a
+plunging splash that would surely have swamped them had it not been
+for the tight half-deck forward; this shed the water, and caused the
+little craft to rise upon an even keel as soon as she had fairly left
+the surface of the ice. It was evident in an instant, however, that
+she would sink in a very short time unless freed of the great sledge
+that was dragging upon her bottom. Already the water was pouring over
+her sides, and Aleck knew that they were in imminent danger of sinking
+or capsizing, or both. Tug had leaped in forward, and to him Aleck
+shouted, "Cut those bands!"</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't any knife."</p>
+
+<p>"Here's the hatchet. Hurry up!"</p>
+
+<p>One stroke of Tug's arm parted one of the bands, and he raised his
+hatchet for the second one, for there were two straps forward. As it
+descended, Aleck drew his pocket-knife across the strained band
+astern, which parted with a loud ripping noise. The idea was that both
+straps should be severed at the same instant; but in the darkness Tug
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>partly missed his aim, and the poor boat, held to the sledge by a
+single strap, began to yaw and jerk and ship water in a most alarming
+manner&mdash;a strain she could not have borne one moment had not the
+half-cut band of canvas broken, setting the boat free. Aleck had
+intended to hold to the strap and take the sledge aboard; but this
+struggle, which came so near wrecking them all, wrenched it out of his
+hand, and the first wave washed the bobs beyond recovery&mdash;a loss whose
+full force did not strike them at once, for they had too much else to
+think of.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i015"></a>
+<img src="images/illus169.jpg" width="600" height="423" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;TRY TO STEADY HER!&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The weight and awkwardness of the sledge having been taken away, the
+boat rode much more lightly in the face of the ice-clogged sea, and
+showed how stanch and trim she really was, though much cold water
+splashed over her rails.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said Aleck, cheerfully, though it was fortunate the darkness
+could conceal how anxious was the expression of his face, "now we
+shall get along. Jim, get out your oars (the stroke); and look out for
+floating ice forward, Tug. Katy, my little steersman, are you very,
+very cold?"</p>
+
+<p>"N-n-n-o!" the girl answered, bravely, but her teeth chattered
+dreadfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Better say you are, for you can't hide it, poor child. Wait a minute
+till I get this strap off my roll of bedding, and I will wrap a
+blanket around you."</p>
+
+<p>Doubling a large blanket, he put it carefully over her
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> head and
+shoulders like an immense hood. Then he buckled around her the strap
+which had held the roll together, leaving only a fold out of which she
+might grasp the tiller, and another crevice through which to peep and
+breathe.</p>
+
+<p>"We've got to have that lantern lit, because you must see the
+compass."</p>
+
+<p>Taking some matches from his pocket, he knelt down, placed the lantern
+under the skirt of Katy's blanket robe, crouched over it as close as
+he could, and struck a match. It went out. A second fizzed a while,
+which only warmed the wicking, but at the third the oil in the wick
+took fire, and the lantern was soon shining gayly into the bright face
+of the compass at Katy's feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Youngster, for the oars. Lie low, and let me crawl over you to
+my seat."</p>
+
+<p>Aleck got there and was ready, but Jim was still fumbling about on
+each side, and feeling under the thwart.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter? Why don't you go to work?"</p>
+
+<p>"Can't find but one oar."</p>
+
+<p>"Only one oar? Sure?"</p>
+
+<p>Then the two searched, but to no purpose. It had been dropped
+overboard, evidently, during the excitement about losing the sledge.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Jim, it's your fault, but it can't be helped now. You take this
+quilt, and cuddle down as close to Katy as
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> you can get, and try to
+keep each other warm. I'll row alone. Ready, forward?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ay, ay, sir."</p>
+
+<p>Then they began to move ahead through the water, which came in long
+rollers, not in breaking waves, because there was so much ice around
+them that the wind could not get hold of it. It was very cold.
+Occasionally Tug would fend away a cake of ice, or they would stop and
+steer clear of a big piece; but pretty soon he called out in a shaky
+voice that he was too stiff to stand there any longer, where the spray
+was blowing over him, and that he should be good for nothing in a few
+minutes unless he could row awhile to get warm. So Aleck took his
+place, fixing the spare canvas into a kind of shield to keep off the
+spattering drops. It was very forlorn and miserable, and to say that
+all wished themselves back on shore would be but the faintest
+expression of their distress.</p>
+
+<p>Little was said. Pushing their way slowly through the cakes of ice,
+which had grown denser now; changing every little while from oars to
+boat-hook and back again, while Katy, protected from freezing by her
+double blanket and Jim's close hugging, kept the yawl's head due
+north; fighting fatigue, hunger, cold, and a great desire to sleep,
+these brave boys worked hour after hour for their lives and the lives
+in their care.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When they were beginning to think it almost morning they came squarely
+against a field of ice which stretched right and left into the
+darkness farther than it was possible to see. Whether this was the
+edge of a stationary field or only a large raft they couldn't tell;
+but they were too exhausted to go farther, and they decided to tie up
+and wait for daylight. Tug struck his hook into the ice until it held
+firmly, then lashed it to the bow. Aleck also stepped out and drove
+one of the short railway spikes into the ice near the stern, around
+which a rope was hitched. Then both the boys opened a second roll of
+bedding, and snuggled down as well as they could to get what rest they
+were able to while waiting for sunrise. Crowded together in the straw
+(though it was damp with snow), and covered with quilts and blankets,
+they could keep tolerably warm, and even caught little naps. The snow
+had stopped now, and the stars began to appear, first in the north,
+then overhead, then gradually everywhere. The wind still blew, but the
+boat rose and fell more and more slowly upon the rollers, until at
+last it stood perfectly still. This happened so suddenly, and was
+followed by so complete steadiness, that it aroused Tug's curiosity.
+Poking his head from under the covering, he said, "I think we are
+frozen in." Nobody answered him, for they were asleep, or too stupid
+to care; but the gray daylight which came at last showed that he was
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>
+right. On their right hand was a great sheet of new, thin ice; on
+their left a mass of thick old ice, white with snow. Straight ahead,
+so well had Katy steered, towered the rocks and trees of a high,
+wooded shore, coming momently into greater and greater distinctness as
+the red streamers of the morning shot higher and higher into the
+eastern sky.</p>
+
+<p>Tug was the first to catch this sight, and roused his fellows with a
+shout:</p>
+
+<p>"Land!&mdash;land! Hurrah!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXI">Chapter XXI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE ESCAPE TO THE SHORE.</p>
+
+<p>To rouse themselves, hastily gather a few eatables, and make their way
+ashore had been the work of a very short time, though done with great
+soreness and much hobbling, after their cramped-up night in the boat.</p>
+
+<p>They halted on the south side of a sheltering rock, where the sun was
+beginning to shine against the gray stone. Katy hated to confess it,
+but really she was very, very tired, and was quite willing to let
+Aleck wrap her up in a thick blanket, and to lie quietly in a sunny
+nook of the rock while the boys set a fire crackling as near to her as
+was safe, and began to heat water for coffee. The mill had been
+forgotten, but Tug had a piece of buckskin in his overcoat pocket, and
+folding the grains in this they crushed them between two stones, which
+did just as well as grinding them.</p>
+
+<p>This done, the coffee-pot was filled and set upon the embers, and a
+moment later four cups were steaming with the hot, reviving liquid,
+and four tired hands were reaching towards the little heap of slices
+cut from the boiled ham which had been tossed into the boat the night
+before, when leaving the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> ice-raft. It had required all of Rex's
+strength of mind to keep his paws off these tempting pieces for some
+time past.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor dog!" cried Jim; "we must give you something, if we are pretty
+short. Pity there was no fish left for you."</p>
+
+<p>"He can have my slice of ham," Katy said, with a faint smile. "I can't
+eat it, somehow."</p>
+
+<p>"Better try to eat a little, sis," Aleck said, "because&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you touch a mouthful!" exclaimed Tug, snatching the shaving
+from her hand and tossing it to the dog, which swallowed it at a gulp.
+"Just you wait a minute! I ought to go and kick myself for not
+thinking of it before!" And with this puzzling remark he rushed off
+over the ice.</p>
+
+<p>They saw him rummage about the cargo, and then start back, bringing
+his gun and a small package.</p>
+
+<p>"Thought it would be just as well to make sure of the gun," he
+remarked, as he rejoined them; "and here's something, Katy, you can
+eat, I guess!" It was a box containing two dozen preserved figs that
+he opened, and handed to her. "I bought 'em just before we left
+Monore," he said, "and clean forgot 'em till now&mdash;sure as I'm a
+Dutchman!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, give me one!" cried Jim.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim Kincaid," said Tug, sternly, springing between the boy and Katy's
+hand, outstretched in generosity, "if you touch one of those figs I'll
+thump you well! I didn't bring them all this way for a lubber like you
+to eat!" And
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> in spite of all the girl's protests, Tug would not touch
+a fig himself nor allow her to give one to anybody else.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck grinned, and munched his tough morsel; Jim scowled, and gnawed
+at his shavings as though he enjoyed viciously tearing them into
+shreds; Tug thought his beef was juicy and sweet, as he saw with what
+gusto poor Katy ate her fruit; and as for Rex, he dug his teeth into
+the tough remnant of the dried shank which had been given to him, as
+though he never expected to see another meal.</p>
+
+<p>Refreshed and strengthened by their breakfast, meagre as it was, the
+boys prepared to begin the work of bringing the cargo ashore, though
+the weather was so cold that a thermometer would have marked nearly
+down to zero.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck forbade Katy to help, so she curled up beside the wall of rock,
+which acted as a sort of oven to hold the warmth, where presently she
+fell asleep, and the boys, when they returned with their first
+sled-load of goods, were careful not to awaken her. So much had their
+stock been reduced that they found a second trip would enable them to
+bring everything of consequence ashore by carrying pretty large
+armfuls. They therefore distributed their loads as best they could,
+and started back from the abandoned boat, slipping and stumbling over
+the rough ice and through the cutting wind.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXII">Chapter XXII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">REX FIGHTS UNKNOWN ENEMIES.</p>
+
+<p>With aching heads bowed under their burdens, and tired limbs, they had
+returned to within, perhaps, a hundred yards of the beach, when the
+barking of dogs, mingled with a girlish scream, caused them all to
+look up in astonishment. Then, without waiting for any one to give the
+word, each dropped what he was carrying, and began to run as fast as
+he was able over the broken ice towards the shore.</p>
+
+<p>When the lads had started on the second trip out to the boat, Rex,
+bidden to watch his mistress, and proud of the duty, had lain down
+almost on the edge of her blankets. There was no snow upon the sand
+here, and the warmth of the fire closed the eyes of the fagged-out
+dog, just as it had those of his mistress. The boys had been gone,
+perhaps, half an hour, and he had had time to get very soundly asleep,
+when, suddenly, he was roused by a growl and a rush, and before he
+could rise to his feet two animals were right upon him, each nearly as
+big as himself, though short-haired and wofully gaunt. With a yelp of
+surprise and rage the dog sprang up and tried to defend himself, but
+the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> attack of his assailants was so fierce that he was rolled over in
+an instant, and felt their teeth pressing at his throat.</p>
+
+<p>Into Katy's dreams of a May-day picnic under the blossoming
+apple-trees broke this rude hubbub, and before she could understand
+its meaning she felt the weight of the struggling animals pressing
+upon her bed. With the piercing scream of fright that had reached the
+ears of her brothers out on the ice, she struggled out of her
+blankets, only to be tripped and fall right upon the tumbling,
+growling, fighting heap. Afterwards she used to tell the story with
+merry laughter, but then, scarcely knowing what it all meant, she was
+too frightened to do anything but scream again, and pick herself up as
+best she could.</p>
+
+<p>Safely on her feet at last, and convinced that this startling
+adventure was a reality and not some frightful change in her dream,
+she saw that Rex was being overpowered by two great dogs, lean almost
+as skeletons, that seemed bent upon killing him without an instant's
+delay. To see her faithful friend surprised and overcome in this
+terrible way stirred up all her sympathies and all her wrath. Like a
+flash she remembered how African travellers had fought lions with
+firebrands, and, seizing one of the charred sticks from the fire, she
+began to strike the brute nearest to her.</p>
+
+<p>But what followed was most alarming, for the animal, at the very first
+blow, left Rex and turned towards her, his
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> jaws wide open, and his
+haggard eyes glowing with rage. Instinctively she presented the
+smoking end of her long brand, as a soldier would his bayonet, and was
+fortunate enough to meet the dog squarely in the face, which staggered
+him for an instant, and before he could gather himself for a new
+attack Aleck and Tug and Jim were all beside her, and the two great
+brutes were in full flight.</p>
+
+<p>Then the brave girl dropped her firebrand, and sank down on the
+nearest seat, where, perhaps, she might have been excused for fainting
+had the day been warm, instead of freezing cold. The boys gathered
+anxiously about her, with such questions as, "Where did they come
+from?" "Why did they attack you?" "Are you hurt?" and so on.</p>
+
+<p>The story was soon told, and this was fortunate, for everybody had
+forgotten poor Rex, who lay panting, and licking one of his feet, from
+which the blood was oozing.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, old fellow," exclaimed Tug, as he went and bent over the dog,
+"did they try to chew you up? Here, give us your paw. Quiet! Let me
+feel&mdash;so&mdash;good dog! No bones broken, I guess, and we'll bandage you up
+O. K. How about this ear? One hole through it, and&mdash;Well, 'twas lucky
+you had a strong collar? Just look at the tooth-marks on that piece of
+leather! If it hadn't been for that an' his thick hair, they'd been in
+his throat, and then good-bye, Rex!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXIII">Chapter XXIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">EXPLORING THE ISLAND.</p>
+
+<p>When all the property of our shipwrecked crew had been brought ashore
+it made a very small heap, and the biggest part of that seemed to be
+the bedding. Everybody noticed this, and it added a new gloom to the
+feeling of discouragement caused by their weariness, by Katy's fright,
+and, most of all, by the hunger of which their slight breakfast had
+only taken away the edge.</p>
+
+<p>"Before we do anything else at all," said Captain Aleck, "we must have
+something more to eat. Do you feel strong enough to help us, Katy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, indeed. I've got quite rid of my foolish weakness."</p>
+
+<p>"That's good. Let us know if we can help you."</p>
+
+<p>Nobody felt in the mood for talking, and Jim really took a nap between
+the rock and the fire. Though the air was still cold, the sunshine was
+bright, and under the lee of the little cliff it was very comfortable;
+but poor Katy had hard work to keep her fingers from almost freezing.
+What she made was chocolate, fried bacon, and "griddle" cakes, the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>
+last cooked in the skillet, and consuming every bit of buckwheat flour
+and a good share of the sugar. When the meal had been eaten to the
+last scrap, and everybody had grown wide awake and cheerful, Aleck
+rapped on a box, and made a speech:</p>
+
+<p>"Attention, ladies and gentlemen! Though none of us have said much
+about it, you all know well enough that we're in a regular scrape, and
+the sooner we discover how we're to get out of it the better. Now, I
+am going to propose a plan, and if any of you don't like it you can
+say so."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll do whatever you say," exclaimed Tug.</p>
+
+<p>"But I don't want to <i>say</i> till we've talked it over. I rather think
+we're on a small island a good many miles from land. I judge so from
+what I know of the chart of the lake, and what I can guess of where we
+drifted on that ice-floe. If so, I do not think anybody lives here, or
+ever comes here in winter."</p>
+
+<p>"Regular desert island!" Jim was heard to mutter, in a tone that
+showed his mind busy with the romantic memory of Robinson Crusoe.</p>
+
+<p>"The first thing to do is to find out whether this is so or not. Now I
+propose that Jim and Katy should stay here&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, no," Katy interrupted, in an eager appeal. "Those dreadful
+dogs might come back, and Jimmy is so
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> little! I want you to stay with
+me, or else let me go with you."</p>
+
+<p>"That's rather rough on the boy," Aleck laughed. "However, I suppose
+it won't matter. Well, then, Tug, I think you and Jim had better go
+back in the country, and see what you can find, while I stay and watch
+over the goods and the sister. What do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Good plan," Tug replied. "I'm ready. Are you, Youngster?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, siree! But you'll let us take the gun, won't you, Aleck?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, you can have the gun. If the dogs, or wolves, or whatever
+they are, come at us while you're gone, Katy can fight them with
+firebrands, and I&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, <i>you</i> can climb a tree!" said his sister, merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I can climb a tree."</p>
+
+<p>While Tug and Jim were gone, Aleck and Katy busied themselves in
+repacking their goods in snug bundles, and in talking over their
+strange adventures. They were too anxious to feel very gay, but
+thought it foolish to give way to fretting until they had lost all
+hope. Two hours or more elapsed, and the sun had climbed to "high
+noon" in the sky, before the explorers came back, bringing solemn
+faces.</p>
+
+<p>"Island!" both called out as soon as they came near; "and a small one
+at that."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Any people on it?" asked Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"Not a soul that I could see," Tug said. "I allow they come here in
+summer, though, for the trees have been cut down, and there's a rough
+little shanty on the other side."</p>
+
+<p>"Could we live in it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't go inside; don't know. It's half full of snow. Better than no
+shelter at all, I suppose. It ain't far off. Suppose you all go over
+there and look at it&mdash;Jim can show you where it is&mdash;while I guard the
+grub against those pesky dogs. I don't wonder the brutes are savage,
+for I don't see how they could get anything to eat here."</p>
+
+<p>When the three had left the rocks at the beach, under Jim's guidance,
+they found themselves in a brushy wood consisting largely of hemlocks
+and pines, often closely matted together. A few minutes' walking
+carried them through this and up to a ridge of jagged limestone rocks,
+one point of which, a little distance off, stood up like a big
+monument. This ridge ran about east and west, and they had come up its
+southern side. Its northern face was very snowy, had few trees, and
+sloped down an eighth of a mile to the water.</p>
+
+<p>At one place on this northern beach several great rocks rose from the
+water's edge, and among them stood a small grove of hemlocks and other
+trees. In that thicket, Jimmy told them, the old shanty was placed.
+They thought it must be very small, or else well stowed away, for
+they
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> could see nothing of it. To get down to it was no easy task, for
+the crevices and holes in the rocky hillside had drifted full of snow,
+and they were continually sinking in where they had expected to stand
+firm, or finding a solid rock ahead when they tried to flounder out.
+It was a chilled and ill-tempered trio that finally reached the beach,
+and sought the shelter of the thicket.</p>
+
+<p>Now it became easier to understand why the hut had been invisible from
+above, for it was only a shanty propped up between two great rocks
+that helped to form its walls and support its roof. From the broken
+oars and many fragments of nets, the old corks and other rubbish lying
+about, they saw at once that it had been built by fishermen, who
+probably came there to spend the night now and then, or, perhaps,
+stayed a week or so at a time in the summer.</p>
+
+<p>The door stood half open, and a snowdrift lay heaped upon the
+threshold. Edging their way in, they found that the roof and walls
+were tight, the little window unbroken, and several rough articles of
+furniture lying about. An old, rusty stove, one corner propped up on
+stones, and the pipe tumbled down, stood against the chimney of mud
+and sticks that was built up against one of the rocky walls.</p>
+
+<p>"This is splendid!" Katy cried. "Just look at that dear old stove!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sis; I think we must move over here. But are you
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>sure,
+Jim&mdash;how did you find out?&mdash;that this is an island, and not the
+mainland?"</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i016"></a>
+<img src="images/illus187.jpg" width="400" height="535" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"From the top of that high point of rocks you can see the whole of it.
+I don't believe it is more than a mile up to the farther end, and not
+half that down to the other. The island is shaped something like a
+dumb-bell, only one end is a good deal bigger than the other. We are
+on the little end here."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Youngster, you're quite a geographer; but we can't stop to talk
+about it now. Let's go back as quickly as we can, and bring part of
+our goods over this afternoon; don't you think that's best?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes." And twenty minutes later, rosy and panting, Katy astonished
+the sleepy Tug by rushing into camp, followed closely, not by wild
+beasts, as he thought would be the case, but by both the brothers she
+had outsped.</p>
+
+<p>"It's so good!" she exclaimed, catching her breath, "to feel something
+besides slippery ice under your feet! Now, what shall we take first?"</p>
+
+<p>By hard work and little resting the coming of twilight found them
+established in their new home. The last journey had been made after
+the bedding, by Tug and Aleck, while Jim and Katy cleared the snow all
+away from the cabin door and off the bending roof, straightened up the
+rickety old stove, and set a fire going. By the time the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> larger boys
+came back, raising a whoop far up the hillside as they saw the smoke
+curling up between the hemlocks, the old hut was warm, and the tin
+cover of the little iron pot was dancing, in its effort to hold back
+the escaping steam.</p>
+
+<p>"Ugh!" said Tug, as he pushed the door open and threw down his bundle
+of blankets; "I'm as hungry as a wolf!"</p>
+
+<p>"If you think you can wait fifteen minutes, Mr. Montgomery, you'll
+have a bee-yutiful supper. Can you do it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I 'low I can. I ain't a epi&mdash;epi&mdash;What d'ye call it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Epicure?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's the chap. I read the other day that the Tartars say he digs
+his grave with his teeth. I don't want a grave as bad as that yet."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose that means that a man who lives on too rich food will die
+by it."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I reckon so. But I 'low there's no danger in our case; eh,
+Aleck? Do you think dried beef and snow-birds too rich for your
+delicate stomach, my boy?"</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>That night all bunked down on the floor, for they were too weary to
+care much for anything but a chance to sleep, and the sun was high
+before any of them found out, in their shady house, that it was
+morning. When breakfast was ready, and they had all sat down at the
+rough shelf-table
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>
+which the fishermen had fastened at one side of the
+cabin, Aleck called "Attention!" and said that it was time they were
+looking the situation squarely in the face.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all very funny," he said, "to think ourselves Crusoes, and feel
+that we are all right because we have a roof over us and a stove to
+keep warm by. But Crusoe didn't need a roof nor a stove, for he was in
+a warm climate; and he had goats and birds, and shell-fish along the
+rocks, and cocoanuts, and lots of other things. Crusoe was a king in
+his palace beside us."</p>
+
+<p>The circle of faces grew rather grave.</p>
+
+<p>"Here we are, in midwinter, on an island in a fresh-water lake&mdash;and
+not even water, but solid ice&mdash;where there are no oysters nor clams,
+no fruit-trees, and no animals&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Except those dogs," Jim interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>"Even <i>they</i> seem to have disappeared," Aleck went on; "and they are
+starved almost to skin and bone. If a pack of dogs can't get anything
+to eat, what are we four going to do? I tell you, it's a serious
+case."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," Tug rejoined, stoutly, "I, for one, don't give in yet. Look
+what we did out on the ice! We can fish, and trap snow-birds&mdash;I saw a
+flock last evening; and maybe we can find some mussels near the beach,
+and so stick it out till the ice breaks up and the birds begin to come
+in the spring."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Tug, you're a brick, and I was wrong to feel so lowspirited," said
+Aleck, heartily. "I think you're a better fellow to be captain here
+than I am. I resign."</p>
+
+<p>"Not by a long chalk!" exclaimed Tug. "Here, I'll put it to vote.
+Whoever wants Aleck to go out, and me to take my innings as captain,
+hold up his hand."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXIV">Chapter XXIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE WILD DOGS AGAIN.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck's hand alone was shown; and though he held both of his arms as
+high as he could, the other side had the majority, and would not
+accept his resignation.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose we see just exactly what we have in the way of provisions,"
+Katy suggested. "It won't take long to make out the list," she added,
+with a grim little smile.</p>
+
+<p>They began at once, and the small housewife wrote down the list as
+fast as the stores were examined, guessing at the weights. There were
+found about eleven pounds of dried beef; bacon, one "side;" flour,
+about six pounds; corn-meal, ten pounds; beans, three pounds; coffee,
+two pounds; tea, a quarter of a pound; chocolate, half a cake; sugar,
+three pounds; small quantities of salt, pepper, soda, and so on; some
+crumbs of crackers and cookies in the bottom of a bag; a small piece
+of dried yeast; and a few swallows of the brandy that had been so
+useful at the time of Aleck's accident on the drifting ice.</p>
+
+<p>They had nearly all the bedding, cooking utensils, and tools with
+which they had started three weeks before; but
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> the oil for their
+lantern and their matches were nearly used up or lost; their powder
+was low, for part of it had been spoiled by water; their clothes were
+badly worn; and their only canvas, since the loss of their tent, was
+the small "spare piece."</p>
+
+<p>"It's plain," said Aleck, as this overhauling was finished, "that we
+must put ourselves upon a regular allowance. The provisions won't last
+us a week unless we save them carefully."</p>
+
+<p>"And it's plain that we must raise some more, so I reckon I'd better
+get to work at bird-traps."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the sooner the better. As for me, I want to learn all I can
+about the island. There may be something of use to us at the other
+end, so I shall take a long walk, and see what I can find."</p>
+
+<p>"Mayn't I go with you?" Jim asked, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Youngster, if you think you can stand it."</p>
+
+<p>"No trouble about that," replied the little fellow, courageously. He
+had grown very manly during the past month.</p>
+
+<p>The brothers started off, taking the gun with them, and saying that
+they would be back about three o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as they had gone Tug set about his traps in one corner of the
+house, behind the stove, while Katy went to work to make the hut a
+little more homelike.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The cabin was about twelve feet square, and one side was the smooth
+face of a great rock, against which was heaped the rude chimney of mud
+and stones. In front of this the stove was placed, and behind it, on
+the side of the room farthest from the door, the fishermen had built a
+bunk.</p>
+
+<p>"You must call that your bedroom," Tug said, and he helped Katy to set
+up in front of it poles sustaining a curtain made of a shawl.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said the lad, when this had been arranged, "you must have a
+mattress."</p>
+
+<p>So, taking the axe, he went out, and soon came back with a great
+armful of hemlock boughs, and then a second one, with which he heaped
+the bunk, laying them all very smoothly, and making a delightful bed.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm thinkin' we'll have to fix some more bunks for ourselves," said
+the boy, as he tried this springy couch. "That's a heap better 'n the
+soft side of a plank."</p>
+
+<p>Then with a hemlock broom Katy swept the floor, and spread down the
+canvas as a carpet. Finding in her little trunk some clothing wrapped
+in an old <i>Harper's Weekly</i>, she cut out the pictures and tacked them
+up, and finally she washed the grimy window to let more light in, so
+that the rough little house soon came to look quite warm and cosey.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Tug, getting out his few tools, had made the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> triggers of
+half a dozen such box-traps as they had caught snow-birds with when
+living on the ice, and one other queer little arrangement, of sticks
+delicately balanced, an upright one in the middle bearing at its top a
+bit of red rag:</p>
+
+<p>"What in the world is <i>that</i>?" Katy inquired with much curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's a bit of a contrivance to stand over a hole in the ice where
+I propose to place a 'set' line for fish&mdash;that is, you know, a line
+that I bait and leave set for a while, trusting to luck to catch
+something. The minute a fish gets the hook through his lips and begins
+to flop around, he will set this flag a-fluttering and so let me know
+it. I might make him ring a little bell if I had one."</p>
+
+<p>"I should say," Katy remarked laughingly, "that to make a captured and
+dying fish ring his own funeral knell was adding insult to injury."</p>
+
+<p>At length Tug pulled on his overcoat and announced that he was going
+to look for a good fishing-place.</p>
+
+<p>He was gone nearly an hour, during which Katy busied herself in
+mending her sadly torn dress, and in thinking. But the latter was by
+no means a pleasant occupation, and she was glad to see Tug come back,
+rubbing his ears, for the day was a cold one.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I have found a real likely place for fishing," he told her.
+"There is a little cove the other side of this<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> thicket, with a marsh
+around it, and a pretty narrow entrance. I reckon the water's deep
+enough in there for fish to be skulking, and I dropped my line right
+in the middle. I set the traps near here, but didn't see any birds."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think&mdash;" Katy stopped suddenly, laying one hand on Tug's arm,
+and holding up the other warningly, while her face grew pale. Rex, who
+had been lying by the stove quietly licking his injured paw, rose up
+and growled deeply.</p>
+
+<p>"There! Did you not hear it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I did. It's them pesky dogs," cried Tug, and hurried to the window,
+while Rex began to bark furiously. "There are the boys on the hill
+backing down, and two&mdash;no, three&mdash;dogs following them. Where's that
+axe? I'll fix 'em!"</p>
+
+<p>And before Katy could quite understand what was the matter, the boy
+had burst out, and was tearing up the hill to the support of his
+friends. Rex wanted to go too, but Katy held him fast, as she stood
+watching the boys flourishing their weapons, and frightening the dogs
+back, while they slowly retreated. As they came nearer to the house
+the animals ceased pursuing, and relieved their disappointment by
+savage barks and prolonged howls.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," exclaimed Tug, in the country speech he always used when
+excited, "I allow them curs are the most or'nary critters I ever
+see!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They followed us all the way from the other side of the neck," said
+Jim, dropping limp into a broken-legged chair, which tumbled him over
+backward.</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you go, and what did you see?" was Katy's anxious question,
+choking down her laughter at the plaintive Youngster's accident.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck then told them that from the highest point of the hill he could
+study the whole island, which was everywhere surrounded by ice, and
+that eastward he could see what he thought was another island several
+miles away; but that to the southward it was too misty for a long
+sight. Going on down the hill, they crossed a neck or isthmus of sand
+and rocks between two marshy bays, and entered some woods, which
+seemed to cover pretty much all the rest of the island. Pushing
+through this, and gathering a good many dried grapes, which were worth
+a hungry man's attention if he had plenty of time, they reached the
+shore somewhere near the farther end of the island without finding any
+signs that anybody had ever been there before. On the shore, however,
+by a cove, they found a tumbled-down shanty, and a little clearing
+where once had been a camp. They were going on still farther, when
+suddenly they were attacked by the three dogs, and thought it best to
+retreat. The dogs followed, and they had to fight them off all the
+way.</p>
+
+<p>"One of them was a giant of a mastiff," said Aleck,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>"and we were
+more afraid of him than of the smaller ones, which seemed to be two
+well-grown pups. I think these dogs must have been left here last
+summer by somebody. There seems to be four of them altogether&mdash;two old
+ones and two young ones&mdash;though we have never seen more than three at
+once. How they have managed to live beats me. I don't see anything for
+them to eat. I wish you had some bullets, Tug. We never can hurt 'em
+much with small shot."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i017"></a>
+<img src="images/illus199.jpg" width="500" height="556" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">ATTACKED BY THE DOGS.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"They'll steal everything from the traps, too," Jim piped in. "By the
+way, Tug, have you set any yet?"</p>
+
+<p>Then Tug told what he had been doing, and said he must go before it
+became dark and see if anything had been taken. So, wrapping himself
+up, he took the gun and went off, while Aleck and Jim gathered a
+supply of wood for the night, and Katy began to get supper. By the
+time this was ready, and the red glare of a threatening sunset had
+tinged the snow and suffused the clouds with crimson, Tug came back,
+bringing nothing at all. It was not a very merry party, therefore,
+that sat around the table that evening listening to the doleful cries
+of the outcast dogs, which still kept watch on the hillside.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXV">Chapter XXV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE PERILS OF A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning snow was falling, and the wind was blowing furiously.</p>
+
+<p>"This ought to bring us some small birds, and maybe an owl or two,"
+said Tug, as he watched the dense clouds of snow hurled along from the
+northern waste of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think you would dare to go out to the traps, or could find
+them in this gale?" Aleck asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon so; and while I'm gone you take the gun and see if you can't
+find snow-birds among the hemlocks."</p>
+
+<p>"What'll you do if those dogs get after you? They're perfectly savage
+with hunger. It don't take much wildness or long famine to turn a dog
+back to a wolf, and we've got to look out for these curs as if they
+were wild beasts."</p>
+
+<p>"You're right," Tug assented. "But I hardly think they'll be out on
+the ice in this storm; you are more likely to meet them in the woods.
+At any rate, we must have something to eat, and it's my business to
+tend those traps, wolves or no wolves. If I go under, why, there's one
+less mouth to feed."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So Tug and Aleck went away into the storm, one out upon the wide white
+desert, the other wading up the drifted slopes to the woods.</p>
+
+<p>Katy and Jim stayed at home, sitting comfortably in the house. She was
+reading aloud from an old newspaper they had found lying in a corner,
+when there came plainly to her ears the twittering of small birds.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen, Jimkin. Did you hear that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Snow-birds!" the boy exclaimed. "Right on the roof, too, and nary a
+trap!"</p>
+
+<p>"Let us go out," said Katy, eagerly. "Perhaps we could catch one or
+two somehow."</p>
+
+<p>So they crept out, and saw that the thick hemlock growing beside the
+big rock was covered with small birds. Some were hiding away from the
+"cauld blast" in the nooks between the dense branches; some were
+hanging upon the little cones, swinging and clinging like acrobats;
+some were taking short flights through the smoke to warm their toes,
+or sitting on the bare rock near the top of the chimney. They were of
+two kinds, but all equally happy and unconcerned.</p>
+
+<p>"If I only had the gun I could knock over about twenty at once," Jim
+whispered. "I believe I could even kill a lot with my pea-shooter."</p>
+
+<p>"Could you? Well, Jimkin, I've got some strong rubber
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> cord in my
+trunk, and you might make one of those horrid forked-stick things."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a splendid idea, Katy. Get your rubber, and I'll cut a stick.
+Hurry up!"</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes afterwards the weapon was ready. But now it occurred to
+Jim that he had no "peas" for his "shooter." So he and Katy both
+hurried down to where they knew there was a bit of beach not covered
+by ice. They scraped away the new snow, and raked up double handfuls
+of small pebbles.</p>
+
+<p>Jim's hands grew so cold during this operation that he had to go in
+and warm them before he could handle his "rubber gun." But the birds
+still stayed in the trees, as is their custom when a heavy snow-storm
+is raging, and the excited young hunter waited only long enough to get
+the stiffest of his fingers into decent shape.</p>
+
+<p>Creeping around to the rear side of the rock, he climbed slowly up
+until he could peer over the edge, and found himself not more than a
+dozen feet away from the little feathered group sitting by the
+chimney-top. Taking the best of aim, and pulling the rubber as far
+back as it would go, he let fly, and one of the largest of the birds
+tumbled over the edge. The boy had hard work to refrain from shouting
+with pride at this early success, though he wasn't sure he had killed
+the bird.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXVI">Chapter XXVI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">FINDING SNOW-BIRDS AND LOSING THE CAPTAIN.</p>
+
+<p>Jim knew he must keep quiet, so he stood like a statue, trying to
+forget his stinging ears, until the flock had recovered from its
+surprise, when he knocked over a second bird.</p>
+
+<p>It was slow and very cold work, but the boy stuck to it bravely until
+his fingers became so stiff that he could not manage his little
+weapon, and then he crept down to the stove, to dance about and wring
+his hands with pain as the heat of the room set them aching.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as possible he went out again&mdash;missed twice and hit once. Just
+as he was taking aim a fourth time his foot slipped, and he tumbled
+backwards, followed by a small avalanche, which half buried him at the
+foot of the rock. When he picked himself up, every feather had
+disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>Running round to the front, he found two dead birds and three wounded
+ones, whose necks were speedily wrung. Never was a boy prouder than
+this young sportsman, as he laid his trophies in a row and admired
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"What a delicious broth they will make!" cried Katy, who longed to
+taste something really good.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'm hungry enough to eat 'em raw, like an Indian. Oh, Tug, look what
+I've shot!" Jim added, as his friend opened the door and stood shaking
+off the snow.</p>
+
+<p>"Good for you! I've got nothin' 'cept a mighty good appetite. Why,
+they're cross-bills and red-polls!"</p>
+
+<p>"What are <i>they</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>"Birds that come down in winter from away up north. This little
+streaked sparrow-like fellow, with the rosy breast and the red cap, is
+the red-poll; they say he never breeds south of Greenland. Now look at
+these larger ones&mdash;see how strong the bills are, and how their points
+cross! That's so they can twist the hard scales off the cones and get
+at the seeds."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Jim; "they were hanging upside down and every way on the
+cones, and I could hardly see them to take aim."</p>
+
+<p>"That's 'cause their plumage is such a vague sort of red and green, so
+near the color of the leaves and scales on those evergreen trees. The
+hawks and owls can't see 'em, either, half as well as if they were
+bright, and that's where the little fellows have the advantage of
+their big enemies. Did you notice any other kinds?"</p>
+
+<p>"There was one different one, a little larger than any of these, that
+I caught a glimpse of&mdash;it was green, just like the hemlock leaves, and
+kept inside out of the storm&mdash;"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Like a sensible bird, eh? Correct! I guess he was a pine grosbeak."</p>
+
+<p>"That means 'pine <i>big</i>beak' doesn't it? It ought to, for this fellow
+had a beak twice as thick as any bird I ever saw, except a cardinal
+from South Carolina that a man had in a cage last summer. Do you think
+they'll come back?"</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon so. None of these winter birds are shy&mdash;lucky for us! and I
+think the shelter of these trees and the warmth of our smoke will
+fetch 'em, especially if we scatter some crumbs out on the roof."</p>
+
+<p>"But we have none to scatter," Katy protested.</p>
+
+<p>All three then went to work picking the birds, whose bodies looked
+surprisingly small after their puffy coats had been taken off. "See
+what a warm undershirt of down this one wears at the roots of his
+feathers!" Tug pointed out, holding up a red-poll.</p>
+
+<p>"Wish I were a bird," said Jimmy; "I'd get out o' this in no time."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps if you were, this would be the very place you would most want
+to come to and stay in," Katy remarked, "just as these poor little
+things did. The 'if' makes a lot of difference, Master Jim."</p>
+
+<p>By this time it began to grow dusk, and though the snow was falling as
+fast as ever, the air had grown much warmer, as though the storm would
+end in rain. Aleck had not
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> come yet, and the three, in their snug
+house, looking out upon the deep drifts and the clouded air, and
+listening to the melancholy sound of the wind in the trees, became
+more and more anxious for his appearance.</p>
+
+<p>When it had grown quite dark, and the broth Katy had made was ready,
+together with cakes of corn-meal, and tea, or, rather, hot water
+flavored with tea and sugar&mdash;the best meal they had seen for many a
+day&mdash;Tug said that if the Captain did not come before they got through
+eating he would go and look for him. So they tried to keep up each
+other's spirits; but when the meal was done, and still no brother
+appeared, all their merriment faded.</p>
+
+<p>"Jim and Rex ought both to go with you, Tug; and you must take along
+the lantern, and these extra corn cakes I have baked, and some
+bacon&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The bacon's raw," Jim protested.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, stupid, you could fry it over some coals on the end of a stick,
+couldn't you?" exclaimed Tug, impatiently. He was getting very tired
+of Jim's constant objections.</p>
+
+<p>"And you must take this little bit of brandy, because you know, he
+might&mdash;might be&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Katy, dear Katy," said Tug, his own eyes moist, as he threw his
+arm around the shoulders of the girl, who had broken down at last, and
+was crying bitterly. "Don't cry,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>Katy. If <i>you</i> give in, what are
+we goin' to do? You are the life of the party, and there ain't nothin'
+we wouldn't any of us&mdash;and specially me&mdash;do for you. Really now,
+Katy&mdash;Here, you young cub, what are <i>you</i> bellerin' about? If I catch
+you crying round here again, discouragin' your sister in this style,
+I'll thrash you well!"</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i018"></a>
+<img src="images/illus209.jpg" width="600" height="503" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;DON&#39;T CRY, KATY!&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Tug was thoroughly excited and distressed by this last and heaviest
+trouble, and most anxious of all to make the rest believe he wasn't
+anxious. As usual, when excited, he dropped into the slang he had been
+striving to forget. But this added force to his speeches, for when it
+occurred everybody understood that he was very much in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew a young fellow," Tug himself used to say, when laughed at for
+this peculiarity, "whose father was a Dutchman, but who could never be
+persuaded to learn that language. 'Why not?' we used to ask him.
+'Well, fellows,' he would say, 'my daddy talks English till he catches
+me up to some mischief; then he begins to talk Dutch, and goes for his
+whip; so I've got a terrible distaste for Dutch.' It's with me as it
+was with that man. When I am mad, or mean business, I'm pretty likely
+to talk in the 'Dutch' I learned when I was a boy."</p>
+
+<p>The two boys and the dog&mdash;for Rex had nursed his foot until it was of
+use to him again, protected by bandages&mdash;bundled themselves up, took
+the lantern, the hatchet, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> luncheon, and started out. Katy said
+she should not be a bit afraid, and would keep up a good fire. As they
+disappeared, letting in a flurry of snow before they could shut the
+door, she dropped into a seat (if truth must be told) to finish her
+crying. Let her do it, poor girl!&mdash;few of her associates, or yours, my
+pretty maiden, ever had better cause. We will flounder along with Tug
+and Jim, who are bowing their faces to the storm, and toiling up the
+dark and treacherous hillside.</p>
+
+<p>When the top of the ridge had been gained they paused to get breath
+and to shout Aleck's name. No reply came, and they pushed on down to
+the isthmus, where the snow, which was becoming more and more sleety,
+swept about their faces with double force. In a few moments, however,
+they reached the shelter of the woods, which covered pretty much the
+whole of that part of the island; and then came the question whether
+it would be better to work along the beach or plunge into the woods.</p>
+
+<p>There seemed very small chance of success, in the midst of this
+darkness and storm, either way, but they felt sure that some accident
+had happened to the Captain, and they were eager to help him. After
+talking it over, they decided upon the right-hand or southern shore of
+the island, because that was to leeward, and better sheltered, and
+marched on as rapidly as they could. They had no strength to talk,
+but
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> hand-in-hand pushed ahead, stopping now and then to shout, but
+never getting an answer.</p>
+
+<p>"There's one good thing about this storm," Tug remarked, after a
+while, as they halted to rest in a sort of cleft in the rock. "Those
+confounded dogs will be likely to stay indoors and not bother us."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder where they keep themselves at night?"</p>
+
+<p>"If our island is like the rest, this limestone rock is full of caves.
+There's no telling, for instance, how deep this here opening we're
+sitting in goes back; and in some of the Puddin' Bay [Put-in-Bay]
+islands big caves have been explored that people go away into to see
+the stalactites. There are plenty of rocky holes, therefore, where
+they could find good shelter and beds of leaves that the wind had
+blown in. But we must get out of this, Youngster."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXVII">Chapter XXVII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">ANOTHER ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD DOGS.</p>
+
+<p>They trudged slowly on again until they thought they must be close to
+the farther end of the island, when they found progress interrupted by
+a low headland of rocks partly covered by the brush of a fallen
+tree-top. In trying to get past it they became entangled in the
+branches, and Tug said he "'lowed they'd have to light the lantern."</p>
+
+<p>With great care, therefore&mdash;for matches were precious&mdash;this was done,
+and its rays at once showed them that they were not the first persons
+who had been there that night. Branches were freshly broken, and the
+snow was trampled. They set up a combined shout (and bark) as soon as
+this was perceived, but nothing came back except the dull echo of
+their voices and the rustle of the sleet and snow among the leafless
+and dripping branches.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Tug, when he realized this, "our cue is to follow the
+tracks anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>Crushing through the branches, they saw that the tracks, which had
+approached from the other side of the rocks and
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> brush, led them to
+the trunk of the tree, and that then Aleck (if, indeed, it were he who
+had made them) had walked along the trunk towards its roots. Of course
+they followed, Tug going ahead with the lantern; but when they arrived
+at the great base of upturned roots they could not see where Aleck had
+leaped off, or that he had leaped off at all. On one side the snow lay
+smooth and untouched; on the other, close under and around the mass of
+dead roots, was a little thicket of low bushes and a shoulder of black
+rock. Beyond these the snow had not been disturbed.</p>
+
+<p>This was very mysterious, and chilled their hearts with a nameless
+fear. They came close together on the high log, and talked almost in
+whispers. Jim held Tug's arm with both hands, and trembled so that his
+teeth chattered, and the tears rolled down his cheeks; while Tug
+himself, old and brave and strong as he was, was so scared (as he
+often said afterwards) that every creak and moan of the laboring,
+ice-coated trees seemed a frightful voice, and all the flitting lights
+and shadows cast by their lantern among the dark trunks and swaying
+hemlock branches took on shapes that it chilled his blood to look at.
+Even Rex seemed to catch the panic, and cowered at their feet with
+bristling hair.</p>
+
+<p>There had been only a moment of this helpless, causeless terror&mdash;and
+no doubt they would quickly have thrown it off&mdash;when they were roused
+by a real danger, which they
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> knew in an instant. All ghosts and
+goblins, forms and voices, vanished at once, for they heard the
+wolfish howl of the dreaded dogs.</p>
+
+<p>"Only mastiffs or hounds," you may exclaim, "such as we pass on the
+street every day, and babies play with, rolling over and on them
+unharmed!"</p>
+
+<p>Very true; but these dogs had become savage again by their wild life;
+and no traveller in his sledge on the steppes of Siberia, or postman
+belated in the Black Forest at New Year, was ever in more danger from
+wolves than were these two lads from the dogs, if the animals chose to
+attack them. Perhaps they had not yet been quite long enough in the
+wilderness to have overcome their once well-learned fear of men, and
+so would hesitate to attack, in open fight, the beings that heretofore
+had been their masters; but this was all the hope the boys could have.</p>
+
+<p>"The dogs!" cried Jim, in a hoarse whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said Tug, through his teeth. "Here! give me the lantern, quick:
+we must have a fire."</p>
+
+<p>The tangle of dead roots was quite dry, and kindled easily when the
+lantern-candle was held against it, so that it was scarcely a minute
+before a bright blaze was crackling.</p>
+
+<p>That moment had been enough, however, for the near approach of the
+dogs, as they knew by the increasing loudness
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> of their cries, to
+which Rex bravely responded; and it was not long before they heard
+them crashing through the underbrush, and saw their eyes&mdash;fiery pairs
+of dots which reflected the firelight in flashes of green or
+red&mdash;though the forms of the savage animals were hidden in the gloom.</p>
+
+<p>Tug had hastily lopped off a young sapling and trimmed it into a long,
+rough club, which he now held in the fire, in hope that the green wood
+would get hardened, or perhaps even ablaze. Jimmy clutched the hatchet
+tightly in his right hand, and his open jackknife in his left, while
+Rex bristled and barked. All the goblin fright had vanished, and the
+boys no longer trembled because sleet and wind made uncanny noises, or
+the firelight seemed to summon eldritch forms from the aisles of
+darkness between the hemlocks.</p>
+
+<p>There seemed to be three of the fierce brutes, and they stopped as
+they came in sight of the fire and the group ready to receive them;
+but after a short pause the largest dog, with a tremendous bark,
+rushed forward, the others following savagely at his heels. Rex was
+crouching and ready, so that before either of the boys could seize his
+collar he had sprung to meet his foes, and had gone down under their
+combined weight.</p>
+
+<p>It was one of the strangest dog-fights known to history,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> and had the
+strangest end. In his broad collar, his long hair, and his greater
+health the Newfoundland had the advantage; but he was one and his foes
+were three, and they had no chivalrous ideas of fairness or mercy in a
+fight, but were savages, bent not only upon the death of their victim,
+but upon tearing him in pieces and devouring him afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did Tug see Rex leap, and perceive the charge upon him, than
+he shouted "Give it to 'em!" and sprang into the snow, punching the
+nearest brute, bayonet fashion, with the hot tip of his sapling spear,
+while Jim got in at least one good blow with his hatchet. It sank
+almost to the haft in the neck of one of the youngest dogs, and he
+dropped dead with scarcely a shudder.</p>
+
+<p>Meeting this unexpected resistance, so determined, fiery (Tug's
+sapling bore a little streamer of flame, like the banner on the head
+of a Cossack's lance), and so fatal to one of their number, the two
+remaining dogs were abashed, and let go of Rex, intending to fight
+with their human assailants. But they had no time to make the change.
+Seeing that he must follow up his advantage, Tug charged again, and
+fairly put the startled brutes to flight by the combined force of his
+yells and his blazing bayonet, backed by Jim and his terrible hatchet.</p>
+
+<p>When the boys saw that the dogs had really run away,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> they turned to
+look after their own brave ally, but he was nowhere to be seen, though
+the blazing stump lit up the whole scene of the battle.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, where's Rex?" they asked one another, and called and whistled.
+Could he have fled into the forest? Impossible. Hark! was not that a
+faint whine?&mdash;and another?</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think he can be dying, and has hid himself in the brush?"
+asked Jim. "They say wounded animals do do that."</p>
+
+<p>"Looks like it," Tug admitted. "Here, <i>Rex</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>A more distinct yelp, as though the dog was in pain, came to their
+ears, and they began to search in all the shadowy places.</p>
+
+<p>"Poke up the fire a bit, Jimmy&mdash;let's have a little more light."</p>
+
+<p>Jim hastened to follow out this suggestion, and in doing so entered
+the little thicket which I have mentioned between the shoulder of rock
+and the log. Suddenly he pitched almost headlong into a dark hollow.
+He drew back hastily, but as he did so, parting the bushes, he heard
+Rex's yelping come plainly up, as though from beneath the sod.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello! Rex has fallen down a hole," he exclaimed. "Come here, Tug!"</p>
+
+<p>Sure enough, there was the mouth of a pit, how deep
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> they could not
+tell, though they could see the Newfoundland's eyes shining at what
+did not seem so very great a distance.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Rex, old fellow, are you hurt?" they called out; and the dog
+answered by a short bark, which ended in a pitiful whine of pain.</p>
+
+<p>"Get the lantern, Jim; we must try to see what kind of a place this
+is; and look out where you step. This is a cave country, as I told you
+awhile ago. You may fall through 'most anywhere in this darkness."</p>
+
+<p>The lantern was brought, and tied on the end of a pole, with a
+handkerchief. Rex began to utter a series of peculiarly short, sharp
+barks when he saw the light descending, and they knew he was dancing
+about by the way his eyes moved.</p>
+
+<p>When about twelve feet of the pole had been lowered the lantern
+rested, and they knew the bottom had been reached. By its faint glow
+Rex could be seen standing on his legs, apparently not much hurt.</p>
+
+<p>"There's something else down there that Rex seems to bother himself
+about a good deal," reported Jim, who was lying down and peering over
+the edge. "Move the lantern this way a little. It looks&mdash;Oh, Tug, it's
+a man!&mdash;it's Aleck, and he's dead!"</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXVIII">Chapter XXVIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINED.</p>
+
+<p>How to get down into the pit was now the great question. Guided by the
+light of the fire, steadily eating its way into the butt of the log in
+spite of the storm, they cut down a small tree and lopped off its
+branches in such a way as to make a rude ladder. Though they were in
+so great a hurry, this was slow work with their dull hatchet. Lowering
+it carefully into the pit until its end rested firmly, Jim held the
+top, while Tug went down, took the lantern, and approached the
+motionless form, whose face Rex was licking. The instant the light
+fell upon the face he saw that it was the Captain's.</p>
+
+<p>"It <i>is</i> Aleck!" he called out. "Come down."</p>
+
+<p>"Is he dead?" asked Jim, as he scrambled down the break-neck ladder.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Tug, who was kneeling by the lad's side. "His face is warm,
+and I can feel his heart beat. He's only stunned. Where's that brandy
+Katy sent?"</p>
+
+<p>"It's in my overcoat pocket up on the ground&mdash;I'll get
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> it." And Jim
+scrambled up the hemlock trunk, fearless of a tumble.</p>
+
+<p>"Now pour a few drops between his lips," said Tug, when the boy had
+got back, at the same time lifting Aleck's head upon his knee. "Oh, if
+only we had some water! Get out!"</p>
+
+<p>This last was addressed to Rex, who was in the way; but it also
+answered the boy's prayer, for, in starting back, the dog stepped into
+a pool of water that lay upon the bottom of the cave. So crystal clear
+and quiet was this little pool in the lone and silent chamber of rock,
+that even when they knew it was there, and were dipping the water up
+with their hats, they could not tell by lantern-light where its edge
+was, or how near were their hands to the surface before they felt its
+icy chill against their knuckles.</p>
+
+<p>The dashing of this cold, pure water upon his face, and a few drops of
+the spirits, served to awaken Aleck very speedily, though at first his
+ideas were much confused.</p>
+
+<p>"Where am I?" was his first utterance, as it has been that of
+thousands of others in like case; and several minutes passed before he
+was able to sit up and talk to them.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose&mdash;you fellows&mdash;" he began to say, presently, in a stammering
+sort of way, "would like&mdash;to know&mdash;what I'm doing&mdash;down here."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Captain," said Tug, who would have liked to
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> dance a jig, but
+was afraid to, and could only hug the dog to express his joy&mdash;"well,
+Captain, we don't want to be impertinent, Jim and me, nor what you
+might call <i>inquisitive</i>, in regard to what ain't none o' our
+business; and we hope we're not intrudin' on you here; but if you are
+willing to explain one or two matters, we'd be glad to listen."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i019"></a>
+<img src="images/illus223.jpg" width="400" height="568" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;&#39;IS HE DEAD?&#39; ASKED JIM.&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Why, I&mdash;got so tired&mdash;tramping round in the storm&mdash;that when I got to
+that brush-heap&mdash;and rocks&mdash;out there, I thought&mdash;I thought&mdash;I'd go up
+in the woods&mdash;and camp. So I came up along that big log, and stepped
+off&mdash;and that's the last I remember. But I know I've a frightful
+headache, and I wish I was home."</p>
+
+<p>Home! Where? In Monore? That roof was sheltering other heads. In
+Cleveland? That seemed farther away than ever. The fisherman's
+cottage? Ah, Katy would make <i>that</i> a home to the wounded lad, if only
+they could get him there!</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think you could walk?" Tug asked, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, if I was out of this, and could get warm."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there is a fire up there, and this ladder is not long. Drink
+the rest of this brandy: I know you hate it, but it's only a trifle,
+and it will give you strength for your climb; and then you can rest a
+bit, while we get the dog out. Here, Rex!"</p>
+
+<p>To do this, Tug went half-way up the ladder, and Jim
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> handed up their
+shaggy companion, after which Tug lifted him to where he could
+scramble out.</p>
+
+<p>Then Aleck, by slow stages and with much help, reached the top, and
+was wrapped in overcoats, while he sat by the fire until his
+chilliness was gone, and he had eaten some of the food Katy had sent.
+This done, he felt able to begin his journey homeward. Meanwhile, Tug
+went into the pit to bring out Aleck's gun and the lantern. Standing
+on the brink of the black water, he tossed a pebble, but failed to
+strike the opposite wall. Then he hurled another with all his
+strength, and, after a time, heard it splash in the water. How far
+away lay the other end of the cave, or to what depths underneath this
+cavern-lake the cave-floor descended, he never knew. He realized how
+narrow had been the escape of all, and the strange coincidence by
+which they had been led to this spot, and had discovered the hidden
+mouth of the pit; and he thanked God, who had preserved their lives.</p>
+
+<p>The dull gray of the dawn was lighting up the driving rain, the slushy
+snow, and the drenched and dripping trees, when the weary boys,
+supporting their almost worn-out leader, crept down the rough hill,
+and approached the little cottage. Katy had seen them coming, and
+stood waiting in the door, looking herself as though she had not slept
+much that sad night.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Aleck!" was all she could say, as she threw her arms around her
+brother's neck, "must you always be the one to get hurt for us?"</p>
+
+<p>"I hope not, sis," he said, with a smile, and sank, exhausted, into a
+bunk.</p>
+
+<p>Then with quiet swiftness the girl heated water, washed the wounds in
+Aleck's head, and hastened to boil the corn-meal mush and the coffee,
+which formed the best breakfast she was able to give. Meanwhile she
+told how she had passed the night, making her story so bright, and
+bustling about so cheerily, that she did more to restore the tired
+boys than, in her absence, all their pulling off of soaked boots and
+stretching upon soft mattresses of springy boughs would have done.</p>
+
+<p>"After waiting a long, long time&mdash;it must have been until after
+midnight," Katy began the story of her night, "I had dropped asleep in
+my chair before the fire, when I was waked up by something scratching
+at the door. I knew in a minute it was those dreadful dogs, and I was
+awfully scared."</p>
+
+<p>"After we beat them off they must have come directly here," Tug
+remarked. "Were there more than two?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, but two were quite enough," Katy replied; and then continued her
+narrative:</p>
+
+<p>"I should have liked to have got under the bed, only
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>
+there wasn't any
+bed, and so I&mdash;what do you suppose?&mdash;I got the butcher-knife and a big
+stick, and climbed up into the top berth. They growled and grumbled
+around the door, and scratched and butted at it, and every little
+while one or both of them would stand upon their hind-legs and look in
+at the window with their horrible green eyes. Ugh! I don't want to go
+through another such a night!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nor I!" exclaimed all three of her listeners, in chorus, each
+thinking of his own separate experience.</p>
+
+<p>"Passed unanimously!" cried Katy. "Now come to breakfast."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXIX">Chapter XXIX.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">DECIDING UPON A NEW MOVE.</p>
+
+<p>The warm rain continued all that day and the next night, while the
+boys rested, except that Tug went to his set-lines and brought back a
+fine pike of about six pounds' weight, which gave them a good dinner.
+By the next morning the snow had nearly all melted away, and the sun
+shone warm, while great glistening pools of water lay spread out upon
+the ice. It was evident that the long-delayed January thaw had come at
+last.</p>
+
+<p>The disappearance of the snow brought several things to light that
+they had not seen before. Bits of iron and general rubbish appeared
+about the door. A heap of snow which they had thought concealed a
+bowlder, exposed by its melting an old flat-bottomed skiff, turned
+upside down, and under it lay a torn sail, with its mast. Behind the
+house Tug found several articles he thought "might come handy;" among
+the rest a short piece of lead pipe, which he seized upon at once.
+Then, while Aleck and Jimmy walked out to look at the traps, Tug built
+a hot fire, and went to work at making bullets of the lead. He melted
+his old pipe in a
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> piece of tin, which he had hammered into a spoon,
+and dropped the molten metal into cold water. The bullets, or shot,
+were not all of the same size, and were more pear-shaped than round;
+but by whittling and hammering they did very well, and in two hours he
+had a handful.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," said he, with a vengeful tone in his voice, "just let me get a
+shot at those or'nary curs!"</p>
+
+<p>Later, Aleck came back, reporting no birds, but bringing a small
+pickerel.</p>
+
+<p>"But I saw another flock of cross-bills, and I'm going to take my
+'pitchfork' and go after them," Jimmy added, eagerly; and at once went
+out, while Katy put on her hat and started for a short walk.</p>
+
+<p>"Aleck," said Tug, when they were alone, "I have wanted a good chance
+to talk with you about the fix we're in. I feel sure that, snug as we
+are, it's no good to stay here."</p>
+
+<p>"How are we going to get away? Our boat is useless for ice travel, now
+that the sledge is gone, even if we save her in decent condition,
+which we must see about this afternoon."</p>
+
+<p>"I have been looking at that little scow down on the shore. She is big
+enough to carry us in water, and I believe we could put a couple of
+low runners on her bottom, so as to move over an ice-field. Come with
+me and have a look at her."</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>So the two lads went down to the old boat, and looked her carefully
+over, discussing all the repairs she would need, and how they could be
+made.</p>
+
+<p>"But why don't you think we could stay here longer?" Aleck asked,
+after a time.</p>
+
+<p>"Because," his companion replied, "we have almost no ammunition and
+almost no fishing-tackle. In a week from now we should have to live
+wholly on what we could catch in fishing and by traps, and we get so
+little now that I think it foolish to risk it if we can get a chance
+to escape. I reckon it'll freeze up hard again in a few days, but for
+the last time this winter. Probably the ice'll break up so badly next
+time it thaws that we couldn't sledge on it; and after that, you know,
+come the long, stormy months of spring, when, if we tried sailing, our
+boat wouldn't keep afloat with four people in it during a journey
+across the lake. If we can't get away over the ice before the next
+break-up, I believe we're goners."</p>
+
+<p>"It can't be very far to the mainland; but the weather has always been
+so thick I never could see far southward," Aleck remarked.</p>
+
+<p>"It's clear to-day," said Tug. "Let's go and take a look."</p>
+
+<p>Inspired with hope, the two comrades, forgetful of everything else,
+hastened up the hillside, and soon reached the pinnacle of rocks that
+formed their lookout.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The air was clear, the sky cloudless, and the first glance southward
+showed them, faint upon the low horizon, yet distinct enough to be
+unmistakable, the long, dark line of the mainland. Between them and it
+all lay white, mixed with blue&mdash;a plain of ice covered with thin
+patches of rain-water. They could not see more than eight or ten
+miles; but in no direction except on the northern horizon (towards the
+centre of the lake) was there any sign of open water. They hoped, and
+this helped them to believe, that between them and the shore lay an
+unbroken plain of ice.</p>
+
+<p>"If that is so," said Aleck, "and it will only come on cold before it
+snows, we could skate right across."</p>
+
+<p>"Take us a couple of days, you'll find," Tug replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Pshaw! it can't be more than twenty miles."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but we're not so strong as we were when we started. We've none
+of us really had a square meal for a fortnight, and some of us have
+been knocked on the head, you know, and that don't help a man any."</p>
+
+<p>"At any rate, it will be best to get ready right away."</p>
+
+<p>"That's my ticket," Tug replied. "By the way, can we see the <i>Red
+Erik</i>? Oh, yes, there she is&mdash;all right, I reckon."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, she appears to be."</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXX">Chapter XXX.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS.</p>
+
+<p>When half-way down the hill on their return they saw Katy, who had
+been at the beach, wave her handkerchief, and turn to come and meet
+them. At the same instant they caught sight of wolfish figures
+stealing along among the rocks and bushes at the base.</p>
+
+<p>"The wild dogs!" both exclaimed, in the same breath, and both felt
+their blood stop flowing for an instant, for in a minute or two more
+Katy would meet the brutes, and she must do so before they could get
+there to help her. They shouted to her, as they hurried at
+neck-breaking speed down the rough ledges; but she did not hear or did
+not understand them, and then they lost sight of both her and the dogs
+behind some bushes. A moment later they saw her again, but with what
+surprise!</p>
+
+<p>The girl stood in the middle of a smooth, grassy plat, facing the
+three dogs, which were gathered in a group, the father of the family
+in front, and only a few feet from her. All were silent, and the big
+one was stretching his neck forward, as if debating whether he dared
+lead his mate and
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> the pup any closer. Katy caught a glimpse of the
+boys, and quickly raised her right hand, as though signing to them not
+to advance; but she never took her eye off the animals, nor ceased to
+speak to them in coaxing tones, while she held out her left hand
+beckoning them to come nearer. Thus far this had had no effect. The
+big leader could not make up his mind to trust her, though as yet he
+showed no disposition to attack.</p>
+
+<p>"What shall we do?" Aleck whispered to Tug, in an agony of suspense.
+"She can't keep that up long. Let us rush in."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," Tug whispered back; "but we must get a stone or a club!
+'Twon't do to go at 'em naked-handed."</p>
+
+<p>Clubs were not handy, but each took heavy stones in both hands, and
+began a stealthy advance. At that same instant they saw the foremost
+dog begin to wag his tail slowly, while, one by one, as it were, the
+hairs upon the back of his neck were lowered. The lads halted, and
+watched the scene with astonishment and anxiety. Katy still spoke
+coaxingly, and at last took a gentle step forward. The dog, though
+suspicious, still wagged his tail. She quietly walked backward three
+or four steps, and sat down upon a bowlder&mdash;an act which the lesser
+dogs behind at once imitated. "Good dog! fine fellow! come here; come,
+Tiger," she said, over and over, changing the name every
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> time in
+hopes of hitting some one that might have been this mastiff's before
+he was an outcast. Finally, as she sat there with her eyes steadily on
+his, and beginning to feel very tired, the animal's big square face
+suggested a picture she had seen of a German prince, just then
+beginning to become famous.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Bismarck!" she called out, in confident tones, "don't you know
+me? and don't you want a bone? Good old Bismarck!"</p>
+
+<p>She knew instantly that she had hit it. The dog dropped his ears and
+hung his head, walked slowly up, and laid his great muzzle, big as a
+tiger's almost, in her lap, while slowly and suspiciously his
+followers came nearer and nearer to her by slow advances.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I vum!" muttered Tug, in utter amazement, while Aleck was too
+astounded to say even that much. "I'm 'fraid we shall spoil that very
+pretty tea-party unless we sneak home another way; and I 'low two or
+three bullets in the gun would do no harm."</p>
+
+<p>But their first movement was heard. The mastiff lifted his head,
+erected his mane, and with a hoarse growl sprang towards the lads.
+Katy was terribly frightened, but kept her presence of mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Bismarck!" she commanded sternly, "keep quiet! come back here, sir!"
+and the great dog, growling and showing
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> his teeth, stopped his
+course, and slowly returned to his mistress.</p>
+
+<p>"Boys," the girl called out, when she saw this, "go right along, and
+pay no attention to the dogs. When I see you safely near the house
+I'll come. Don't be alarmed for me."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on, Tug," said Aleck; "the sister knows best."</p>
+
+<p>Just before they reached the door they turned and saw her walking
+slowly towards them, the huge, lean father-mastiff close by her side,
+quiet and submissive, and the mother of the wild crew following tamely
+in his footsteps; while the whelp, that had never known, as the older
+dogs had, what it was to have a human master, straggled along behind,
+apparently in great doubt whether his respected parents had not lost
+their senses.</p>
+
+<p>Tug hastily entered the house, and quickly appeared at the window with
+his gun at his shoulder, ready to shoot if the mastiff showed any
+signs of treachery; but he did nothing of the sort. Forty yards or so
+from the house, however, he declined to go any farther, and Katy,
+without once looking round, walked steadily on to the door, where her
+brother caught her in his arms, almost at the point of fainting, for
+the strain upon her nerves had nearly exhausted her strength.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXXI">Chapter XXXI.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">ABANDONING THE ISLAND.</p>
+
+<p>After luncheon the three boys went over to inspect their old boat, and
+came back towards evening, bringing the oars, some straps of iron that
+had guarded her keel, the drag-ropes, and one or two other things.
+They had succeeded in pulling the boat ashore, but she had been too
+badly damaged to be of any further use to them.</p>
+
+<p>Three days were now occupied busily in shooting, fishing, and putting
+runners on the scow. These runners were simply strips of board (which
+they had taken from the house) about four inches wide and fourteen
+feet long&mdash;the length of the boat's bottom. With the iron from the
+sled runners and from their own boat they shod these boat runners
+rudely, and strengthened the frame.</p>
+
+<p>During this time the dogs had been almost always within sight, and
+their near approach during the night would frequently awaken the
+sleepers in the cabin, Rex quickest, of course. Katy was sure that if
+the animals could have been fed they would speedily have become
+docile; and when Tug proposed to shoot them for food, everybody
+resisted,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> at least, until they should be in a worse strait than now.
+Nevertheless it was probably fortunate for the mastiff family that it
+kept out of gun-range.</p>
+
+<p>The next and last day of their stay on the island was very cold, and a
+heavy wind brought hosts of birds, so that they captured twenty
+snow-flakes, and shot over thirty cross-bills, red-polls, and other
+small fry, which were placed on the roof as fast as obtained, where
+they froze solid, and thus kept fresh. This made Katy the most happy
+of all, for she alone knew that everything was gone except about two
+messes of coffee and one potful of corn-meal mush.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, if only we could catch a big fish, we should be fixed grandly,"
+said Jim, as he went out to look at and bring home the lines. When he
+came back, however, he wore the long face and empty hands of
+disappointment, but left one line in hope of taking something during
+the night.</p>
+
+<p>At sunset the gale went down, the stars glistened like gems, and the
+frost showed no signs of ceasing. By the light of a great fire of
+drift-wood on the beach the little scow was partly loaded, and then
+all hands went for the last time to their mattresses of hemlock
+boughs. What was ahead they had little notion, but they were now used
+to peril, and eager to begin their journey, not only because each one
+felt that he could scarcely be worse off, but from the excitement of
+commencing new adventures.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i020"></a>
+<img src="images/illus239.jpg" width="600" height="460" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">REPAIRING THE OLD SCOW.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The morning of departure dawned clear and cold, continuing the
+promises of good weather.</p>
+
+<p>Jim's early visit to his set-line next morning yielded him one small
+pickerel, while the traps gave a solitary snow-bird. These, with some
+other feathered mites, Katy cooked, while Aleck and Tug finished the
+packing. It was not a bad breakfast, you may think, for shipwrecked
+persons, but try it once for yourself&mdash;fish fried in bacon grease,
+some fragments of stewed snow-bird, and weak coffee. No bread, no
+butter, no potatoes, no green relish, no hot cakes, no anything except
+pickerel and weak coffee. But they thought it the best meal they had
+had on the island; and after a hasty washing and stowing of dishes
+they buckled on their skates, took their familiar places at the
+drag-ropes, and with a cheer started southward, steering by the
+compass.</p>
+
+<p>Their old enemies came dashing down the hillside as the expedition
+took up its march, and stood upon the beach, seeming greatly
+astonished at the departure of the people at the cottage. Rex barked
+an angry farewell, which caused them to race out upon the ice as
+though to punish him for his impertinence; but they stopped short of
+bullet-range, greatly to Tug's disgust, and presently turned and
+trotted back to resume their wild career. When last seen they were
+prowling about the deserted house, trying to push their way into the
+door, or to break through the glass of the little
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> window. I have no
+doubt they succeeded; and I hope that they managed to exist until the
+fishermen came the next summer and took them off, for, after all,
+these dogs knew no different way of acting, and therefore could not be
+blamed for their savagery, even though it was needful that our heroes
+should guard against it.</p>
+
+<p>The ice was in good condition, and the skaters made fair progress, so
+that by noon the dusky line of the mainland was plainly visible ahead.</p>
+
+<p>At last Jim called out that he couldn't skate another stroke, and
+threw himself down, utterly "done for." Aleck ordered a halt at once,
+and began to build a small fire&mdash;for fuel had not been forgotten.
+Nobody understood how fatigued they had become by the unwonted
+exercise in their weak condition, until they found that an hour's halt
+seemed of little account, and decided to make it two. After that they
+went on slowly and lamely until near sundown, by which time the island
+had almost disappeared, and the mainland was growing distinct. Then
+they camped, stewing snow-birds for supper, and making a big corn-meal
+cake, which they baked in the skillet. Immediately afterwards beds
+were made up on the cargo, underneath the canvas, and each one slept
+as well as he could.</p>
+
+<p>The next day several hummocks stood in the way, and just about noon
+they came to a channel of open water about
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> a mile wide. It was not
+rough, and they slid their boat over the edge of the ice into the
+water without any difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>"If we had only known enough to have made us a good boat of this shape
+before starting, we should have got along much better," Aleck told
+them, and they all agreed with him, talking it over while they picked
+a few lean, and very cool bird-bones for luncheon before beginning the
+ferriage.</p>
+
+<p>The load sank the weak scow so deeply that the water ran into cracks
+in her side, despite their calking; and as they were afraid to embark
+the whole expedition, two trips were made. This was slow and freezing
+work; and when finally all had got across, and had skated on about a
+mile, everybody was so cold and tired and sore that a camp was made
+under the shelter of a tall hummock. Aleck comforted the pride of the
+younger ones, who worried over their exhaustion, by telling them it
+was because they were so nearly starved; but this was poor
+consolation, they thought, so long as there seemed no chance for any
+increase in their supplies, or means of regaining their strength.</p>
+
+<p>"Now," he remarked, "see what we have for supper to-night&mdash;two
+snow-birds and a small piece of corn-bread apiece. That would not make
+a full meal for one of us. If any accident prevents our getting ashore
+to-morrow I don't know what we shall do, for we have only enough food
+for breakfast, and a 'powerful weak' one at that!"</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's hardest on me," said Tug, "for breakfast is my strong point.
+If I can have only one meal a day, I want to take it in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>"That'll be your fix to-morrow, I guess," was the gloomy rejoinder.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>The next day's run was a slow one, for the ice was bad in many places,
+and several hummocks had to be explored to find passable
+crossing-places. They could sight islands off at their left, but the
+nearest was several miles away; and though they knew they belonged to
+the Put-in-Bay group, they did not think it would pay to swerve from
+their course so long as the ice permitted them to advance towards the
+mainland. So they kept on, and the shore came nearer and nearer, until
+they could see that they were entering a great "bight," and that one
+mass of land, three or four miles towards the left, which they had
+taken for an island, was really a headland; so they shaped their
+course for it.</p>
+
+<p>Near the beach stood a little house surrounded by small fields and
+hemmed in by the leafless woods. Towards this cottage they made their
+way, and its owner evidently saw them coming, for a grizzled old man,
+helping himself with a cane, hobbled down to meet them as they
+approached the beach.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXXII">Chapter XXXII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">AN ASTONISHED FARMER.</p>
+
+<p>"Wall, I swanny!" was the farmer's exclamation, as he stared at the
+strange-looking outfit invading his shores. "Who be ye? and where did
+ye come from?"</p>
+
+<p>They began to tell him, and at every sentence his "Wall, I swanny!"
+was thrown in, to show the astonishment with which he listened. At
+last he seemed to recollect himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye mus' be drea'ful tired&mdash;nigh about beat out&mdash;and cold, too. Come
+into the haouse and git suthin' to eat. There ain't nobody to hum, but
+I guess I can find ye suthin'."</p>
+
+<p><i>Something!</i> Why, my dear reader, they found, in the buttery and
+milk-room and cellar of that little house on the shore, a dinner the
+like of which, for goodness, they believed never was equalled. They
+ate and ate, laughing and almost crying by turns over their good
+fortune, the happiness of feeling safe and warm again taking off their
+hearts a load, whose weight they had not appreciated until it was
+removed. Meanwhile the old gentleman gossiped on in a pleasant
+strain.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"My wife," he told them, "has gone down to the Port to see da'ter an'
+her husband, for a day or two. My son, he runs on the Lake Shore
+Railroad in the winter, and so I'm alone. They wanted me to go down to
+the Port, too, but I don't think any great things of the feller
+Samanthy married, and I told mother I 'lowed I'd be more comf'able
+stayin' home 'long with the cow and the chickens."</p>
+
+<p>"What is this Port you speak of, sir?" Aleck asked him.</p>
+
+<p>"What? Why, Port Linton, to be sure&mdash;don't ye know where that is? Oh,
+I forgot, ye're lost, ain't ye. He! he! Wall, Port Linton is a town on
+the railroad, and also on the shore, to the west'ard o' here, or,
+leastways, to the suthard, 'cause we're out on a pint here, and the
+Port is up at the head of the bay, behind the big ma'sh. Ye could see
+it if 'twan't for them big sycamores. 'S about five mile 'cross the
+water."</p>
+
+<p>"Can you let us stay with you to-night, and to-morrow we'll go on to
+the Port?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, ye can stay, an' welcome. If mother was home I'd hitch up
+and take ye in, but I ain't got no horse to-day, so I s'pose that's
+the best thing ye can do. But you'll have to double up some, 'cause I
+ain't got four beds."</p>
+
+<p>Their rich supper and deep sleep and full breakfast made
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>a new crew
+of them, and next morning they were eager to get on. It seemed as
+though ages had passed since they had been in civilization, and Tug
+began to wonder whether he would recognize a railway car when he saw
+it. When they were ready to go, Aleck heartily thanked the kind old
+farmer for his hospitality, and asked how much he should pay him for
+their entertainment.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<a id="i021"></a>
+<img src="images/illus247.jpg" width="600" height="441" alt="" />
+<p class="caption">&quot;&#39;WA&#39;AL, I DECLARE!&#39;&quot;</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't want nothin'&mdash;nothin' at all," he said. "You're what they
+might call mariners in distress, and I just helped you as well as I
+could. I ain't done nothin', an' I don't want no money."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but we have eaten so much, and made you so much trouble. I shall
+not feel right unless you let us pay you."</p>
+
+<p>"Wall, if you're so earnest about it, I 'low a dollar would be about
+right. I reckon ye didn't hurt me mor'n about that's worth."</p>
+
+<p>Surely this was small enough, but the farmer was entirely satisfied,
+and said he was sorry to say good-bye.</p>
+
+<p>They had swung along over the ice in good style after leaving the
+farmer's cottage, and the buildings and ice-bound shipping of the
+village, which in summer was a busy port, but in winter was sleepy
+enough, were now in plain view.</p>
+
+<p>There was to be the end of their troubles so far as the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> present
+scrape was concerned, but they were not a great deal nearer Cleveland
+than when they started; and their minds, relieved of present
+anxieties, began to be crowded with thoughts of the future, and how
+they were going to accomplish their purpose any better now than before
+they had started.</p>
+
+<p>They were to be aided, in this respect, in a way they had not
+suspected, however, and the help was now approaching in the shape of a
+skater who came on towards them with swift, strong strides.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXXIII">Chapter XXXIII.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">THE "TIMES" CORRESPONDENT.</p>
+
+<p>As this skater approached, they could see that he was a tall young
+man, wearing cap and gloves of sealskin, and a fur-trimmed overcoat.
+He had skates of the newest patent, and, altogether, seemed to be what
+Tug pronounced him under his breath, "a swell."</p>
+
+<p>He slackened his pace as he came up, and then, seeing the boat they
+were dragging, and the queer appearance of the whole outfit, stopped
+short, raising his hat to Katy.</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of an expedition is this, pray tell?" he said pleasantly,
+but with his face full of curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm 'fraid we ain't any too scrumptious," Tug replied, off-hand, "but
+you could hardly expect it, I s'pose, seein' we've been a month or
+more on the ice."</p>
+
+<p>"A month on the ice! How? Where?"</p>
+
+<p>So they told him, each one talking a little, but making a short story
+of it. He did not interrupt by any "I swannys!" as the old farmer had,
+but kept his eyes&mdash;Katy thought they were the sharpest eyes she had
+ever seen&mdash;upon each speaker's face, as if committing every word to
+memory.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's a mighty good story," he said. "What are you going to do now?"</p>
+
+<p>"We shall go on to my uncle's in Cleveland right away, that is, if we
+have money enough to take us there."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you wouldn't object to earning a little more money, then?"
+the stranger remarked, interrogatively.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing would suit Tug and me better," Aleck rejoined. "Do you know
+how we can do it? My name is Aleck Kincaid, and this promising youth
+here is Thucydides, otherwise 'Tug,' Montgomery. This is my sister
+Katy, and the youngster is my brother Jim."</p>
+
+<p>"I am Harry Porter," the young man announced, shaking hands with them
+all, "and I am glad to get acquainted with you. Now, sit down a
+minute, and I'll make you a proposition. I live in New York city, and
+am on the staff of <i>The Times</i>, but am out here for a few days on a
+visit to my father. Your adventures would make a capital story&mdash;what
+we call a 'sensation'&mdash;in that newspaper. Do you think you could write
+it out in good shape?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid not, sir," Aleck said. "I've never felt that I had any
+faculty in that direction&mdash;but I could make you an automatic brass
+valve if you wanted it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Could you? That's more than I could do. Well, now, you see, you have
+the facts, but you must make use of my training to put them into
+readable shape, so that the story
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> will be worth money to some
+newspaper. I can see how two or three very good articles, indeed, can
+be made, and what I propose is this: you come to a boarding-house,
+kept by a friend of mine, in Port Linton, and stay there as long as is
+necessary to tell me everything. Then I can write it all into a
+connected story, and we'll divide the profits."</p>
+
+<p>"But supposing <i>The Times</i> shouldn't want to print it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take care of that," Mr. Porter replied.</p>
+
+<p>"But we would have to wait a good while to get the money back,
+wouldn't we?" Aleck asked. "And we want it now worse than we ever
+shall again, probably."</p>
+
+<p>"Ye&mdash;es, that's a difficulty," Mr. Porter admitted, slowly. Then he
+thought over it a minute or two in silence. "I'll tell you what I'll
+do," he said at last, "and I think I shall be safe. I estimate that
+you can give me facts enough for ten or twelve columns&mdash;say ten; and
+that for this 'special and exclusive' they will pay me twenty dollars,
+or more, a column. So if you are willing to take one hundred dollars
+for your information, I'll run the risk of getting that back and
+another hundred on top of it for the labor of writing."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure that we shall be very glad to do it if you think you are
+not cheating yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"That's <i>my</i> lookout," said the newspaper man. "And, now, Miss
+Kincaid, if you will take a seat in the boat, I think we should all
+regard it as a pleasure to draw you
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> the rest of the way, for I mean
+to bear a hand at dragging."</p>
+
+<p>Katy demurred, but all the boys insisted, so she unstrapped her
+skates, nestled warmly into the boat, where Mr. Porter folded his
+fur-trimmed coat about her, saying he should be too warm with skating
+to wear it, and they set off gayly.</p>
+
+<p>The plan thus made upon the ice was fully carried out, beginning that
+very evening, which was Friday; and on Tuesday morning Mr. Porter gave
+Tug twenty-five dollars and Aleck seventy-five&mdash;the latter "for the
+family," as he said. Besides this, they sold their scow for fifteen
+dollars, feeling that they had a right to do so, since, if the
+fishermen who had left it on the island (the name and position of
+which they learned) should ever return for it, they would find left in
+its place the <i>Red Erik</i>.</p>
+
+<p>The goods that they cared to keep were packed and sent on to Cleveland
+by freight. At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, therefore, the four
+adventurers&mdash;yes, <i>five</i>, for Rex was not forgotten&mdash;feeling
+themselves already famous in New York, and hence around the whole
+world, took the train for Cleveland, and reached their uncle's house
+in time for his one-o'clock dinner. All were heartily welcomed, and
+told their adventures again and again&mdash;in fact, until they became so
+thoroughly tired of being "trotted out" that Tug one day declared that
+he almost wished he had never left the island.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2 id="Chapter_XXXIV">Chapter XXXIV.</h2>
+
+<p class="h3">A HAPPY CONCLUSION.</p>
+
+<p>All the members of our party, to whose courage and independence of
+mind my story has borne witness, immediately and anxiously exerted
+themselves to relieve their hospitable relative of the burden of their
+support, and it was not long before they succeeded.</p>
+
+<p>Aleck and Tug found profitable work to do. Katy was eager to resume
+her studies, and therefore gladly accepted an invitation to stay with
+her aunt and help her in her sewing before and after school-hours. Jim
+roomed with his brother, and went to school also, acting morning and
+evening as an office-boy for a lawyer to whom Mr. Porter had given him
+a letter of introduction.</p>
+
+<p>To prepare themselves for these different stations used up their stock
+of money, but by close economy they came through without any
+debt&mdash;yes, even with some money left&mdash;just nineteen cents among them
+all! To this Tug's pocket contributed nothing, but he was happy.
+"There's one great comfort in being 'dead broke,'" he told them. "You
+know precisely where you are, and that matters
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> can get no worse. You
+are ready to begin all new again."</p>
+
+<p>This sense of beginning anew was a tonic that strengthened the hearts
+of all of them; for each one knew that, although he had no money, his
+feet were planted firmly on the first round of the ladder which, if
+steadily climbed, might lead to prosperity.</p>
+
+<p>With this satisfactory state of things the story might end, but twenty
+years and more have passed since that hard winter which made their
+journey to the island and escape from it possible; twenty years, in
+which no such hard winter has been seen again. Aleck is manager and
+part owner of a manufactory of gas-fixtures and brass fittings in
+Pittsburgh, and Jim is his cashier. Tug lives in Cleveland, where he
+is busy, as an inventor, and expects some day to be made rich by his
+improvements in railway-brakes and in oil-pumping machinery; but
+nobody addresses him as "Tug" except his wife (whom <i>he</i> calls Katy)
+and his little boy, who never tires of hearing how papa and mamma and
+Uncle Aleck went adrift on an ice-floe in Lake Erie.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class="trnote">
+<p class="h4">Transcriber's Note:</p>
+
+<p>Archaic syntax and inconsistent spelling were retained.</p>
+</div>
+
+</div><!--main-->
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ICE QUEEN***</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Ice Queen, by Ernest Ingersoll
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: The Ice Queen
+
+
+Author: Ernest Ingersoll
+
+
+
+Release Date: March 20, 2012  [eBook #39210]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ICE QUEEN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 39210-h.htm or 39210-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39210/39210-h/39210-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39210/39210-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "JIM GOT IN AT LEAST ONE GOOD BLOW."]
+
+
+THE ICE QUEEN
+
+by
+
+ERNEST INGERSOLL
+
+Author of
+"Friends Worth Knowing," "Knocking Round the Rockies," etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by
+Harper & Brothers,
+In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
+
+All rights reserved.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+      CHAP.
+         I. THROWN UPON THEIR OWN RESOURCES
+        II. "THE YOUNGSTER'S" PLAN
+       III. FITTING OUT THE "RED ERIK"
+        IV. MAKING A START
+         V. COMFORT IN A LOG CABIN
+        VI. NORSE TALES
+       VII. THE FIRST DAY ON THE LAKE
+      VIII. JIM'S REBELLION
+        IX. SKATING BY COMPASS
+         X. AN UGLY FERRIAGE
+        XI. CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL
+       XII. SNOWED UNDER
+      XIII. SAVED FROM STARVATION
+       XIV. THE ARCTIC VISITORS
+        XV. CHRISTMAS BIRD-CATCHING
+       XVI. HOW TUG MADE "TWITCH-UPS"
+      XVII. THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE
+     XVIII. RESCUING THE WANDERERS
+       XIX. ADRIFT ON AN ICE RAFT
+        XX. A NIGHT IN AN OPEN BOAT
+       XXI. THE ESCAPE TO THE SHORE
+      XXII. REX FIGHTS UNKNOWN ENEMIES
+     XXIII. EXPLORING THE ISLAND
+      XXIV. THE WILD DOGS AGAIN
+       XXV. THE PERILS OF A MIDNIGHT SEARCH
+      XXVI. FINDING SNOW-BIRDS AND LOSING THE CAPTAIN
+     XXVII. ANOTHER ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD DOGS
+    XXVIII. THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINED
+      XXIX. DECIDING UPON A NEW MOVE
+       XXX. KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS
+      XXXI. ABANDONING THE ISLAND
+     XXXII. AN ASTONISHED FARMER
+    XXXIII. THE "TIMES" CORRESPONDENT
+     XXXIV. A HAPPY CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+    "JIM GOT IN AT LEAST ONE GOOD BLOW"
+    DISCUSSING THE PLAN
+    "A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF"
+    SUPPER IN THE LOG CABIN
+    "LAY ON!"
+    CROSSING THE HUMMOCK
+    JIM AND KATY BRINGING THE RUSHES TO CAMP
+    "THE LITTLE FIRE WAS SOON BLAZING MERRILY"
+    CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL
+    "A SHARP REPORT WAS HEARD"
+    KATY TRAPPING THE SNOW-BUNTINGS
+    SETTING THE NEW TRAPS
+    "REX STRUCK OUT AND SWAM ACROSS"
+    "THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAG HIS LIFELESS FORM OUT UPON THE ICE"
+    "TRY TO STEADY HER"
+    THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND
+    ATTACKED BY THE DOGS
+    "DON'T CRY, KATY!"
+    "'IS HE DEAD?' ASKED JIM"
+    REPAIRING THE OLD SCOW
+    "'WA'AL, I DECLARE!'"
+
+
+
+
+THE ICE QUEEN.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter I.
+
+THROWN UPON THEIR OWN RESOURCES.
+
+
+The early dusk of a December day was fast changing into darkness as
+three of the young people with whose adventures this story is
+concerned trudged briskly homeward.
+
+The day was a bright one, and Aleck, the oldest, who was a skilled
+workman in the brass foundry, although scarcely eighteen years of age,
+had given himself a half-holiday in order to take Kate and The
+Youngster on a long skating expedition down to the lighthouse. Kate
+was his sister, two years younger than he, and The Youngster was a
+brother whose twelfth birthday this was.
+
+The little fellow never had had so much fun in one afternoon, he
+thought, and maintained stoutly that he scarcely felt tired at all.
+The ice had been in splendid condition, the day calm, but cloudy, so
+that their eyes had not ached, and they had been able to go far out
+upon the solidly frozen surface of the lake.
+
+"How far do you think we have skated to-day, Aleck?" asked The
+Youngster.
+
+"It's four miles from the lower bridge to the lighthouse," spoke up
+Kate, before Aleck could reply, "and four back. That makes eight
+miles, to begin with."
+
+"Yes," said Aleck, "and on top of that you must put--let me see--I
+should think, counting all our twists and turns, fully ten miles more.
+We were almost abreast of Stony Point when we were farthest out, and
+they say that's five miles long."
+
+"Altogether, then, we skated about eighteen miles."
+
+"Right, my boy; your arithmetic is your strong point."
+
+"Well, _I_ should say his feet were his strong point to-day," Kate
+exclaimed, in admiration of her brother's hardihood.
+
+"It wasn't a bad day's work for a _girl_ I know of, either," remarked
+Aleck, as he took the key from his pocket and opened the door of their
+house, which was soon bright with lamplight and a crackling fire of
+oak and hickory.
+
+The house these three dwelt in was a small cottage in an obscure
+street of the village, but it was warm and tight. Kate was
+housekeeper, and The Youngster--whose real name was James, contracted
+first into Jim, and then into Jimkin--was man-of-all-work, and
+maid-of-all-work too, sometimes, when Kate needed his help.
+
+While these two are getting tea, and Aleck is carefully wiping the
+skates and putting them away where no rust can have a chance at the
+blades, or mice gnaw the straps, let me tell you a few things about
+the family.
+
+Jim could remember his father only vaguely, but Kate and Aleck could
+tell us all about him. His name was Kincaid, and he was a
+master-builder of houses. He had bought and fitted up the cottage, and
+had put savings in the bank, though Mrs. Kincaid was sick much of the
+time, so that money was spent that would have been laid by "for a
+rainy day" if she had been strong and well.
+
+Unfortunately, the rain came sooner than any one thought for. One day,
+about five years before the beginning of our little history, papa was
+brought home hurt by falling from a scaffold at the top of a house. He
+was not dead, and all thought he would be well again in a few weeks at
+most; but instead he grew slowly worse, and after a time died.
+
+Then the poor mother, always weak, did the best she could, and Kate
+tried to help her, while Aleck stopped his school-going, and went to
+work in the brass foundry. At first, though, he could earn but a
+little, and Mr. Kincaid's savings slowly melted away until almost
+nothing was left. Then the tired and desolate mother, never strong,
+bade her children that long farewell that seems so terribly hopeless
+to all of us when we are young, and the three "mitherless bairns" were
+thrown upon their own resources.
+
+The question arose as to what they should do. Jim was now eight years
+old, and going to school. Kate had not neglected to do some studying,
+and a great deal of reading, too, though she had always been so busy;
+and a few weeks before her mother's death she had begun to study
+regularly with a lady who lived near, whom Katy repaid by picking
+various small fruits as they matured in the lady's large garden.
+Aleck, as I have said, was working steadily, and getting enough wages
+to keep them all in fair comfort, since they owned the house and
+enough garden to give them plenty of vegetables. So, after talking the
+prospect over, they decided to stay in their little house and live
+together. A letter was written to Uncle Andrew, in Cleveland, who had
+offered Kate and Jimmy a home, telling him they would try it alone a
+while before burdening any of their friends.
+
+This decision had been made almost four years before my story opens,
+and it had not been regretted. They had even saved some money, but the
+larger part of this had been spent in repairing the house, and in
+fitting up a new boat for Jim and one of his friends, who thought they
+knew a way to make a little money in the summer vacation if they had a
+good boat. This boat had been completed only in time to prove how
+good it was, before the winter had closed the river with ice at an
+unusually early date, and now the pretty craft was safely stored in a
+warehouse at the schooner-landing, a mile below the town.
+
+All slept very soundly after their skating holiday--even Rex, the
+great Newfoundland dog, who was a member of the family by no means to
+be overlooked; but their ears were not stopped so tight that the
+clangor of the church bells about midnight failed to arouse them with
+its dreadful alarm of fire. Hastening to an upper window, one glance
+at the blaze-reddened heavens showed our friends that the group of
+factories in the southern part of the town was burning, and one of
+these was the brass foundry where Aleck worked.
+
+Aleck hurried away, and they did not see him until after sunrise, when
+he came home tired, wet, and soot-blackened. The whole shop had burned
+to the ground, he reported, and it was only by great risk and exertion
+that he had been able to rescue his father's precious chest of tools.
+
+"I didn't think," said the young man, as he sat wearily down to Katy's
+hot coffee, "that my job would be so short when McAbee told me
+yesterday I could work there 'as long as the foundry lasted.'"
+
+During that day and the next Aleck tried every possible chance of
+employment in the village, but found nothing; and by the time evening
+came he had made up his mind that no regular employment equal to his
+old place was to be had there for months to come.
+
+There was no doubt about it. The time had arrived when they must avail
+themselves of Uncle Andrew's kindness, and seek in his hospitable
+house at least a temporary home.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter II.
+
+"THE YOUNGSTER'S" PLAN.
+
+
+"You see," said Aleck, "though I've about seventy-five dollars ahead,
+yet when we have bought what we shall need, there will not be more
+than forty dollars left. Now, if we go to Cleveland in the cars and
+take our things with us, it'll cost us twenty-five dollars or more,
+and leave us almost nothing to get started with there."
+
+"S'posin'," said Jimkin the Wise, "s'posin' we don't go in the cars.
+Cleveland's on the lake, and the lake's all ice; let's skate down to
+uncle's!"
+
+"Humph!" grunted Aleck.
+
+"Pshaw!" said Kate.
+
+"Didn't we skate eighteen miles yesterday, and couldn't we have gone
+farther?" persisted Jim, unabashed.
+
+"It's more than a hundred miles to Cleveland. Think you could do that
+in one day? Besides, how would you know the way?"
+
+"Didn't say I could do it in one day. But couldn't we go ashore and
+stop at night? That's the way the Hall boys did, who skated up to
+Detroit last winter."
+
+"I read in the newspaper yesterday," said Kate, "that the lake was
+frozen uncommonly hard, and was solid ice all the way along the shore
+as far as the headlands of Ashtabula."
+
+"If we could be sure of that," Aleck admitted, "there might be some
+use in trying; but one can't be sure. Besides, how could we take along
+our baggage?"
+
+"Pull it on a sled," said Kate, "the way they do in the arctic
+regions. Men up there just live on the ice, sleep at night and cook
+their food and travel all day, and they don't have skates either.
+Gracious! Who can that be?"
+
+No wonder Katy was astonished, for there came echoing through the
+house a noise as if somebody was pounding the wall down with a stone
+maul. Aleck hastened to put a stop to it by opening the door.
+
+He was greeted by the grinning face of a round-headed, chunky lad
+nearly his own age, named Thucydides Montgomery; but as this was too
+long a name for the Western people, it had been cut down very early in
+life to "Tug," which everybody saw at once was the right word, on
+account of the lad's strength and toughness. The mammas of the village
+thought him a bad boy, getting their information from the small boys
+of the public school, whom, in his great fondness for joking, he would
+sometimes frighten and tease.
+
+Aleck knew him better, and knew how brave and goodhearted he was. Jim
+had good cause to be fond of him, for, in behalf of The Youngster,
+during his first week at school, Tug had soundly thrashed a bullying
+tyrant; while Kate gratefully remembered various heavy market-baskets
+he had carried for her, since he lived near by. A closer tie between
+our little family and their visitor, however, was the fact that, like
+them, he was an orphan, and, like them, had relatives in Cleveland,
+whom he had often thought he should like to be with better than
+staying with his aunt here in Monore.
+
+When Tug had joined the circle gathered before the big fireplace, and
+had begun to talk about the brass-works, he was promptly hushed by
+Aleck.
+
+"Put that up now, and attend to me. This urchin here, who has become
+very cheeky since he began to go to school--"
+
+"And came under my care," Tug interrupted, loftily.
+
+"Yes, no doubt. Well, The Youngster finds we all want to go to
+Cleveland, but can't afford the railway fare, and so he coolly
+proposes that we skate there."
+
+"Well, why don't you do it? I'll go with you," said Tug, quietly.
+
+Jim shouted with triumph. Kate laughed, and clapped her hands at the
+fun of beating her big brother, and Aleck looked as though he thought
+he was being quizzed.
+
+"Do you mean it?" he asked.
+
+"Of course I do. I want to go down as badly as you do. I haven't any
+stamps, and the walking, I'm told, isn't good. I prefer to skate."
+
+"Katy says we might drag our luggage on sleds, as they do in the
+arctic regions; but supposing the ice should break up, or we should
+come to a big crack?"
+
+"I have read," Kate remarks again, "that they carry boats on their
+sledges, and pack their goods in the boats, so that they will float if
+the ice gives way."
+
+"Take my boat!" screamed Jim, eagerly.
+
+"That would call for a big sled."
+
+"Well, didn't you two fellows build a pair of bobs last winter big
+enough to carry that boat?"
+
+"Doubtful," answered Aleck. But when they brought out the plan of the
+boat, and then measured the bobs, which were stored in the woodshed,
+they found them plenty wide, and Tug was sure they were sufficiently
+strong.
+
+Kate looked at them rather dubiously, and said she had never read of
+arctic boats mounted on heavy bobs, but that they always seemed in the
+pictures to have long, light runners under them; but Jim reminded her
+curtly that "girls didn't know everything," so she kept still, and the
+planning and talking went on.
+
+Young people who are under no necessity to ask permission of older
+persons, and, besides, are pushed by circumstances, decide quickly on
+a plan which looks forward to adventure. Generally, I fear, they come
+to grief, and learn some good lessons rather expensively; but
+sometimes their energy and fearlessness carry them safely through what
+the caution of old age would have stopped short of trying to perform.
+
+[Illustration: DISCUSSING THE PLAN.]
+
+They sat up pretty late discussing the plan, but before Tug went to
+what he said he "s'posed he must call home," they had determined to
+try it if the weather held firm.
+
+This was on Friday. They hoped to get away early in the coming week.
+Then all three went to bed, Jim jubilant, and looking forward to a
+long frolic; Kate half doubtful whether it was best, but hopeful;
+Aleck sure that, for himself, he didn't care, hating to put his sister
+and brother to any risk, yet seeing no better way of resisting
+poverty; Tug resolute, and bound to stand by his friends, whatever
+happened. So they slept, and bright and early next morning the quiet
+preparations began, Tug declining to answer any questions as to how he
+arranged the matter of his going with his aunt.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter III.
+
+FITTING OUT THE "RED ERIK."
+
+
+The first thing was to settle upon their preparations.
+
+"What will you want to take, Tug?"
+
+"Precious little, I guess. Besides my clothing, which won't make much
+of a bundle, I don't own much except my shot-gun, and my weasel-trap,
+and my odds-and-ends chest, and some hooks and lines. I'm going to
+sell all the rest of my duds."
+
+"Who'll buy 'em?" asked Jim, doubtfully.
+
+"Never you mind who, infant. 'This stock must be closed out below
+cost,' as the old-clo' men say. I can put all my baggage in a
+nail-keg."
+
+"Then that's fixed," Aleck remarked. "Now for _you_, Katy?"
+
+"I think the little trunk that was mamma's, and my handbag for brush
+and comb and such things, will hold all that belongs to me--that is,
+of my own _own_," she replied, laughing. "Of course, the cooking
+things, and so on, belong to all of us."
+
+"Well, Jim, your traps and mine will go into the other little chest, I
+think--at any rate, they must. Now for the general list."
+
+The general outfit was then talked over for more than an hour, when,
+looking at his watch, Aleck said:
+
+"Now this plan all depends on what luck I have in renting the house. I
+heard yesterday that Mr. Porter (the owner of the burned factory)
+would have to leave the hotel, and wanted to find a small furnished
+house. I am going to see if I can't let ours to him."
+
+So Aleck went off, and Tug and Jim started down to examine the boat,
+study how much she would hold, and see what would be the best way of
+mounting her upon the bobs, which they spoke of as "the sledge." They
+were not back until afternoon, and found that Aleck had just come in,
+full of success. Mr. Porter would rent the house, and would allow them
+a closet in which to store all the small goods they wished to leave
+behind.
+
+"Now, what about the boat?" he asked, as he concluded the story.
+
+"She'll do beautifully. Jim and I think we'd better deck her over from
+the mast forward, and cover it with painted canvas, so as to make a
+water-tight place to stow the provisions."
+
+"That's a good idea."
+
+"We thought you'd say so, and so we took exact measurements, and can
+make a deck here, and fasten it on down there."
+
+"All right; now, how do you think we'd better fasten the boat to the
+sledge?"
+
+"That's where we want you to help us decide. I don't believe its
+weight is great enough to hold it firm."
+
+"It's the first thing to be arranged," said Aleck, "and after dinner I
+guess we'll have to go down to the wharf."
+
+An hour later the three boys were standing beside the boat, gazing
+first at it and then at the pair of strong bobs they had brought
+along.
+
+"We must take that coasting-board off the bobs and put in a heavy
+reach-pole pretty near as long as the boat, that's certain," said Tug.
+
+"And," spoke up Jimmy, "we've got to prop her up on the sledge so
+she'll stand even, and won't tip."
+
+"Yes, you're both right," Aleck agreed. "The best way is to saw chairs
+out of two-inch plank which will just fit her bottom, and in which she
+will sit solidly."
+
+"But," Tug broke in, "that won't hold her firm in the racket she has
+to go through. She must be bound down to that sledge, and I reckon the
+best way is to draw bands of stout canvas--big straps would cost too
+much--over the boat, from one side of the sledge to the other."
+
+They examined and re-examined, but could none of them see any better
+plan; so they measured, and on their way home bought enough of the
+heaviest duck to make three bands, each three inches wide.
+
+This transaction brought out a bit of Tug's loyalty. As Aleck took out
+his purse to pay for the canvas, Tug pushed his hand away and laid a
+dollar bill on the counter.
+
+"You can just put up your cash," he cried. "This is my affair. If you
+fellows furnish the boat and sledge and all the rest, I'm going to
+pay, myself, for what new stuff we have to buy. It's little enough I
+can do, anyhow."
+
+With this view there was no use of arguing, and Tug had his way that
+day and during all the rest of the preparation, spending the whole of
+his savings and the money received from the sale of his books and
+"contraptions."
+
+While Tug sawed out the chairs, and screwed and spiked them firmly to
+the sledge that evening, the other two boys worked at the bands, and
+Katy sewed. They all sat in the kitchen, in order to be where Tug
+could work, and before they went to bed both tasks were nearly done.
+
+The next day was Sunday.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+On Monday the sledge was finished, and the boat was set upon it.
+Tacking tightly over it the canvas bands, two in front and one towards
+the stern, the whole affair proved almost as stiff and firm as though
+formed of one piece.
+
+"What was the boat's name?" you may feel like interrupting me to ask.
+
+It had not been christened yet, but when, as they sat by the fire on
+Sunday evening, Katy read aloud the story of "Red Erik," they all
+agreed that that was the name they wanted.
+
+Now the _Red Erik_ was fitted to carry one mast, which passed through
+a hole in the forward thwart, and was stepped into a block underneath.
+The sail carried by this mast was a square sail of pretty good size,
+supported by a gaff at the top and a boom at the bottom. When it was
+not in use it was rolled around the mast, the gaff and boom being laid
+lengthwise along with it; and by wrapping the sheet around, the whole
+was lashed into a bundle, which lay very snugly upon the thwarts under
+one gunwale, where a couple of leather gaskets were buckled about it
+to keep it from sliding. There was also a jib-sail.
+
+While they were overhauling this gear, the question of what they were
+to do for a tent came up, and Katy asked whether the sails could not
+be made useful for that purpose.
+
+Certainly, the mainsail was large enough to form a very decent shelter
+when stretched over a low ridge-pole, but it needed loops of rope at
+the ends in order to be pegged to the ground and thus held in place.
+
+"But there ain't any ground, and you can't drive wooden pegs into
+ice," objected Katy, at this point of the planning.
+
+"Then," said Aleck, "we shall have to get half a dozen iron pegs, and
+I have some railway spikes that will be just the thing."
+
+"That's so," said Tug. "Take 'em along. Now, the next thing is poles.
+The gaff will do for one, but the other one we'll have to make,
+because we want to use the boom for a ridge-pole."
+
+"Then I'll tell you how we'll fix it," Aleck explained. "We'll put an
+eye-bolt in the far end of the boom, and call that the front end of
+the tent. We'll make a front upright post out of hickory, and have the
+lower end of it shod with iron, so as to stick in the ice--"
+
+"Hold up! I've a better idea than that even," Tug exclaimed. "I
+suppose you want to save carrying any more timber than you can help.
+Well, let's cut off the handle of the boat-hook--that's hickory--until
+it is the right length, and its iron point will stick in the ice, or
+the ground (if we set her up ashore) first-rate. Then we'll go to the
+blacksmith, and have a cap made with a spike in it to go through the
+eye in the end of the boom. When we want to use the boat-hook we can
+take the cap off."
+
+"That's a good way; but how about the gaff?"
+
+"Set a short spike in the far end to stick in the ice, and let the
+ridge-pole rest in the jaws of the gaff; the canvas will hold her
+steady."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so. You're an inventor, Tug. Go down to-morrow and get
+the irons made."
+
+Meanwhile, as I said, loops were sewed on the sail, and it was thus
+arranged to serve as a tent. It had a queer shape when set up in the
+yard on trial, for the sail was broader at one end than the other,
+though it did very well indeed. An end piece was lacking; but this was
+supplied by putting on tapes so as to tie the broad foot of the jib to
+one edge of the rear of the tent, while the sharp top end was folded
+around on the outside and tied to one of the side pegs. For the front
+they could do no better than hang up a shawl or something of that
+kind, if needed, since they decided that a few yards square of spare
+canvas which they had must be kept for a carpet upon the ice floor.
+
+This done, there remained to screw into the forward end of the sledge
+two eye-bolts, to which the ropes were to be attached for dragging the
+boat. Each of these ropes was about twelve feet long, and had at one
+end an iron hook, so as to be put on and taken off very quickly. Three
+of them were prepared, but, as you will see, it was rare that more
+than two were ever in use at once on the march. They could easily be
+hooked together into one long line, however; two of them would serve
+as end-stays when the tent was set up; and they were often of the
+greatest importance to the young adventurers, in enabling them to
+overcome difficulties, or to extricate themselves from some perplexing
+or dangerous situation.
+
+All these arrangements, by hard work, were finished on Tuesday
+evening, the very last task being the making of a box with
+double-hinged covers, which should fit snugly under the stern-thwart.
+This was to be the kitchen chest or mess kit, holding the cooking
+utensils and dishes. When its two covers were spread out and propped
+up it formed a low table.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IV.
+
+MAKING A START.
+
+
+Katy, meanwhile, had been looking after clothing and provisions. On
+Tuesday evening, when Tug came in after tea, she was ready to read to
+him a full list, as follows:
+
+BOAT OUTFIT.--Sailing and rowing gear complete; one piece of spare
+canvas three yards square; one oil lantern and a gallon of oil; one
+compass; a locker under the stroke-thwart, containing calking-iron,
+oakum, putty, copper nails, gimlet, screw-driver, screws, sail needle,
+thread, wax, etc.
+
+CAMP OUTFIT.--Tent (_made out of the sails_), pegs, poles, etc.; one
+axe; one hatchet; one small handsaw; one shovel; one clothes-line; one
+mess chest, containing the fewest possible dishes, tin cups, knives,
+forks, etc., also a skillet, a coffee-pot, etc.; one iron kettle; one
+covered copper pail.
+
+PERSONAL BAGGAGE.--One trunk for Aleck's and Jim's clothing; one trunk
+for Katy's clothing; Tug's box (_clothing, and what he says are
+"contraptions"_); small valise for Katy's toilet necessaries and other
+small articles.
+
+BEDDING (_tied up in close rolls_).--For Aleck, three blankets and a
+thick quilt.
+
+For Jim, the same.
+
+For Tug, three blankets and a piece of old sail-cloth.
+
+For Katy, a buffalo-robe trimmed square, two flannel sheets, three
+blankets, and a heavy shawl.
+
+Thick woollen nightcaps or hoods for all.
+
+FOOD (_enough to last two weeks, it is supposed, and consisting
+chiefly of the first seven articles named_).--Corn-meal, coffee,
+sugar, crackers, dried beef, bacon, and ham; also small quantities of
+potatoes, beans, dried corn, tea, chocolate, maple sugar, buckwheat
+flour, and condiments. (Katy did not count the luxuries of the first
+day's evening meal.)
+
+All these supplies, as far as possible, were put into bags made of
+strong cloth or of heavy paper, or into wooden boxes, and then were
+stowed under the forward deck. To carry them and the rest of the
+luggage down to the wharf, a box was fastened upon Jim's hand-sled,
+and several trips were made.
+
+At last Wednesday afternoon came, and the preparations for the
+adventurous journey were complete. All the morning had been spent by
+Tug and Jim in packing away goods in the boat, while Aleck and Kate
+finished the home-leaving, bringing down a final sled-load with them
+about two o'clock. Besides this, Katy's arms were full of
+"suspicious-looking" bundles, as Tug noticed, the contents of which
+she refused to let any one know before night.
+
+The boat lay hidden underneath the warehouse wharf, and of the few who
+knew of their intentions nobody seemed to have let out the secret;
+moreover, the day was unusually cold and somewhat windy, so that few
+skaters were out, at least, so far down the river. Thus they were not
+annoyed by inquisitive visitors. Ten minutes after Aleck and Kate
+arrived the final package had been stowed, the mantle of canvas spread
+over, the oars and rolled-up tent laid on top, and Tug announced
+everything ready.
+
+"Then let's be off," said Aleck, as he buckled the last strap of his
+left skate, and stood up.
+
+"Not till you give the word of command, Captain."
+
+"Captain!" echoed Jim, standing very straight.
+
+"Captain!" Kate caught up the word, and made a funny girlish imitation
+of an officer's salute. "Not till you give the order, sir!"
+
+"Oho!" laughed Aleck. "That's election by acclamation, I should say!
+All right; only, if I'm to be Captain, remember you must do as I say
+at once, and save any arguing about it until afterwards. When you get
+tired you can vote me out as you voted me in. Will you agree?"
+
+"Yes--agreed!" cried all three.
+
+"Then my first order is 'Forward!'" and so saying he seized a
+drag-rope and sent the sledge-boat spinning out upon the smooth ice
+far from under the shadow of the wharf, showing how easily it could be
+run in spite of its weight, which was not less than five hundred
+pounds.
+
+[Illustration: "A MOMENT LATER THEY WERE OFF."]
+
+A moment later they were off on the first strokes of a trip that
+proved far more eventful than any of them anticipated--Aleck with the
+drag-rope, Tug by his side, Jim pulling his sled, Rex leaping and
+barking, and Kate bringing up the rear with her hands on the
+stern-rail of the boat. Two or three boys and men called after them,
+and one followed a little way, but he was sent back with short
+answers, and in a few moments the church spires, the big, bell-crowned
+cupola of the High School, and the lofty spans of the railway bridge
+had been left far behind. Not much was said, for even heedless Jim
+felt that this was a serious undertaking, and the pleasant scenes they
+had known so long might never be revisited.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter V.
+
+COMFORT IN A LOG CABIN.
+
+
+The pain of this farewell did not long cloud their faces. Tug and Jim
+had had no luncheon, and were growing anxious for something to eat.
+Down at the mouth of the river stood a small cabin, often occupied in
+early spring by the sportsmen who went for a day's duck-shooting in
+the great marshes that spread right and left on both sides of the
+stream. It was buried among big cottonwood and sycamore trees, and was
+pretty snug. Besides, it had a fireplace, into which somebody had
+stuck a long iron bolt pulled out of some bit of wreckage on the
+beach, and which served as a great convenience in the rude cooking of
+the sportsmen.
+
+At this cabin our party proposed to spend the first night. They
+thought it would be an easy letting down from sleeping in their beds
+at home to the tenting they feared they might have to do afterwards.
+Katy had been the one to suggest this, and Tug had earnestly supported
+the idea.
+
+"Things don't seem so hard when they come upon you gradually, as the
+kind-hearted man said when he cut off his dog's tail a little piece at
+a time, so the pup wouldn't mind it."
+
+The sun was just disappearing straight up the river behind them as the
+cabin came in sight; and before its half-closed door
+
+    "'All _bloody_ lay the untrodden snow,'"
+
+as Kate exclaimed, misquoting her "Hohenlinden" to suit the red glow
+of the rich evening light.
+
+"Hurrah for supper!" screamed Jim; and with an extra spurt they swung
+the boat up to the bank.
+
+A little sweeping with a broom made of an alder branch cleared the
+cabin of the snow that had blown into the cracks and fallen down the
+mud-and-stone chimney. This done, Aleck called to them to listen to
+his first orders, which he had written down in a note-book, and now
+read as follows:
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 1.--Any order given by the Captain must be
+     obeyed by the person to whom it is addressed, unless his reason
+     for not doing so will not keep till camping-time; merely _not
+     liking_ the duty is no excuse.
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 2.--The Captain will say when and where
+     camp shall be made, and immediately upon stopping to camp the
+     duties of each person shall be taken up as follows: the
+     Captain shall secure the boat, get out the tent, and proceed to
+     set it up; Tug shall take the axe and get fuel for the fire;
+     Kate shall see to the building of the fire and the preparation
+     of food; Jim shall help Kate, particularly in carrying articles
+     needed, and in getting water; and all, when these special
+     duties are finished, shall report to the Captain for further
+     duty.
+
+     CAPTAIN'S ORDER NO. 3.--Any complaints or suggestions must be
+     made in council, which will commence after camp work is
+     completed and supper is over, and not before.
+
+"There," said Aleck, "do you agree to that?"
+
+"Yes--agreed!" shouted three voices in chorus.
+
+"Then pitch in, all of you; you know your work."
+
+At this Tug seized the axe, Aleck and Jim went to the sledge, and Katy
+began to kindle a little blaze on the hearth with some bits of dry
+wood she found lying about, so that when Tug had brought an armful of
+sticks, a good fire was quickly crackling. Then the iron pot, full of
+water, was hung upon the old spike, where the blaze began curling
+around its three little black feet in a most loving way.
+
+"Jimkin," called the girl to her brother, who was gazing with delight
+at the bright fire, "Jimkin, bring me all those paper packages at the
+stern of the boat, and be careful of the white one--it's eggs."
+
+"I guess there won't be much tent to set up to-night, Aleck," he
+remarked, as he found the Captain, who had hauled the sledge well up
+on the bank and tied it securely to a tree, now busy in dragging out
+the sail.
+
+"No," was the reply, "but the canvas'll come handy. Tell Tug I say
+he'd better get a big heap of wood together, for we're going to have a
+cold night. The wind has turned to the north, and is rising."
+
+When he had taken the canvas up to the cabin, he called Jim to help
+him, and they brought in the mess chest, the rolls of bedding, and the
+piece of spare canvas which had covered the prow. Then, telling Jim to
+take the little sled that had been dragged behind the boat, and haul
+to the door the wood Tug had cut among the trees not far away, Aleck
+seized the shovel and began heaping snow against the northern side of
+the house, where there were many cracks between the lower logs. But
+his hard work to shut them up in this way seemed to be in vain, for
+the wind, which was blowing harder and harder every minute, whisked
+the snow away about as fast as he was able to pile it up. Kate,
+stepping out to see what he was about, came to his rescue with a happy
+thought.
+
+"I read in Dr. Kane's book of arctic travels, that when they make
+houses of snow they throw water on them, which freezes, and holds them
+firm and tight. Couldn't you do that here? It's cold enough to freeze
+anything."
+
+Aleck thought he might, and bidding Kate go back to her fireside, he
+called the other boys to help him; then, while Jim stuffed the cracks
+with snow, Aleck and Tug alternately brought water from a hole cut in
+the river ice, and dashed it against the chinking. Some of the water
+splashed through, and a good deal was tossed back in their faces and
+benumbed their hands, so that it was hard, cold work; but before long
+a crust had formed over the snow-stuffed cracks, and Katy came to the
+door to say that she couldn't feel a draught anywhere. The roof was
+pretty good, and when, tired and hungry, but warm with their exercise
+(except as to their toes and fingers), the three lads went in and shut
+the door, they found their quarters very snug, and didn't mind how
+loud the gale howled among the trees outside. Rex, especially, seemed
+to enjoy it, curling down at the corner of the fireplace as though
+very much at home.
+
+Meanwhile Katy bustled about, setting out plates, knives, and forks on
+the top of the mess chest, which she had covered with the clean white
+paper in which her packages had been wrapped. She had put eight eggs
+to boil in the kettle, which were now done, and were carefully fished
+out, while the coffee-pot was bubbling on the coals, and letting
+fragrant jets of steam escape from under the loosely fitting cover. A
+cut loaf of bread lay on the table, and beside it a tumbler of currant
+jelly, "as sure as I am a Dutchman"--which was Tug's favorite way
+of putting a truth very strongly indeed, though he wasn't that kind of
+a man at all. The eagerness to taste this sweetmeat brought out the
+melancholy fact that by some accident there was only one spoon in the
+whole kit.
+
+[Illustration: SUPPER IN THE LOG CABIN.]
+
+"We'll fix that all right this evening," Aleck remarked. "I'll whittle
+wooden ones out of sycamore."
+
+"Shall I broil some mutton-chops, or will you save those for
+breakfast?"
+
+"Broil 'em now," cried Jim.
+
+"Hold your opinion, Youngster, till your elders are heard," was Tug's
+rejoinder. "I vote we save 'em."
+
+"So do I."
+
+"And I."
+
+"Done," says Captain Aleck. "Give us the chops for breakfast, Miss
+Housekeeper."
+
+"Then supper's all ready," she said, and took her seat on a stick of
+wood, pouring and passing the coffee, while the eggs and the bread and
+butter went round. By the time the meal was finished it had become
+dark, but this did not matter, since there was no need to go out of
+doors.
+
+"How shall I wash the dishes?" asked Katy, with a comical grin, as she
+rose from the table. "I couldn't bring a big pan."
+
+"Well," suggested Aleck, "you can clean out your kettle, refill it
+with water--Jim, there's business for you!--and then wash them in
+that."
+
+"That's a matter never bothered me much when _I_ was camping," added
+Tug, dryly. "I just scrubbed the plates with a wisp of grass, and
+cleaned the knives and forks by jabbing 'em into the ground a few
+times."
+
+While the dishes were washing Aleck opened the tent bundle, and laid
+the mast across two pegs that somebody had driven into the north wall
+of the room just under the ceiling beams, perhaps to hang
+fishing-poles on. Then, with Tug's aid, he tied to the mast the inner
+hem of the sail-cloth, which thus hung loosely against the wall, like
+a big curtain, shutting out every draught.
+
+"That's splendid!" cried Katy, watching them from the end of the room
+where the fire was.
+
+"So is _this_!" came a voice from overhead, making them all look up in
+surprise.
+
+It was Jim, who, unnoticed by any one, had clambered into the loft,
+which had been floored over about two thirds of the room, and who was
+now thrusting his red face down through the open part.
+
+"What do you think I've found?"
+
+"Give it up. I knew of a man who died after asking conundrums all his
+life," answered Tug, gravely, "and I've fought shy of 'em since."
+
+"Tell us at once, Jimkin," called out Aleck.
+
+"_Straw!_" shouted Jim.
+
+"Pshaw!" was the next rejoinder heard.
+
+"No rhymes, Katy," Aleck admonished. "Is it clean, Youngster?"
+
+"Cleaner than he is, I should say, by his face," said Tug, and with
+some reason, for the loft was dusty.
+
+"Don't know; you can see for yourself," and down came a great yellow
+armful.
+
+It was pounced upon, and, proving dry and fresh, the delighted Jim was
+ordered to send down all he could find, which was laid on the floor,
+not far from the fire, and covered with the spare canvas. This made a
+soft sort of mattress, upon which each one could spread his blankets,
+and sleep with great comfort, since there was plenty for all.
+
+"Sha'n't have so good a bed as this another night," groaned Aleck.
+
+"Can't tell--maybe better!" said the cheerful Tug.
+
+The warmest place was set apart for Katy, and Aleck made a small
+screen, covered with a newspaper curtain, which separated her from the
+other three, who were to sleep side by side. These preparations made,
+the fire was heaped high with fresh wood, and then the little quartet
+took their ease, lounging on the springy straw before it, and
+indulging in a quiet talk over the busy day just finished, or what
+they were likely to meet on the morrow.
+
+Aleck said something about being able to travel by compass in case
+they were caught in a snow-storm, which was what he dreaded the most,
+when Jim asked him to explain the compass to him, leaving Katy's side
+and going over to where his big brother was stretched out at the other
+corner of the fireplace. The girl, thus deserted, went to the valise
+in which she kept her small articles, and came back with a book.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VI.
+
+NORSE TALES.
+
+
+"What are you reading?" asked Tug, who was the last boy in the world
+to be interested in a book, unless it was one about animals, but who
+had nothing else to do just then.
+
+"A book of old stories."
+
+"What about?--adventures, and things of that sort?"
+
+"Partly. Some of them are fairy stories--about queer little people,
+and animals that talk, and heavenly beings that help lost children,
+and people that have hard times."
+
+"Why, those are the very fellows we want to see. Let's hear about
+'em--mebbe we can give 'em a job."
+
+"Well, if you would like it, I'll read you this story I've just
+begun," said Katy, good-naturedly.
+
+"Much obliged. I think that would be tip-top."
+
+So Katy read to him, as he lounged on the straw and gazed into the
+bright fire, an old myth-story of the North Wind. How, away in a far
+corner of Norway, there once lived a widow with one son. It was
+midwinter, and she was weak, so the lad was obliged to go to the
+"safe" (or cellar dug near the house, where the food was kept) to
+bring the materials for the morning meal. The first time he went, and
+the second, and again, at the third attempt, the fierce North Wind
+blew the food out of his hands. These three losses vexed the lad
+greatly, and he resolved to go to the North Wind and demand the food
+back. After long travelling he found the home of the giant, far
+towards the pole, and made his demand. The North Wind heard him, and
+gave him a cloth which would serve all the finest dishes in the world
+whenever the boy chose to spread it and call for them. On his way home
+he stopped at a tavern for the night, and, spreading his cloth, had a
+feast. The landlady was astonished, as well she might be, and thinking
+what a useful thing such a tablecloth would be in a hotel, she stole
+it while the lad was asleep, and put in its place one that looked like
+it, but which had no secret power.
+
+The lad, not suspecting the change, went home, and boasted gleefully
+to his mother of what he had brought. But when he tried it, of course
+the false cloth could do nothing, and the old lady both laughed at him
+and scolded him. Vexed again, the lad hastened back, and accused the
+North Wind of fraud. So the giant gave him a ram which would coin
+golden ducats when commanded. Stopping at the tavern as before, the
+landlord exchanged this remarkable animal for one from his own common
+flock, and the lad found himself fooled a second time. Going back a
+third time, he told the story to the North Wind, who gave the angry
+lad a stout stick which, when it had been told to "lay on," would
+never cease striking till the lad bade it to stop.
+
+At the tavern, the landlord, thinking there was some useful
+enchantment in the stick, tried to steal it also, but the boy was wide
+awake. He shouted, "Lay on," and the landlord found himself being
+clubbed till he was nearly dead, and gave back all that he had taken.
+Then the boy went home, and he and his mother lived rich and happy
+ever afterwards.
+
+Tug's vigorous applause aroused the attention of the other two, who
+may have been listening a little, and Aleck asked what the book was.
+
+"Dr. Dasent's 'Norse Tales,'" Katy replied.
+
+"Who or what is 'Norse'?" Jim inquired.
+
+This was a question Tug had been wanting to ask too, but had felt
+ashamed to expose his ignorance--one of the few things not really mean
+which a boy has a right to be ashamed of.
+
+"The Norse people," Katy said, "are the people of Scandinavia (or the
+_Northmen_, as they were called in ancient times), and these stories
+are those that old people have told their children in Norway and
+Sweden for--oh! for hundreds of years. Many are about animals, and
+others--"
+
+"Give us one about an animal," Tug interrupted.
+
+Very well, here's one that tells why the bear has so short a tail:
+
+     One day the Bear met the Fox, who came slinking along with a
+     string of fish he had stolen.
+
+     'Whence did you get these?' asked the Bear.
+
+     'Oh, my Lord Bruin, I've been out fishing, and caught them,'
+     said the Fox.
+
+     So the Bear had a mind to learn to fish too, and bade the Fox
+     tell him how he was to set about it.
+
+     'Oh, it's an easy craft for you,' said the Fox, 'and one soon
+     learned. You've only to go upon the ice, and cut a hole, and
+     stick your tail down into it; and so you must go on holding it
+     there as long as you can. You're not to mind if your tail
+     smarts a little; that's when the fish bite. The longer you hold
+     it, the more fish you'll get; and then, all at once, out with
+     it, with a cross pull sideways, and with a strong pull too.'
+
+     Yes; the Bear did as the Fox said, and held his tail a long,
+     long time down in the hole, until it was fast frozen in. Then
+     he pulled it out with a cross pull, and it snapped short off.
+     That's why Bruin goes about with a stumpy tail to this day.
+
+[Illustration: "LAY ON!"]
+
+When this short and stirring tale of a tail had been concluded, the
+Captain's voice was heard.
+
+"Now for bed!" he ordered, winding up his watch, whose golden hands
+pointed to nine o'clock.
+
+Partially undressing, they tucked themselves into their quilts and
+blankets on the crackling straw, and silence followed. Sleep was slow
+to close the eyes of the younger ones, who were kept awake by their
+strange situation; and Rex, lying at Katy's feet, frequently raised
+his head as the roaring wind shrieked through the tall trees outside,
+or rattled a loose board in the roof with a strange noise.
+
+The first one to awake next morning was Aleck, who looked at his watch
+by the glimmer of the coals, and was surprised to find it after eight
+o'clock, though only a gray light came through the little window of
+the cabin. Creeping out, he raked the embers together, laid on some
+fresh wood, and hung the kettle on the spike. Then he called his
+companions, who sat up and rubbed their eyes.
+
+"Katy, you lie still till the boys go off. We'll bring you some water,
+and then you can have the house to yourself for a while. Get out of
+this, you fellows! Jim, bring a pail of water for the cook. Tug, you
+and I will go and see how the boat has stood the night."
+
+Two minutes later they were gone. After Jim had brought the fresh
+water (he was slow about it, because he had to rechop the well-hole)
+the girl sprang up to make herself neat, and was busy at breakfast
+when the boys pounded the door like a battering-ram with the
+axe-handle, "so as surely to be heard," and begged to know if they
+might come in.
+
+"Good-morning!" she greeted them. "How is the weather?"
+
+"Weather!" exclaimed Tug, spreading his hands before the fire, and
+working his ears out from underneath a huge red comforter just as I
+have seen a turtle slowly push his head beyond the folded skin of his
+neck. "Weather! It's the roughest day I ever saw. I don't believe old
+Zach himself could skate a rod against that wind."
+
+(Zach was a six-foot-three lumberman in Monore, who was noted for his
+great strength.)
+
+"Then how can we go on?" asked Katy, dropping eggshells into the
+coffee-pot.
+
+"I'm afraid we can't," Aleck said, soberly; "at least, until this gale
+goes down. It is very, very cold, and I'm sure we are much better off
+here. Don't you all think so?"
+
+"_You_ bet!" shouted Tug.
+
+"You _bet_!" Jim echoed.
+
+"Then I must worry about dinner," said Katy, with a pretended groan
+which made them all laugh.
+
+At breakfast came the promised chops. Then, while Katy and Jim set
+the cabin into neat shape, the older lads went after more wood, and,
+having done this, walked out to the neighboring marsh and cut great
+armfuls of wild rice and rushes, with which to make their straw beds
+thicker and softer. This, and other things, took up the morning, and
+then all came in to help and hinder Katy while she got dinner.
+
+When it had been set out they found half a boiled ham, potatoes, some
+fried onions ("arctic voyagers always need to eat onions to prevent
+scurvy, you know," Katy explained), and even bread and butter; but the
+last item represented almost the end of their only loaf.
+
+In the afternoon the wind moderated, the clouds that had made it so
+dark in the morning cleared away, and the sun came out. Under the
+shelter of the long wharf and breakwater they walked out on the ice to
+the lighthouse, where they had been so often in midsummer; but now it
+was shut up, for there would be no use in burning a signal-light on
+the lake after the cold weather of the fall had put a stop to
+navigation, until spring recalled the idle vessels.
+
+Supper was simple, but they had lots of fun over it, and then all set
+at work to help Aleck make straps of canvas to put over the shoulder
+and across the breast when they were hauling on the drag-rope. This
+contrivance saved chafing, and gave a better pull. Jim had pooh-poohed
+the taking of a sail-needle and some waxed twine along as
+unnecessary, but Aleck had persisted; and here was its service the
+very first day. Before the trip was through with, everybody wanted a
+hundred little articles they did not possess, worse than they would
+have missed this sail-needle had it not been brought.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII.
+
+THE FIRST DAY ON THE LAKE.
+
+
+No howling gale disturbed their rest that night, and on the next
+morning, which was Friday, the third day out, breakfast had been
+disposed of long before the hour of rising on the previous day. What
+had they for breakfast? Hot and tender buckwheat cakes, with syrup
+made from maple sugar melted in a tin cup. The boiled ham and some
+crackers were put where they could be got at easily for luncheon.
+
+The stowing of the loose goods in the boat took no longer than Katy
+required to get the mess kit packed after breakfast. As the day was
+fine, and the ice, as far as they could see to the southward, whither
+their course lay, was smooth and free from snow, the sled was loaded
+with cut wood and rushes, ready for making a fire, and Jim was
+appointed to drag it.
+
+As they were leaving the cabin, after a last look to see that nothing
+had been forgotten, Katy spoke up:
+
+"Why can't we take along some of this nice straw? It doesn't weigh
+anything to speak of."
+
+"Oh, we can't," says Jim, crossly. "Girls are always trying to do
+things they know nothing about."
+
+"May's well begin to rough it now as any time; can't expect a cabin
+and a straw mattress every night," was Tug's somewhat gruff remark as
+he went to the sledge.
+
+"But," the girl persisted, rather piqued when she saw how her
+suggestion had been received, "it might be very nice to spread it on
+the floor of the tent. Seems to me you might take it."
+
+She was talking to Aleck now, who, she knew by his face, opposed the
+plan; but he, seeing how much in earnest she was, went back, gathered
+up a big armful of the cleanest straw, and heaped it in the stern of
+the boat, while she brought a second bundle.
+
+This matter settled, Aleck and Tug put their heads through the new
+harness, and were soon rushing along at a stirring pace, while Katy
+skated behind, holding on to the stern of the boat to steady it; Jim
+followed with his sled, and Rex galloped here and there as suited him.
+
+The ice for miles together had been swept clean by the wind, and was
+like a vast, glaring sheet of plate-glass. Most of it was a deep,
+brilliant green. Here and there would be stretches of milky ice, and
+now and then great rounded patches would suddenly meet them, which
+were black or deep brown, and at first frightened them by making them
+believe a patch of open water suddenly yawned in their path. But, when
+they examined closely, they could see that this black ice was two or
+three feet thick, like all the rest on the open lake.
+
+They were never at any time more than a mile or so from the edge of
+the great marshes which bordered the low margin of the lake, and at
+noon they knew they had skated twelve miles, by reaching a certain
+island standing just in front of the reedy shallows.
+
+Thither they gladly turned for luncheon; skates were unbuckled, a big
+fire was built, the snow was cleared away, and the spare canvas spread
+down to sit upon, while Katy prepared to warm up the extra supply of
+coffee she had made in the morning for this purpose.
+
+Not much talking had been done on the march; breath was too badly
+needed to be wasted in that way; but now "tongues were loosed," and a
+rattling conversation kept time with the crackle of the dead sticks on
+the fire.
+
+"Captain," said Tug, "have you noticed how that ridge in the ice bends
+just ahead, and seems to stand across our course?"
+
+"Yes, I have, and I fear it will be troublesome to cross. Jimkin,
+you're nimble; climb that cottonwood, and tell us what you can see."
+
+"All right," said Jim, and was quickly in the tree-top.
+
+"It looks like a rough, broken ridge, stretching clear to shore. I
+guess we'll have to climb over it. I can't see any break."
+
+"Where do you think is the easiest place?"
+
+"About straight ahead, where you see that highest point. Right beside
+it is a kind o' low spot, I think."
+
+"Well, then," said the Captain, "we'll aim for that. Hurry up your
+lunch, Katy, and let's be off."
+
+Half an hour later they arrived at the bad place.
+
+"It must be a _hummock_," said Katy, "such as I have read about in Dr.
+Kane's book--only not so large, I suppose. He says that the ice-sheet,
+or floe, gets cracked and separated a little; then the two floes will
+come together again with such force that they lap over one another, or
+else grind together, and burst up edgewise along the seam."
+
+"That's just the way this is; but, hummock or no hummock, it must be
+crossed," said Aleck.
+
+"Mebbe I could find a better place," suggested Jim, "if I should go
+along a little way."
+
+"Well, try it, Youngster. And, Tug, suppose you take a scout in the
+other direction."
+
+Tug went off, but soon returned, reporting a worse instead of better
+appearance, and Aleck, who had climbed over, came back to say that the
+ridge was about twenty-five yards wide.
+
+"How does it look?" asked Katy.
+
+"Why, it looks as though a lot of big cakes of ice had been piled up
+on edge, and then frozen into that rough shape, or lack of shape. I
+should say the ridge is ten feet high in the middle, and on the other
+side it is a straight jump down for about six feet. But it's worse
+everywhere else. We must take our skates off the first thing."
+
+This done, they stood up, ready to drag the boat as near to the
+hummock as possible. But it was hard pulling, for the slope was pretty
+steep and rough.
+
+"Where's that Jim, I wonder?" cried Aleck. "I'll teach The Youngster
+not to run off the minute any work is to be done. _Jim!_"
+
+But no boy answered the call, nor several others. Tug stood up on the
+boat, and Katy climbed to a high point of ice, but neither could see
+anything. Then they all became alarmed, fearing he might have fallen
+into one of those holes that here and there are found in the thickest
+ice, and always stay open. It is an easy matter to skate into one, but
+a very hard one to get out again. It was the thought of this that made
+Katy run in the direction whither Jim had started, but her brother
+called her back.
+
+"Wait, Katy. We'll put on our skates. Probably The Youngster's hiding,
+and I'll box his ears when I catch him. This is no time for fooling."
+
+With quick, nervous fingers they fastened their straps, and then
+rushed down along the foot of the hummock as though on a race, Tug
+carrying one of the drag-ropes. The tracks could be followed easily
+enough until they left the good ice and turned in towards the hummock,
+where they came to an end, which looked as though Jim might have taken
+off his skates. Here the boys hallooed, then climbed to the top of a
+great, upturned table of blue ice, and called again. But the most
+complete silence followed their words--such a silence as can never be
+known on land among the creaking trees or rustling grass; an absolute,
+painful stillness. Not even an echo came back.
+
+At this they were puzzled and frightened, and Katy wanted to cry, but
+fought back her tears. They descended, and went slowly onward, now and
+then getting upon elevated points, and calling. At last they stopped,
+utterly at their wits' end where or how to search next, and Katy's
+tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked.
+
+"Cheer up, Sis," said Aleck, and took her hand in his as they skated
+slowly onward; "cheer up! we'll try again on that big block ahead."
+
+This block overlooked a broader part of the hummock, and wasn't far
+from land. They struggled over the jagged border, and hoisted Katy
+upon it to see what she could see.
+
+"Nothing," was her report; "nothing but ice, and ice, and ice, and a
+gray edge of marsh. Oh, Jim! Jim! where are you?"
+
+"_Here--help me out._"
+
+Each looked at the other in amazement, for the voice, though faint,
+seemed right beside them.
+
+"_Here, down between the cakes--help me out._"
+
+The words came distinctly, and gave them a clew. Katy peeped over the
+farther edge of the block, and there she saw the little fellow's face
+peering up at her out of the greenish light of a sort of pit into
+which he had fallen. Two great cakes of ice had been thrown up side by
+side, leaving a space about two feet wide and ten feet deep between
+them. The blowing snow that filled most of the crevices of the hummock
+had here formed a bridge, which had let Jim through when he stepped
+upon it, never suspecting the chasm it concealed.
+
+"Hurt?" asked Tug.
+
+"Not a bit, but pretty well scared. I thought you fellows were never
+coming. I've been in here two hours."
+
+"Two hours! Oho, that's good! Twenty minutes would about fill the
+bill. You ain't tired so quick of a warm, snug place like that, are
+you?"
+
+"Just you try it, and see how you like its snugness. Drop me an end of
+that rope, will you?"
+
+"Give him the rope's end, Tug; he deserves it in another way, but we
+haven't time to-day. Now, then--yo-heave-o!" and up came the lost
+member, not much the worse for his adventure.
+
+Then began the difficult work of crossing the hummock. In front of the
+boat lay a steep slope of glassy ice, and beyond and above that a
+series of steps and jagged points, forming about such a plateau as a
+big heap of building-stone would make, only here the fragments were
+larger.
+
+All four, going to the top of the first slope, pulled the boat upward
+until the forward runners were just balanced on the crest. Then a hook
+on one of the ropes came loose; four young people fell sprawling; and
+the boat dropped backward with a rush to the very bottom of the ridge,
+where it upset.
+
+"Now," said Aleck, when they had set the boat upright again, and found
+nothing broken; "now let us take out all the loose stuff, and so
+lighten her as much as we can."
+
+This was done.
+
+"We three fellows," was the Captain's next order, "will drag her up
+again, and Katy must go behind with the boat-hook, and stick it into
+the ice behind the boat, to hold it, like a chock-block under a wagon
+wheel, whenever it shows any signs of slipping back. Now, everybody be
+careful."
+
+The steady pulling, with Katy's pushing and guiding, got the front
+runners safely over the edge of the sloping side, and gave them a
+chance to rest. But when they tried to move it forward enough to bring
+the stern up, the boat couldn't be budged, because the ice in front
+was so full of ruts and ridges.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VIII.
+
+JIM'S REBELLION.
+
+
+"I tell you what, boys," Tug cried, after a great effort, "there's no
+use trying any more till we have smoothed a road, and I think,
+Captain, you'd better set all hands at that."
+
+"I'm afraid that is so. Jim, please go back and get the axe, the
+hatchet, and the shovel. Now, while Tug and I dig at this road, you
+and Jim, Katy, can bring some of the freight up here, or perhaps take
+it clear across, and so save time. The small sled will help you."
+
+It was tedious labor all around, and the wind began to blow in a way
+they would have thought very cold had they not been so warm and busy
+with work. As fast as a rod or two of road was cleared, the four took
+hold and dragged the boat ahead. These slow advances used up so much
+time that when the plateau had been crossed, the sun, peering through
+dark clouds, was almost level with the horizon. It now remained to get
+down the sudden pitch and rough slope on the farther side. But this
+was a task of no small importance, and Aleck called a council on the
+subject.
+
+[Illustration: CROSSING THE HUMMOCK.]
+
+"My lambs," he began (the funny word took the edge off the unfortunate
+look of affairs, as it was intended to do)--"my lambs, it is growing
+late, and it's doubtful if we can get this big boat down that pair of
+stairs before dark. Don't you think I'd better order Jim and Katy to
+pack up the small sled with tent and bedding and kitchen-stuff?"
+
+"'Twon't hold it all!" interrupted Jim.
+
+"Then, Youngster, you can come back after the bedding. Take the
+cooking things first, and you and Katy go back to the island where we
+lunched, and make a fire. Tug and I--eh, Tug?--will stay here and chop
+away till dark, and then we'll go back to camp with you when you come
+after the blankets, and help you carry the tent."
+
+"Are you going to leave the boat here all night?" asked Jim, in alarm.
+
+"Why, of course; what'll harm it? Now be off, and make a big fire."
+
+So the younger ones departed, and by and by Jim returned for a second
+load. He found the two older boys cutting a sloping path through the
+little ice bluff on the farther side of the hummock, and pretty tired
+of it. They were not yet done--the shovel not being of much service in
+working the hard blue ice--but it was now getting too dark to do more,
+so they piled the snug bundles of blankets into Jim's sled box, and
+gave him the rope, while Tug and Aleck put their shoulders under
+opposite ends of the tent roll. Then together they all skated away
+through the thickening windy twilight, and over the ashy-gray plain of
+ice, towards where Katy's fire glowed like a red spark on the distant
+shore.
+
+It was a weary but not at all disheartened party that lounged in the
+open door of the tent that night, while a big fire blazed in front,
+and supper was cooking. This was the first time the sail had been
+spread as a tent, and it answered the purpose nicely, giving plenty of
+room. The straw Katy had been so anxious about had to be left in the
+boat, so that they got no good of it. Jim chaffed his sister a good
+deal about this, and Tug rather encouraged him, thinking it was a fair
+chance for fun at Katy's expense; but when he saw that Katy really was
+feeling badly, not at Jim's teasing words, but for fear she had made
+the boys useless trouble, Aleck came to the rescue. Seizing The
+Youngster by the shoulder, he spun him round like a teetotum, and was
+going to box his ears, when Katy cried out, "Oh, don't!" and saved
+that young gentleman's skin for the present.
+
+"Then I'll punish you in another way. Take your knife, go over there
+to the marsh"--it was perhaps a hundred yards away--"and cut as many
+rushes as you can carry."
+
+The Youngster never moved.
+
+"I don't want the rushes," said Katy, trying to keep the peace, but
+her brother paid no heed.
+
+"Did you hear what I said?" he asked again of Jim.
+
+"Yes, I did."
+
+"Well, that was a Captain's Order, and I advise you to obey."
+
+"Do it yourself!" shouted the angry Jim, sitting down by the fire.
+
+Aleck looked at him an instant, saw his sulky, set lips, and then
+walked over to a willow bush near by. From the centre of this bush he
+cut a thriving switch, and carefully trimmed off all the twigs and
+crumpled leaves. It was as pliant and elastic as whalebone. It
+whistled through the air, when it was waved, like a wire or a thin
+lash. It would hug the skin it was laid upon, and wrap tightly around
+a boy's legs, and sting at the tip like a hornet. It wouldn't raise a
+welt upon the skin, as an iron rod or a rawhide might do, but it would
+hurt just as bad while it was touching you.
+
+Jim knew all this, and it flashed through his brain, every bit of it,
+as he saw Aleck trim the switch.
+
+"Better scoot, Youngster," Tug advised, with a grin that was meant
+kindly, but made Jim madder than ever.
+
+"Please get the rushes," coaxed Katy.
+
+But when Aleck came back the boy still sat there, defiant of orders.
+
+"Now, James," he said, as he stood over him, "you have been ordered by
+your Captain to go and get some rushes. You refuse. You are
+insubordinate. I'll give you just one minute to make up your mind what
+you will do."
+
+Jim glanced up, saw the determined face and stalwart form of his
+brother; saw Tug keeping quiet and showing no intention of
+interfering; saw the awful willow. He rose quickly from his seat, and
+darted away into the scrub alders and willows as hard as he could run,
+but not towards the rushes.
+
+Aleck didn't follow him. "Never mind," he said. "Go on with your
+supper, Katy. That boy gets those rushes before he has any grub to eat
+or blankets to lie in, unless you both vote against it, and I don't
+think you will, for it was a reasonable order."
+
+"Well, Captain," said Tug, "I think we might ease up on it a little.
+It was a little rough on The Youngster sending him alone in the dark
+to get the stuff. If you had sent me with him, I suppose he'd have
+gone fast enough. If you'll say so now, I allow he'll surrender and
+save his hide. For that matter, I don't mind getting 'em alone if
+you'll let the kid go. I was going to propose it myself just as you
+gave the order."
+
+"That's very kind of you, Tug; but I couldn't allow you to get them
+alone. You may help if you want to."
+
+"May I tell him so?" Katy asked, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, if you can find him."
+
+"I'll find him--look out for the bacon;" and the girl went off into
+the gloom and the bushes, calling, "Jim! Jim!"
+
+It was a good while before she came back, and the boys, tired of
+waiting, had forked out the bacon, and were eating their meal, which
+was what the poets call "frugal," but immensely relished all the same.
+
+Suddenly Katy and the culprit stalked out of the ring of shadows that
+encircled the fire, bearing huge bundles of yellow rushes.
+
+"That ain't fair!" cried Tug. "You ought to have let me gone, Katy."
+
+"Oh, I didn't mind, and I wanted Jim to hurry back."
+
+"I didn't want her to carry none," said Jim, more eager about
+self-defense than grammar. "If I give up, I want to give up all over,
+and not half-way."
+
+"Good for you, Youngster," Aleck shouted, leaping up. "Give us your
+hand!"
+
+Thus peace was restored, and the boy sat down happily to his
+well-earned supper, while the older ones spread the crisp reed-straw.
+Finding there wasn't quite enough, they went off to the marshes and
+brought two more armfuls, which made a warm and springy couch for the
+whole party.
+
+These "rushes" were not rushes, properly speaking, but the wild rice
+which grows so abundantly on the borders of the great lakes, and
+throughout the little ponds and shallow sheets of water that are
+dotted so thickly over Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. It is like a
+small bamboo jungle, for the close-crowding stiff reeds often stand
+ten feet or more above the water. They bear upon the upper part of
+their stalks a few ribbon-like leaves, and each reed carries a plume
+which in autumn contains the seeds, or the "rice."
+
+The botanical name of the plant is _Zizania aquatica_; and among it
+flourish not only the common white and yellow water-lilies, but that
+splendid one, the _Nelumbium luteum_, which Western people call the
+lotus.
+
+This rice formed an important part of the food of the Indians who
+lived where it grew. In and out of the marshes run narrow canals, kept
+open by the currents, and through these the Indian women would paddle
+their canoes, seeking the ripe heads, which they would cut off and
+take ashore to be threshed out in the wigwam, or else they would shake
+and rub out the rice into a basket as they went along. At home the
+rice would be crushed into a coarse flour in their stone mortars, then
+made into cakes baked on the surface of smooth stones heated in the
+coals.
+
+The stalks, round, smooth, and straight, were of service to the
+Indians also. Out of them they made mats and thatching for their
+lodges, and they served as excellent arrow-shafts, a point of
+fire-hardened wood, of bone, or of flint having been fixed in the end.
+
+[Illustration: JIM AND KATY BRINGING THE RUSHES TO CAMP.]
+
+In warm weather these broad, submerged marshes, undulating in
+color-waves--green in spring, golden-yellow in midsummer, and warm
+reddish-brown in October--as the breeze swept across the vast extent
+of pliant reeds, formed the home of a great variety of animals, whose
+numbers were almost unlimited. There, in the darkly stained water,
+lurked hosts of small shells and insects--dragon-flies, beetles, and
+aquatic bugs and flies, whose habits were always a matter for
+curiosity. Then, where insects and mollusks were so numerous, of
+course there were plenty of fishes, great and small, the little ones
+feeding on the bugs and snails, the larger on them, and some
+giants--like the big pike--on these again. Nor did this end the list.
+After the big fish came the muskrat; after the muskrat--in the old
+days, at least--sneaked the wolverine; after the wolverine crept the
+stealthy panther; and for the panther an Indian lay in wait.
+
+The marshes were full of birds, too, in the bird-season--small, piping
+wrens; suspicious sparrows; ducks and rails and gallinules of many
+kinds and many voices; herons and cranes and hawks; coming and going
+with the seasons, making the yellow reeds populous with busy lives,
+and vocal with their merriment. Now, however, all was silent.
+
+Our travellers would have preferred skating across the marshes rather
+than outside upon the windy lake, but it was reported that warm
+springs came out of the ooze in many parts of the rice morass, keeping
+the ice so weak (though not melting it quite away) as to make skating
+unsafe. This danger was not so great, perhaps, in a winter so
+unusually cold as this one was proving itself to be, as it had been
+shown to be in milder seasons; but they did not want to run risks.
+
+"How noisy it will be all around this islet in three months from now!"
+Aleck remarked, as they were preparing for bed. "Then you will hardly
+be able to hear yourself speak for the frogs."
+
+"Before there were any lighthouses on the lake," said Tug, "sailing
+was pretty much guesswork; but my father told me the sailors, when
+they approached the shore, used to know where they were by listening
+to the bull-frogs. The bulls would call out the names of their
+ports, you know: San--_dusk_--y! To--_l-e-e-e_--do! Mon--_roe_!
+De--_troi-i-i-i_--it!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IX.
+
+SKATING BY COMPASS.
+
+
+The next day was Sunday. Fortunately, the sacred day had found them in
+such a position that they could spend it quietly. Katy persuaded Jim
+and the two young men to listen while she read them some chapters from
+the little Testament she had carefully packed among her "necessary
+articles."
+
+This, together with the work that _must_ be done, took up a good part
+of the morning, and the afternoon was spent in making a trip to the
+boat, looking the situation over carefully, and laying plans for a
+very early start the next day. Supper over, they soon crawled into
+bed, and woke at day break, ready for work, and all the better for
+their day of rest.
+
+After a hasty breakfast camp was broken, and work was resumed at the
+hummock. All hands labored with such a will that long before noon they
+had let the boat down to the smooth white plain upon the other side;
+and though it got away from them at the last minute, and went spinning
+off on its own account, no harm was done.
+
+The onward march was then resumed, and splendid headway made. At noon
+a short halt was called and gladly accepted, all lounging upon the
+straw and boxes in the boat, munching crackers and cheese, and
+drinking Katy's cold chocolate. The sun had been out all the morning,
+and the ice was not only a trifle soft, but frequently rough, which
+had made the skating and dragging a little harder work than before.
+
+No land appeared ahead, but Aleck knew the name and position of a
+lighthouse just visible upon an island at the mouth of a river away
+off at their right. He therefore took out of his pocket a small map of
+the western end of the lake, that he had copied from a big chart, and
+began to study it. He found that it was about fifteen miles across the
+end of the lake to a certain cape on the southern shore, which lay
+beyond the great marshy bay into which emptied the river just
+mentioned. He took the direction of this cape from where they were at
+present, by compass, and made a note of it in his pocket-book. It was
+almost exactly southeast. Aleck reckoned on reaching so near there by
+sundown that the party could go ashore if very hard pushed by any
+misfortune or bad turn of the weather, though it was too long a march
+to make unless they were compelled.
+
+"But supposing we find open water, and have to change our course?"
+asked Katy.
+
+"Well, we shall know, at all events, that we mustn't go east of
+southeast, and must try to keep as close to that direction as
+possible. I don't like this sunshine and westerly breeze. I'd much
+rather the weather kept real cold."
+
+"Why?" said Jim. "It's much nicer when it's warm."
+
+"I'm afraid of snow and fogs, Youngster. Now let us be off."
+
+No snow or fog came to bother them, however, and at sunset they were
+out of sight of any landmark, and travelling by the compass, like a
+ship at sea.
+
+You may ask, How could they be sure they were following it truly,
+since they had no object, like a long bowsprit, to guide the eye in
+ranging their course into line with the needle point, as the steersman
+on a ship does when he glances across his binnacle?
+
+This is the plan they took: The compass was a small one, but it was
+hung in a box so as always to stand level. It was, in fact, an old
+boat compass which Mr. Kincaid had had for many years. This was set
+exactly in the middle of the seat at the stern of the boat, where Katy
+still skated, with her hands resting upon the stern-board. Here she
+could keep her eye easily upon the face of the compass, and make a
+straight line from its pointer through the middle of the boat. When
+the compass point "southeast" and the stem-post of the yawl were in
+line, she knew they were going on a straight course. When these were
+out of line, she knew her team had swerved, and she called out
+"Right!" or "Left!" to bring them back to the true course, just as a
+quartermaster would order "Port!" and "Starboard!" to his helmsman.
+
+The sun went down slowly at their right hands as they rushed along,
+and as Jim saw his shadow stretching taller and taller, he found it
+difficult to keep pace with the older lads. Noting this, the Captain
+ordered a halt, and put Jim into the boat as a passenger, tying his
+sled behind.
+
+"Don't you want to ride also?" asked Tug of Katy, very gallantly.
+
+Katy was tired, and one of her skate-straps chafed her instep a
+little, but she didn't propose to give up.
+
+"Oh, no," she said, cheerily. "I have so much help by resting on the
+stern of the boat that I can go a long time yet before I give in.
+Besides, who would steer?"
+
+So they rushed away again, the clink-clink of their strokes keeping
+perfect time on the smooth ice. All at once--it was about four o'clock
+in the afternoon now--a dark line appeared ahead, and in a few moments
+more they could plainly see open water across their path.
+
+When they became sure of this they went more slowly, and in about ten
+minutes had approached as close as they dared to a wide space like a
+river, beyond which white ice could be seen again. Here all knew they
+must spend the night, for it would be foolish to attempt to cross
+before morning.
+
+"Well," remarked Tug, as they came to a halt, "according to orders,
+it's my duty to take the axe and cut fuel; so I can loaf, for there's
+no wood to chop round here that I see;" and he pretended to search in
+every direction.
+
+"Loaf? Not a bit of it," shouted Aleck, with a grin. "My order to you
+is, Unload that tent, and set it up on the ice! Jim will help you.
+I'll help Katy make a fire."
+
+"I wish you would," said the girl. "I'm 'fraid I shouldn't make it go
+very well out here. I have never built a kitchen fire on ice."
+
+"This is the best way."
+
+Saying this, Aleck took two of the largest pieces of wood from Jim's
+sled, and laid them down a little way apart. Then he laid across them
+a platform of the next largest sticks, and on top of this arranged his
+kindling, ready to touch a match to.
+
+"We won't set the fire going till we are quite ready for it, and--"
+
+"But I'm cold," Jim complained.
+
+"Well, Youngster, I've heard that the Indians never let their boys
+come near the lodge fire to get warm, but bid them run till they work
+the chill off. You'd better move livelier if you want to get warm,
+for we can't afford any more fire than is necessary for a short bit of
+cooking. Katy, what do you propose to have?"
+
+"I thought I would make tea, boil potatoes, and bake some johnny-cake
+in my skillet. May I?"
+
+"Oh, yes, but you must economize fuel."
+
+With this warning, Aleck struck a match, and the little fire was soon
+blazing merrily in the "wooden stove," as Katy called it. Only one or
+two sticks had been burned clear through before the fire had done its
+work, and was put out in order to save every splinter of wood
+possible. They sat down in the shelter of the boat to eat their
+dinner, and enjoyed it very much, in spite of the cold, their
+loneliness, and the gathering darkness.
+
+Meanwhile the tent had been set up. Over its icy floor were laid the
+thwarts taken out of the boat, the rudder, and two box covers, which
+nearly covered the whole space. On top of this was placed as much
+straw as could be spared, and upon the straw Aleck and Tug spread
+their blankets.
+
+Dinner out of the way, the after-part of the boat was cleared out and
+re-arranged, until a level space was left. Here, upon a heap of straw,
+beds for the younger ones were arranged. Then the spare canvas was
+spread across like an awning, and was held up on an oar laid
+lengthwise. This made a snug cabin for Katy and the wearied Jim, who
+were not long in creeping into it. Rex followed, and slept in the
+straw at their feet, which was good for them all.
+
+[Illustration: "THE LITTLE FIRE WAS SOON BLAZING MERRILY."]
+
+With the coming of darkness came also a damp sort of cold, that caused
+them to huddle close in their blankets; and though they presently fell
+asleep, it was with a shivering sense of discomfort that spoiled the
+refreshment.
+
+Midnight passed, and Aleck, only half awake, was trying to tuck his
+blankets closer about him without disturbing his bedfellow, when the
+tent was suddenly struck by some large object, and considerably
+shaken. Alarmed and puzzled at the same time, Aleck paused to listen
+an instant before rising, when the shrieks and barking of the sleepers
+in the boat came to his ears. He sprang out of his blankets only in
+time to see two shadowy objects rise from the camp, and drift away
+across the face of the moon, which was just rising.
+
+"Wh-what w-was that?" came from two scared figures sitting
+bolt-upright in the yawl, their tongues stuttering with terror and
+cold combined.
+
+"I don't know." Aleck was as bewildered, if not quite as much
+frightened, as they.
+
+"Humph!" cried Tug's voice, behind; "you're a pretty set to be scared
+out of your wits and wake everybody up on account of two birds.
+They're nothing but snow-owls. Go to bed, or we'll all freeze."
+
+"Wh-wh-what are they?" asked Jim, his teeth playing castanets in spite
+of all his efforts to control them.
+
+"Tell you in the morning," was the reply. "Go to bed. Come in, Cap'n.
+Owls are nothing. Come to bed."
+
+This seemed good advice, however gruffly given; but you can hardly
+expect a person to mince his phrases at two o'clock of a winter's
+morning, on an ice-floe. Aleck was ready to comply, but he was too
+cold.
+
+"I must get warm first, and so must you, Jim." Katy had wisely
+disappeared some time before, and said she was pretty comfortable.
+"Come and run with me till we get our blood stirring."
+
+Neither of the boys had dared undress at all, so it only remained for
+Jim to creep out from under the canvas, and limp stiffly to his
+brother's side. Then hand in hand they raced up and down the ice half
+a dozen times in the pale greenish moonlight. Once or twice they
+disturbed an owl perched on the ice, or heard wild hooting--a sound so
+hollow and unearthly that they could not tell whether it came from
+near by or far off.
+
+This strange voice and the gray, silent half-light on the wide waste
+gave them a very lonely and dismal feeling, and when they had put
+themselves into a glow by exercise, they were very glad to creep back
+into their beds.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter X.
+
+AN UGLY FERRIAGE.
+
+
+The sun had been up an hour when Aleck woke again, and pulled Tug's
+ear, at which that young gentleman sat up and was going to fight
+somebody right away. But Aleck pounced on him, and pinned him down
+before he could stir or strike.
+
+"No time for fooling," he laughed in his chum's face; "but if there
+were I'd like to take you out to the creek here and duck you for your
+disrespect to your superior officer. Will you touch your cap if I let
+you up?"
+
+"Ye-e-s," Tug replied, as he felt the strength of the Captain's grip;
+"but I'm not sure about your duckin' me!"
+
+"Nor I," laughed Aleck, and he leaped away, to go and wake up the
+others by kicking on the side of the boat.
+
+The morning was beautiful, and by the time breakfast was ready the
+tent had been struck, and the big boys had come back from an
+exploration to say that they could go almost to the brink of the open
+water.
+
+"It must be a 'lead,'" exclaimed Katy. "That's the name arctic
+travellers give to a wide crack in the ice, by taking advantage of
+which, whenever it leads in the right direction, vessels are able to
+make their way through the 'packs' and 'fields.'"
+
+"Probably their _leading_ vessels through is where they get the name,"
+Aleck remarked.
+
+"Shouldn't wonder," said Tug; "but however well that plan may work in
+the arctic regions, we must _cross_ this one."
+
+Getting everything ready at the brink of the canal occupied fifteen
+minutes. Then, all the cargo easy to be moved having been taken out,
+the boat (sledge and all, as an experiment for this short trip) was
+launched without mishap. The sledge bobs hanging on her bottom
+weighted her down, and canted her so much, though the water was
+perfectly smooth, that it was necessary to make the trip very
+carefully. The young voyagers were thus taught that for any real
+navigation the boat must always be removed from the sledge. By noon,
+however, the last ferriage was successfully made, and they had
+repacked and were ready to go on again as soon as they had eaten a
+"bite." While despatching this, Katy suddenly exclaimed:
+
+"Oh, I have never once thought about our visitors last night. I'll
+confess I was dreadfully frightened. How did you know they were owls?"
+
+"Saw 'em," Tug replied, shortly, with his mouth full of dried beef.
+"Couldn't be anything else this time o' year."
+
+"Where do they come from?"
+
+"From 'way up north. Don't your arctic book say anything about 'em?
+Maybe it calls 'em the 'great white' or 'snowy' or 'Eskimo' owls."
+
+"I think I remember something about them. The Eskimos have a
+superstitious fear of them, haven't they?"
+
+"Yes, and lots of other people, for that matter. Why, only last winter
+one of 'em lit on the roof of a house out in the country where I was
+staying, and the old woman there began to rock back and forth, and
+whine out that some dreadful bad luck was coming. But that's all
+nonsense."
+
+"I guess its cry has given it a witch-like reputation," said Aleck.
+"It sounded uncanny enough last night; didn't it, Jim? But what were
+they doing away out here?"
+
+"Oh, I s'pose they were flying 'cross the lake, and had stopped to
+rest on our tent-ridge, till we startled them. I bet they were worse
+scared than you were. You see, their proper home is in the arctic
+regions. That's where they build their nests, putting them in trees
+and in holes in rocks. But when winter comes up there, and the snow
+gets so deep and the cold so severe that all the small animals he
+feeds on have retired to their holes or else left the country, Mr. Owl
+has to get up and flit too, or he will starve to death. So he works
+his way down here. They say these great white owls--why, they're
+bigger than the biggest cat-owl you ever saw--never go far south of
+this, and I know that we don't see many of 'em except when we have a
+very severe winter. But I've talked enough. Let's get out of this."
+
+The sunshine by this time was interrupted by dark clouds that rose in
+the west, and puffs of damp, chilly air began to be felt by the
+skaters, who wrapped themselves a little closer in their overcoats as
+they measured their steady strokes. Still no land came in sight, but
+they thought this must be owing mainly to the thick air to the
+southward. Once they thought they saw it, but the dark line on the
+horizon proved to be a hummock, not so bad as the one lately passed,
+but still troublesome, and closely followed by a second. The lifting
+and tugging tired them all greatly, and after the second barrier had
+been climbed they found themselves on ice which was incrusted with
+frozen snow, and exceedingly unpleasant to skate upon. But a few rods
+farther on there appeared a narrow stream of open water, beyond which
+the ice looked hard and green.
+
+"Let us cross, and camp on the other side," said Tug.
+
+"Yes," Aleck answered, in a troubled voice. "Do you see that snow
+storm coming, over there? It'll be down upon us in a jiffy, and
+there's no telling what next. Yes, let's cross before it gets dark, if
+we can. There's a hummock over there that will shelter us a bit from
+the wind, I think."
+
+The anxious tone of his voice alarmed his companions, and all set at
+work with a will. Yet the snow-flakes had come, and were thick about
+them, before the second ferriage had been made, and the wet and
+ice-clogged boat was lifted out of the water.
+
+Nobody _said_ as much, but it is safe to believe that each of our four
+friends _thought_, to himself, that if every day's work in advance was
+to be like this one, they had undertaken a prodigiously difficult and
+dangerous experiment in this skating expedition; and perhaps each one
+wondered whether the winter would be long enough to carry them to
+their destination at this rate of progress, even should they be able
+to surmount the fast-recurring obstacles in safety.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XI.
+
+CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.
+
+
+"Now what?" asked Tug, holding his head very high to prevent the snow
+going down the back of his neck. "Now what?"
+
+"Now," Aleck answered, in a tone of command, "get the boat up there
+under the lee of that hummock. Everybody take hold."
+
+The ropes were seized with a will, but the heavy boat could not be
+dragged in the snow until it had been lightened; then by great
+exertion it was taken over the fifty yards that lay between the water
+and the hummock. At that spot the ice had been thrust up like a smooth
+wall about fifteen feet high, which overhung slightly, so as to form a
+cosey shelter from the storm. The bow of the boat was swung close
+against its foot, while the stern was slanted away until there
+remained a space of about eight feet between it and the smooth face of
+the hummock at that end. Tug and Jim went back after the sled and what
+baggage had been left behind at the "lead," while Aleck and Katy began
+to contrive a shelter.
+
+To manage this they cleared out the movable things in the boat,
+arranging all the cargo (except the mess chest), as fast as it was
+removed, in the shape of a wall extending across from the stern of the
+boat to the hummock. In this way, with the help of thwarts, two oars,
+and some blocks of ice, a rough wall was raised, about four feet high,
+enclosing a three-cornered space eight feet in width, having the
+hummock and starboard side of the boat for its sides, and the cargo
+wall (through which a hole had been left as a doorway) for its end or
+"base."
+
+Next, a roof must be contrived. The mast and two oars were set in a
+leaning position from the outer gunwale of the boat, where they rested
+firmly upon the thwart-cleats, up against the hummock, to which they
+were securely wedged.
+
+It had now become dark, and Katy lighted the lantern. Tug and Jim,
+covered with snow, brought their last sled-load and added it to the
+wall, throwing all their little stock of firewood, which amounted to
+about three bushels, into the hut. Then all hands set to work in the
+wind, which blew in sharp gusts now and then over the crest of the
+hummock, to stretch the sails upon the rafters formed by the mast and
+oars and thus form an awning-roof.
+
+The handling of the heavy mainsail proved an extremely difficult
+matter. Once it blew quite away from their grasp, and went off in the
+darkness, but Jim and the dog gave chase, and soon caught it, Rex
+grabbing it with his teeth, and so holding on to it till the others
+came to the rescue. At the next attempt they succeeded in fastening
+one end, after which the task grew easier.
+
+The mainsail fairly in place, the jib was next hoisted across the end,
+and here its leg-of-mutton shape was a great advantage, for when the
+broad lower part was hung against the hummock wall the narrowing peak
+just fitted between the sloping roof and the top of the wall.
+
+When the two sails had been fastened, the party found themselves
+covered rudely but pretty tightly, and the spare canvas remained to
+serve as a carpet, which was greatly needed. Plenty of snow and cold
+were "lying round loose" yet, but to be inside was far better than to
+be out of doors. That this safety and warmth were possible to their
+frail structure was owing, of course, to the fact that it stood under
+the lee of the tall ice wall, which acted as a shield against the
+force of the gale.
+
+"Really, the wind does us more good than harm now," Aleck remarked,
+"for it drifts the snow under the boatsledge and against the wall,
+and, if it keeps on, will soon stop up all the holes, and leave us
+boxed into a tighter house than our old snow-chinked cabin back at the
+river."
+
+"Mebbe it'll bury us," said Jim, in an awful whisper.
+
+"Guess not. Anyhow, we can have a fire first--there are holes
+enough left yet to let the smoke out. Tug, just shovel the drifted
+snow out of the house, or pack it between the bobs under the boat,
+while I whittle some kindling. There won't any more blow in--the
+drift's too high now."
+
+[Illustration: CAMPING AGAINST AN ICE WALL.]
+
+"Shall I boil tea or coffee?" asked Katy.
+
+"Coffee, I guess; and give us some fried bacon and crackers--but lots
+of coffee."
+
+"Why couldn't we use our oil stove now?"
+
+"We don't really need to. We have some wood, and can build a fire well
+enough inside here, and the oil is easier carried than the wood for a
+greater need. Ready, Tug?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir."
+
+"All right. Here are our kindlings. Katy, open your lantern, and let
+me set these shavings afire. Matches are too precious to be wasted or
+even risked."
+
+A minute later a brisk little fire was burning, snow was turning to
+water, and cold water to hot, while coffee was thinking that presently
+it would be in the pot, and slices of bacon were saying good-bye to
+their fellows, as one by one they dropped into the frying-pan.
+
+It was a strange scene, but the actors in it were too tired and hungry
+to notice how they looked, as they watched with eager interest the
+progress of supper-getting. They were not cold, and wraps were all
+thrown aside, for the wind was cut off, and the fire, small as it was,
+made a great deal of heat in the confined space. The atmosphere of an
+Eskimo house of ice, though there may be no better fire than a little
+pool of train-oil in a soapstone saucer, where a wick of moss is
+smoking and flaring, will become so warm that the people remove not
+only their furs, but a large part of their under-clothing, and this
+when the temperature outside is fifty degrees or so below
+freezing-point.
+
+"It is just about big enough for a play-house," Katy remarked, as she
+jostled one and another in moving about.
+
+"I'm glad the snow blows over, and doesn't settle on the roof. If it
+did, I'm afraid the canvas would sag down awfully, or the oars break."
+
+"How will we sleep to-night?" asked Jim.
+
+"Well," said Aleck, "I think we must all sleep in the boat somehow.
+Katy and you can lie on the straw in the stern-sheets, as usual, and
+Tug and I will bunk in somewhere for'ard. If we had plenty of wood to
+keep the fire going, it would be comfortable out here, but we must
+economize. If this snow keeps on, I don't know when--"
+
+"Supper!" called Katy, and Aleck didn't finish what he was saying; but
+they all felt a little more serious about their situation. Though Jim
+objected, Aleck ordered him to put out every bit of the fire, and
+perched up in the boat they ate their supper by the light of the
+lantern.
+
+"It's precious lucky we found this straw in the cabin," said Tug, as
+he sat upon it, with a tin cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other
+a sandwich made of two pieces of cold johnny-cake and a slice of
+bacon.
+
+"That's cool! The _luck_ is that Kate had the good sense to make us
+bring it. I know two young fellows who objected."
+
+"I know _three_," Katy spoke up. "Fair play. You sneered at me at
+first, Mr. Captain, as much as anybody. You needn't play goody-goody
+over the rest of them."
+
+"Go in, Katy!" they both cried. "Give it to him! He was going to leave
+every bit behind--and the rushes too."
+
+"Well, well," pleaded Aleck, "I know now it was a good idea, and I'm
+not always so--"
+
+"--big a fool as you look, eh?" exclaimed Tug, giving them all a laugh
+at the face made by the tall fellow, who was thus cheated out of his
+smooth apology.
+
+"Never you mind; I'll get even with you before long."
+
+Then the Captain took out his watch and wound it. Holding it in his
+hand he said: "Now it's _my_ turn. I'll give you merry jesters just
+four minutes to finish your supper and make your beds. Then I blow out
+the lantern. Oil is precious."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XII.
+
+SNOWED UNDER.
+
+
+There was a roguish twinkle in the Captain's eye, as though oil was
+not so precious but that they might have burned a few more drops of
+it; but an order was an order, and everybody was quite ready for
+darkness when it came, except Tug.
+
+Then, how pitchy it was, and how the wind sung and whizzed over their
+rough-edged shield of ice, now and then catching the border of the
+ill-stayed tent and giving it a furious flap, as though about to throw
+it over! But weariness and warmth--for often snowy nights are not so
+cold as clear ones--closed ears as well as eyes, and when they awoke
+it was gray light in the tent, and half-past seven o'clock in the
+morning.
+
+Katy was the first one to peep over the gunwale of the boat, though
+Aleck was already awake.
+
+"Is the place full of snow?" he asked.
+
+"No, but the canvas sags a good deal."
+
+"Well, you keep under your blankets till Tug and I--get out of this,
+mate!--have cleared up the floor a little, and built a fire. I'm
+afraid we won't get away from here to-day."
+
+After breakfast the two larger lads crawled over the wall, sinking up
+to their waists in the snow as they stepped off. Struggling out, they
+climbed up a little way upon the crest of the hummock, where it had
+been swept clear of snow by the wind, which had now subsided; but
+nothing could be seen through the veil of thick-flying flakes except
+the dirty gray of their canvas roof and the thin wisps of smoke that
+curled upward from beneath it. All else was pure white, sinking on
+every side into a circle of foggy storm. Around the outer side of the
+boat and the end of the house drifts had been heaped up even on to the
+edge of the canvas, so that their house had become a cave between the
+ice and the snow-bank.
+
+"It's snug enough," said Tug.
+
+"Yes, but I should hate to starve to death or freeze there, all the
+same," Aleck replied.
+
+"But it ain't very cold--and--and--say! we've lots of food, haven't
+we?"
+
+"Enough for about ten days, if we put ourselves on precious short
+rations; but most of it--the flour and bacon and so on--must be
+cooked, and this takes fire, and fire needs fuel, which is just what
+we haven't got. If we should use every bit of wood there is except
+the boat and sledge, there wouldn't be enough to cook our food for ten
+days. Besides, though it isn't cold now, it's likely to turn mighty
+cold after this snow-storm, and then we must have a fire, or freeze."
+
+"But we could get ashore back at the Point in a day's travel. Or, for
+that matter, the south shore can't be far off, though we can't see it
+through this fearful storm."
+
+"If we had clear ice it would be all right, but how can we travel in
+this snow? It can't be less than two feet deep everywhere for miles
+and miles. You and I might go a little way, but Katy and The Youngster
+couldn't budge twenty steps. It's really a serious scrape we have
+brought ourselves into; and we ought to have thought about this before
+we started. Talk about Dr. Kane! He never was worse off in the arctic
+regions than we're likely to be right here in a day or two, unless
+something happens."
+
+Aleck certainly was very down-hearted, and his companion did not seem
+much disposed to "brace him up," as he would have expressed it. He
+could only reply, in an equally discouraged voice,
+
+"I don't see what _can_ happen out here--for good."
+
+"Nor I. Let's go in; it's no use standing here in the storm. But,
+mind you, no word of all this to the others yet."
+
+All day long the snow sifted down in fine, dense flakes that piled up
+higher and higher around their house, though there was enough wind to
+keep it from collecting on the roof, which was very fortunate. They
+sat in the boat, half nestling in the straw; told stories; made Tug
+tell them everything he could think of about animals and shooting;
+invented puzzles, Aleck setting some hard sums; mended clothes--this,
+of course, was Katy's amusement; and guessed at conundrums. Here Jim
+outshone all the rest. He was sharper with his answers than any of
+them, and finally proposed the following:
+
+"Ebenezer Mary Jane, spell it with two letters?"
+
+They knit their brows over it, pronounced it impossible to solve, and
+gave it up.
+
+"I-t, _it_," says Jim, and carried off the honors.
+
+Tired of this, they listened while Katy read from the precious book of
+Norwegian stories, and then chapter after chapter out of the little
+red Testament.
+
+"'Twouldn't be a bad scheme for some raven to bring _us_ food," said
+Tug, thoughtfully. "I reckon Elisha's wilderness wasn't a worse one
+than this ice-plain."
+
+"The Eskimos, Dr. Kane writes, eat the raven himself sometimes, in
+their snow-deserts, which Elisha wouldn't have done on any account, I
+suppose."
+
+"No. That would have been like Aesop's fable of killing the goose that
+laid the golden eggs."
+
+"Yes, so it would," Katy responded; "but the Eskimos have lots of
+other birds to eat--auks and guillemots, and eider-ducks, and
+mollemokes."
+
+"But they're on the sea, where those birds live in enormous flocks,
+like our wild pigeons up in the pine woods--millions of 'em!" Tug
+exclaimed, with outstretched arms. "No such a thing on our lake after
+the blackbirds leave the marshes."
+
+"Except owls," interposed Jim; "and we can't eat them."
+
+"I feel as though even an owl-stew wouldn't be bad about now," Aleck
+replied.
+
+Nevertheless, when lunch-time came, both the big boys vowed they were
+not a bit hungry, and refused to eat. Katy took only a cracker, but
+Jim ate three crackers and the last bit of the cold ham, picking the
+bone so clean that, big as it was, Rex, who was frightfully hungry,
+could get little comfort out of it, though he gnawed at it nearly all
+the afternoon. Then Tug smashed it for him, and gave him another try,
+which he appreciated highly.
+
+"Poor Rex!" said Katy, with a sigh. "Travellers get so badly off they
+have to kill and eat their dogs sometimes"--Rex stopped crunching, and
+looked up with a glance of alarm at this--"and if we should--"
+
+"What a grand time Rex would have at his own bones!" interrupted
+Tug--a joke the utter absurdity of which wrinkled the faces that had
+become straight into hearty laughter. Towards evening a fire was
+built, which used the last of the sticks and one of the box-covers
+before the biscuits could be baked in the skillet, the ham fried, and
+tea made.
+
+"I'm 'fraid it won't be long before I shall have to try the little
+stove," said Katy.
+
+"I had no idea we were so near the end," Aleck muttered, under his
+breath.
+
+The meal that evening was a very dull one, and if they did not go to
+sleep at once after they had gone to bed, certainly there was little
+fun-making among the weather-bound prisoners. Aleck said afterwards he
+thought he slept about an hour that night, and Katy was sure she
+didn't really get soundly asleep at all; but it is difficult to lie
+awake _all_ night, though your rest may be so broken that you think in
+the morning you have never once lost your knowledge of what was going
+on.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIII.
+
+SAVED FROM STARVATION.
+
+
+When they arose next morning the air was much lighter, for it was no
+longer snowing. Breaking their way out after breakfast, Aleck and Tug
+climbed to the crest of the hummock above the house, where pretty soon
+they were joined by Katy and Jim, anxious to get a look abroad. There
+was not much satisfaction in this, though. On all sides stretched an
+unbroken area of white--a spotless expanse of new snow such as you
+never can see on land, for there was nothing to break the colorless
+monotony, except where the hummock stretched away right and left, half
+buried, and as white as the rest, save at a few points where crests of
+upturned ice-blocks stood above the drifts.
+
+"There is a higher point a little way over there," said Aleck to Tug;
+"let's go across, and see if it will show us anything new."
+
+"Mayn't we come?" asked Jim.
+
+"No, Youngster, stay with Katy. It would be a useless journey for you,
+and we'll soon be back."
+
+And off they went, floundering up to their waists much of the time.
+
+"Jim," says Katy, "I see, just beyond the hut"--pointing in the
+direction opposite to that in which the lads had gone--"a space under
+the edge of the hummock where the ice seems pretty clear. Understand?
+And look! don't you see that long, dark line there? I wonder what it
+can be? Let us go and find out. We can get along easily enough after a
+few steps."
+
+Jim strode ahead, and stamped down a path for Katy through the snow
+that lay between their house and the clear space of ice that had been
+swept by the eddy under the hummock, until, a moment later, they were
+both running along upon a clean floor towards the object they had
+seen. Now they could make it out clearly; and at the first discovery
+Jim tossed his cap high in the air and gave a hurrah, in which the
+girl joined, wishing she too had a cap to throw up. What do you
+suppose it was that had so excited and gladdened them? Can't you
+guess?
+
+_A log of wood frozen into the ice!_
+
+"Now we can have all the fire we want."
+
+"And I can keep the coffee hot for the second cup."
+
+Then they looked at one another, and laughed and clapped their hands
+again. Were two children ever before made so happy by the simple
+finding of a log?
+
+Just then they heard Aleck's voice:
+
+"Hallo-o-o! Where are you?"
+
+Jim jumped up, and was about to shout back, but his sister threw her
+hand over his mouth.
+
+"Stop, Jimkin! Let them look for us, and have the fun of being
+surprised by our great discovery."
+
+So both kept quiet, and let the boys shout. By and by they saw their
+heads bobbing over the drift, and presently Tug came running towards
+them, with Aleck close behind.
+
+"Why didn't you answer? Didn't you hear us? Hello! Whoop--la! Wood, or
+I'm a Dutchman!" and all echoed his wild shout, and tried to imitate
+his dance, until the joy was bumped out of them by sudden falls on the
+slippery ice.
+
+It was a tree trunk of oak, that had been floating about, frozen into
+the ice, above the surface of which fully half of it was to be seen.
+The stubs of the roots were towards them, while the upper end of the
+tree, which had been a large one, was lost in a drift more than forty
+feet distant.
+
+"There is enough good wood here," said Aleck, "to keep us warm for two
+months, if we don't waste it; and we ought to be very thankful."
+
+"Then let's have a fire right away!" Jim exclaimed.
+
+"All right, Youngster," was the Captain's response. "Fetch the axe,
+and we'll soon light up."
+
+When Jim had disappeared, Katy asked her brother what he had seen.
+
+"Nothing," was the reply. "And it would just be impossible to move
+half a mile a day in this snow. It's one of the deepest falls I ever
+saw. We've got to stay here, for all I see, till it melts, or crusts
+over, or blows away, or something else happens."
+
+"Well, we have plenty of fuel now."
+
+"Yes, but we can't live on oak--though we might on acorns. But here
+comes Jimkin. Let's say no more about it now, Katy."
+
+As the chips flew under Tug's blows, Katy gathered an armful, and
+hastened back to kindle a fire, while Jim and Aleck busied themselves
+in clearing a good path, and in hauling the hand-sled from under the
+boat, where it had been jammed into the drift out of the way. By the
+time it was ready Tug had chopped a sled-load of wood, and they hauled
+it to the house. It had been very awkward climbing over their wall of
+boxes, but they had been afraid to move any part of it, for fear of
+throwing down the snow which had banked it up and made the place so
+tight and warm. However, there was one box which must shortly be
+opened in order to get at more provisions; so it was carefully moved,
+and the wood piled in its place, leaving a low archway underneath,
+through which they could crawl on their hands and knees.
+
+"That's just like an _igloo_," said Katy.
+
+"What's an 'igloo'?"
+
+"An Eskimo house made of frozen snow, in the shape of a dome, and
+entered by a low door, just like this one. By the way, are you getting
+hungry?"
+
+"Yes; bring us something to eat."
+
+They went back to their chopping. Pretty soon Katy came running out,
+bringing some crackers, a little hard cheese, and the last small jar
+of jelly--"just for a taste," she explained. Then she broke out with
+her story:
+
+"Oh, boys, there's a whole lot of little birds--white and
+brown--around the house. They seem to like to get near the smoke. I'm
+going to throw out some crumbs."
+
+"Yes, do," said Tug, eagerly, "and I'll get my gun."
+
+"What? to shoot them! Oh, no."
+
+"But they will make good eating."
+
+"Ye-e-s, I suppose so," agreed the kind-hearted girl; "but I hate to
+have them shot."
+
+"It's hard, I know," Aleck said, sympathizing more with his sister
+than with the birds, I fear; "but we need everything we can get. It
+may be a great piece of good-fortune that they have come, and--Hold
+up, Tug; aren't you afraid if you shoot at them they will be scared
+away for good?"
+
+"No fear of that," was the answer; "and we have no other way. Come
+along, Katy, and keep Rex quiet."
+
+Luncheon was stuffed in their pockets, and all hastened towards the
+house.
+
+There they still were--several flocks of birds resembling sparrows,
+but larger than any common sparrow, and white; so white, in fact, that
+they could only be seen at all against the snow by glimpses of a few
+brown and black feathers on their backs. In each flock, however, there
+were one or two of a different sort, easily distinguishable by their
+darker plumage and rusty brown heads. Tug said they were Lapland
+longspurs, and had pretty much the same habits as their numerous
+associates. The whole flock of birds was very restless, constantly
+rising and settling, but showed no disposition to go away, and took
+little alarm at the four figures that stealthily approached.
+
+"What are they?" whispered Aleck to Tug.
+
+"White snow-flakes, or snow-buntings," he whispered back. "Mighty good
+eating."
+
+Creeping quietly into the house, Tug took his shot-gun out of the boat
+and hastily loaded it, but with great care to see that the priming was
+well up in the nipple and a good cap on. Then he slung over his
+shoulders his shot-pouch and powder-horn--a short, black,
+well-polished horn of buffalo, of which he was very proud, for it had
+been a curiosity in Monore--and begged them all to stay in the house
+and let him alone, unless he called to them, and, above all, to keep
+the dog inside.
+
+This said, he crawled forward out of the low doorway, holding his gun
+well in front of him, and the other three sat down to wait for the
+result.
+
+Scarcely a minute had passed before a sharp report was heard, and a
+little thud upon the canvas roof. At this sound Rex leaped up, and was
+greatly excited. His ears were raised, his eyes flashed, and he gave
+several short, quick barks. But Aleck had twisted his fingers in the
+dog's mane, and forced him to drop down and keep quiet.
+
+Very soon afterwards there rang out a second report, and again, after
+time enough to reload, a third. Then the sportsman's voice was heard
+calling, and all ran out to see how many he had bagged.
+
+[Illustration: "A SHARP REPORT WAS HEARD."]
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIV.
+
+THE ARCTIC VISITORS.
+
+
+"Help me catch these wounded ones!" cried Tug, dancing round in chase
+of several wing-tipped and lame birds that were floundering in the
+snow.
+
+The others rushed after them too, and it was exciting sport, for the
+chase often led them into deep drifts and down the scraggy sides of
+the hummock; it thus became the scene of many comical tumbles and
+failures, for several of the birds, having been shot as they crowded
+together in a bunch, were only slightly wounded, and able to make a
+vigorous attempt to escape. Rex took part also, but his work consisted
+chiefly in barking himself hoarse, for all he accomplished was the
+finding of one dead bird; and this, as he was not a retriever, he
+devoured on the spot.
+
+When, panting, red-faced, and tired out, they gathered again at the
+door, they counted up seventeen fat buntings and one long-spur as the
+result of the three shots. Three of these were badly mangled, and were
+given to Rex; the others they began at once to make into a stew for
+supper, which they always ate about sundown. This meal also took the
+place of a dinner, as they ate only "a bite" at noon.
+
+While they were plucking the birds--and their bodies seemed wofully
+small when the thick coat of feathers had been removed--they asked Tug
+many questions about the buntings. He could not answer all of them,
+but the substance of what he told them was this:
+
+The snow-buntings--white snow-birds, or snow-flakes--belong to the far
+northern regions, where they go in summer to make their nests, often
+within the arctic circle. As soon as their young are able to fly they
+must begin their southward migration, for the excessive cold and the
+deep snow cut off all the grass-seeds, mosses, and insects upon which
+they feed in summer. So they begin to spread southward, not into
+British America alone, but also into Lapland and Russia, and the lower
+parts of Siberia. The bird seems to be a lover of cold, and used to
+scant fare and the roughest climate. It is not always, therefore, that
+they are to be seen in the United States south of the Great Lakes.
+
+Around these lakes, however, they are likely to come in large flocks
+after a cold snap or a deep fall of snow. The wild rice tracts and
+frozen marshes afford them an abundance of seeds and dried berries,
+upon which they grow fat. Though seeming less in danger than most
+other birds, since our hawks are gone southward, these buntings are
+exceedingly restless and timid, which makes them scurry away at the
+least alarm. Yet their timidity is not enough to insure their safety,
+for though they are constantly rising up and settling again, their
+flights are so short and uncertain that, as we have seen, a good
+marksman has no difficulty in shooting them. They are so small,
+however, that in this country of large game-birds they are never shot
+for food unless a necessity like the present one compels it. With the
+first bit of warm weather the snow-buntings and their companions, the
+long-spurs, whirl away to the bleak northward, crowding close upon the
+heels of Winter as he retreats to his polar stronghold.
+
+In the cool mountainous parts of the Far West there are several
+species of birds closely akin to the snow-flake, whose summer homes
+are among the peaks. They belong to the same genus (_Plectrophanes_),
+but none of them are so white as the Eastern bunting; in fact, like
+the ptarmigan, he is pure white only in midwinter, changing in summer
+to a dress much mottled with warm brown and black, traces of which
+remain in his winter hood and collar.
+
+"What do you suppose brought the snow-flakes away out hither on the
+ice?" Tug was asked.
+
+"Oh, we're not so far from land--though we might as well be a hundred
+miles away for all the good it will do us!--and I suppose they were
+flying across to the marshes and islands on the north shore. Probably
+our smoke attracted them."
+
+Having got done with their birds, the boys returned to their chopping.
+Two or three large pieces were hacked out as back-logs to build their
+fire upon, instead of making it right on the ice; and since this last
+load was not needed in the wall, which had been banked up anew, it was
+spread around on the floor of the house to lift their canvas carpet
+above the chilly and often wet floor, for the weather was not cold
+enough now to keep it frozen always hard and dry under the tent.
+
+Evening came, and with it a feeling of homelike comfort queer to think
+about, yet not quite impossible under the circumstances, forlorn and
+dangerous as they were. The boys perched themselves on the gunwale of
+the boat, and watched Katy making snow-bird stew and steeping the
+fragrant tea.
+
+Then, how good it tasted! What a royal change from steady bacon and
+crackers, or tough dried beef, and water!
+
+"I wonder if they'll come again?" said Aleck, examining his friend's
+gun. "Costs a heap o' powder, though, and the noise scares them. Say,
+Tug, don't you know how to build traps?"
+
+"I could make a figure four," piped Jim, "if I had the box."
+
+"Guess we could manage that. Ugh! what a frightful smoke!"
+
+"I should say so," added Katy, rubbing her smarting eyes. "I think, if
+you would punch a hole under the wall, there would be a better
+draught. That hole in the corner of the roof don't make a very fine
+chimney."
+
+Tug took his ramrod and worked the snow away from a crevice at the
+foot of the wall, near the floor. The cooler air outside sucked in to
+take the place of the heated air within, which ascended to the hole at
+the edge of the roof, and a draught was set in motion, taking enough
+of the smoke out to make the place endurable while they ate their
+supper.
+
+How good that bird soup was! And what fun they had, eating it out of
+their tin cups with wooden spoons! There was only one bowl for the
+tea, which had to be passed around for each to drink from in turn.
+They forgot their difficulties for a little while, and were as merry
+as anybody could be. All at once Katy stopped short in a laugh, with
+an exclamation of astonishment:
+
+"I do believe we've never one of us thought what day it is! This is
+Christmas eve!"
+
+The evening was given to chatting, as they sat in the darkness half
+illumined by the red embers of their fire, for they wanted to save
+their lantern oil, and would not allow themselves to burn it
+uselessly; nor was it late when they went to sleep.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XV.
+
+CHRISTMAS BIRD-CATCHING.
+
+
+"Merry Christmas!"
+
+It was the Captain's voice, who felt it a part of his duty to be the
+first "on deck" in the morning, but had a rival in his sister, who was
+quite as active as he.
+
+"_Merry_ Christmas! this what you call merry?" inquired Jim,
+fretfully, as with his finger he traced figures in the frost on the
+under side of the canvas.
+
+"Well, let's try to make it as merry as we can," Katy cried,
+cheerfully, from the starboard corner of the stern-sheets.
+
+"I know what I'm going to do," said Tug--"make bird-traps. I lay awake
+a long time in the night planning them."
+
+"While you fellows talkee-talkee I'll build a fire;" and Aleck's tall
+form was soon bent over the heap of wood, where a blaze was quickly
+crackling. Tug and Jim followed, and all went out of doors, as was
+their custom, leaving Katy the whole igloo to herself for a little
+while.
+
+Immediately after breakfast Tug began on his traps.
+
+He had brought along with him as a part of his baggage what he
+sometimes called his gunsmith shop. It consisted of a square tin box
+that would hold about two quarts of chestnuts--if he had had any
+chestnuts to put in it, which he hadn't. Besides a bag of No. 6 shot,
+this box contained one of the strangest and most worthless collections
+of odds and ends of boyish hardware that could be imagined. A
+catalogue of it would be useless. Among other articles were a
+knife-blade that long ago had parted from its handle, a brad-awl in
+the same condition, and a broken bullet-mould bound together by a long
+winding of fine wire.
+
+These three things the lad picked out and laid aside. Then he turned
+over the rest of the contents of the box until he had secured several
+tacks and brads of varied sizes, and a round piece of tin with holes
+in it. Next he discovered something which made him shout with a joy
+almost equal to his delight at finding the tree trunk. This best of
+all the finds, this forgotten treasure in the tin box, was a small
+coil of horse-hairs. They were the relics of a preparation he had made
+for a short camping trip into the woods three months before, while the
+October haze and bright cool air were playing among the rustling
+autumn leaves. How the scene came back to him! Now these hairs would
+serve him for a better use than mere amusement. He was carefully
+unwinding them when Jim rushed in to say that the snow-birds were
+around again.
+
+"Good!" cried Tug. "Take some crumbs out of the cracker box, and
+quietly throw them down where the snow-birds can get them. Put 'em on
+the top of the hummock first, then we'll gradually toll 'em down
+below. I'll be out in a minute."
+
+Jim got his crackers and vanished. Aleck was chopping wood, and Katy
+was with him. It was a cold day, but sunny, and there were no signs of
+the snow melting. Tug, alone in the house, looked fondly at his tools,
+and having nobody else to speak to, talked to himself.
+
+"We're like the boy and the ground-hog. 'We ain't got no meat for the
+supper, and the preacher's comin'.' So I guess I'd better leave the
+twitch-ups and make some common box traps that Kate and the kid can
+watch. Come here--you!"
+
+This last was addressed to a wooden box about twelve inches square, in
+which Katy had been wont to pack the small articles of table use. Tug
+turned them all out, and pulled off the leather hinges that held the
+cover. Then, taking an oak splinter from the firewood, he cut it to
+the size of a lead-pencil, and notched it in the middle. In this notch
+he tied the end of the ball of twine which formed a part of the boat's
+stores, and cut off a length of about fifteen feet. Next, he drew the
+locker out of the bearings upon which it rested, emptied it of its
+contents, and made a stick and length of twine to fit it in the same
+way. Lastly, he tore two pieces a foot or so square from their one
+strong sheet of white paper. He had been at work scarcely ten minutes,
+but had ready two simple traps. Then he went outside and called to
+Katy, who came quickly.
+
+"Katy," he said, "I have something for you to do. Please get a blanket
+and come out on top of the hummock, where you'll find me."
+
+While the girl went inside for the blanket Tug climbed up to the icy
+hill-top, where a small flock of snow-birds were pecking away at the
+crumbs Jim had thrown out. The lad crept stealthily towards them, and
+though the birds moved away, they were not greatly frightened, and did
+not go far. As quietly and rapidly as possible he spread down his
+pieces of paper on the highest part of the hummock, at a little
+distance apart, and not far from the edge of the ice table. Then,
+setting his boxes bottom upward, he perched each one slantwise upon
+one of his sticks, and stretched the strings away to the hummock's
+edge. On the paper underneath the boxes, and somewhat on the snow
+about them, he spread his bait of crumbs. Then showing Katy, who had
+now come out, where she could hide herself behind the edge of the
+upheaved ice cakes, he told her to wrap herself up well in the
+blanket, and to keep perfectly still till the birds came back. They
+would pick at the crumbs until by and by one or two of them would be
+sure to step under the boxes.
+
+"Then," said he, "you jerk your string, the box falls, and Mr.
+Snow-flake is a prisoner."
+
+So Katy took her position, and Tug, asking Jim to help him, went off
+to make some other traps.
+
+"Youngster," he directed, "I want you to cut me eight square pieces of
+ice, each one about as big as a brick, and after that two slabs about
+eighteen inches square and two or three inches thick. You can take the
+axe and cut 'em out in big chunks from the hummock, and then saw 'em
+into shape--here's the saw--and mind you keep away from where Katy
+is."
+
+"What do you want them for?"
+
+"For traps--never you mind why: you'll see presently," was the lofty
+reply.
+
+Jim thought it a little unfair, but he good-naturedly took the axe and
+saw and went to work.
+
+In half an hour he came to say he was done, and was quickly followed
+by his sister, whose face was beaming.
+
+"I've caught three!" she cried.
+
+"Three? Good!"
+
+"Yes, they came, a big flock--about forty, I should think--and
+chattered and twittered about over the house."
+
+"I heard 'em," Tug exclaimed.
+
+[Illustration: KATY TRAPPING THE SNOW-BUNTINGS.]
+
+"Yes? Well, they seemed to enjoy warming their wings in the smoke, for
+they flew through it lots of times. Then pretty soon one spied a
+crumb, and I suppose he called his fellows, for in a minute they came
+all hopping about on the snow, and getting nearer and nearer the
+boxes. I got so nervous I could hardly hold the strings still, but I
+kept as quiet as a mouse--"
+
+"Or as a cat after a mouse!" interrupted Aleck, who had come in with
+an armful of wood.
+
+"--and pretty soon one little bird went right under the locker. There
+was another close behind him, but I was too anxious to wait, and I
+pulled the string, catching one and knocking the other over. It made
+so little noise that the rest of the flock were not alarmed, and I
+suppose they didn't miss the lost one, for pretty soon they began to
+go around the locker, and one flew right on top of it. I was afraid he
+would tumble it down, but he didn't, and in a minute another had gone
+under. But there was a third hopping right towards the paper, and so I
+just waited till he had run under, when--piff!--I had them both!"
+
+"Good for you, Katy!" cried the delighted boys. "You'll make a
+sportsman yet!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVI.
+
+HOW TUG MADE "TWITCH-UPS."
+
+
+"It's cold work, though," Katy replied, "sitting so still out on that
+ice. I am just stiff."
+
+"I'll fix that all right," Tug said, showing some small forked and
+notched sticks he had cut out of oaken chips. "Come out with me, and
+I'll show you how to set a trap that will drop itself, or, rather,
+where the bird shuts his own prison door."
+
+Gathering up Jim's blocks and slabs of ice, the whole party climbed to
+the top of the hummock, which, as I have said, was almost the only
+spot in the wide plain free from deep snow, and Tug went to work.
+
+Making a little hole in the ice, he wedged into it a short,
+flat-topped peg, and packed a handful of snow about its base.
+
+Then with the brick-like blocks of ice he arranged a hollow square
+around the peg. On top of the peg he laid the flattened side of the
+stem of a forked stick, like a letter -< laid flat, and on top of
+that, as though it were a continuation of the peg, he set a post
+about ten inches high. Asking Aleck to hold these twigs in position
+for him, he took one of the slabs, lodged an end of it on the rim of
+the little wall made by his "bricks," and gently rested the other end
+upon the top of the post, which was held in its upright position under
+the pressure, at the same time keeping the -< in place. This arranged,
+he spread crumbs about the trap and thickly inside. Then he announced
+it ready.
+
+[Illustration: SETTING THE NEW TRAPS.]
+
+"Oh, I see how it works," Katy cried. "The bird, in leaping down, is
+almost sure to perch on the forked twig, or, at least, to strike it.
+That throws it out of place, and tumbles the whole cover down,
+shutting him in."
+
+"Correct!" said Tug, admiringly, as he went to work on a second trap
+of the same kind.
+
+This set, all left the hummock (except Jim, who agreed to take his
+turn, wrapped in a blanket, at watching the strings) and joined labor
+in making two or three more of the new ice traps, for now that the
+birds were plenty, they wanted to capture as many as possible.
+
+"If only I had some sort of a spring," Tug announced, "I could make
+twitch-ups. I've all the rest of the fixin's, 'cause I found some
+horse-hairs in my 'shop' this morning; but I don't see how I am to get
+a springy twig or a strip of whalebone. I had some old umbrella-ribs,
+but I didn't bring 'em along. Wish I had."
+
+Aleck thought over all his stores, but could remember nothing that
+would answer the purpose. "How about your ramrod?" he asked.
+
+"Too stiff," Tug replied.
+
+So they gave up talking, and attended to their work. Suddenly Aleck
+went to the log, split off a strip of oak, and whittled it into a thin
+rod. "How is that?" he said, as he handed it to his comrade.
+
+Tug beat his hands and blew on his aching fingers a while before
+answering. Then he bent the rod gently, but before it was curved half
+as far as he needed, it broke.
+
+"No good. Nothing but hickory will stand the strain."
+
+"I'll tell you what you might do, perhaps," Katy suggested, having
+come out just in time to witness this little trial. "The handle of the
+boat-hook is hickory. If you could make an oak handle for that, you
+could split the hickory up into springles, couldn't you?"
+
+"That's so!--that's a bright idea. Try it, Tug," and the Captain ran
+off for the boat-hook. The shaft of this was straight-grained,
+well-seasoned, and tough, but an oaken staff would serve its purpose
+quite as well.
+
+"I should think that would answer first-rate," said Tug, "but you had
+better whittle out your oak stick first. It would be rough to be
+caught suddenly without any handle to our boat-hook."
+
+"That's so," Aleck assented, and took his axe to split a suitable
+piece from the log.
+
+The making and shaping of a new handle, even in the rough, cost him
+much labor with his few tools. It was nearly an hour, therefore,
+before he was ready to pull the irons off the old handle and fasten
+the new one into its place; and fully another hour had passed by the
+time this difficult job had been done.
+
+Then, with great care, and by the help of little wedges, a clean,
+straight splinter about as thick as your finger was split from the
+tough hickory staff. It was tried by the trapmaker, very gently at
+first, and bent well, so that it was pronounced serviceable, though
+not as good as a green twig or sapling, such as one would cut in the
+woods for the same purpose. It would answer to try with, however, and
+after a bit of luncheon they watched Tug make his twitch-ups--or, at
+least, all did except the one on duty at the strings. As Tug himself
+had to take a turn, he didn't get his traps done in time to put them
+up that day.
+
+Next morning, however, all were out bright and early to help him do
+so. The snow-flakes had been there before, however, and one
+unfortunate had stepped on a treacherous fork, and was caught.
+
+Having arranged two more ice-boxes and letter Y traps, for which the
+pieces had been cut yesterday, they all gathered around Tug to watch
+him set his first twitch-up.
+
+With one of the tent spikes he dug a slanting hole in the ice, into
+which he inserted one end of his hickory splint, which was about four
+feet long, fastening it firmly by ramming ice and snow down into the
+hole beside it, which would quickly freeze solid. A short distance
+from the foot of the splint he then laid down a short board, which was
+braced at the foot (or end farthest from the splint) against the side
+of a trough cut in the ice. The remaining three sides of the board
+were then fenced in by small blocks of ice.
+
+Next, taking from his pocket a cord made by twisting two horse-hairs
+together, he slipped one end through a loop in the other, thus making
+a noose, and tied it to the top of the hickory splint. This done, he
+bent down the splint until he hooked its tip under the nearest end, or
+head, of the board, which was raised a couple of inches from the
+ground. Spreading the noose carefully out upon the board, he sprinkled
+within a particularly nice lot of crumbs, then laid a little train
+away from the foot of the board as a leader, and the snare was ready.
+The weight of the bird treading upon the board to get the bait would
+press it down enough to let the lightly caught whip end of the splint
+spring up: this would pull the noose with a sudden movement, and the
+bird would find itself dangling in the air by the legs or a wing, or
+possibly by the neck.
+
+Removing their captive, and resetting the square trap, the whole party
+went out of sight to await further results. Yesterday they had
+captured thirteen birds in all, and had eaten only nine. With three
+more traps, they ought to do better to-day, and so accumulate a little
+stock ahead.
+
+"At any rate," Katy observed, "we've plenty of refrigerator room to
+keep them in."
+
+They had, indeed--a refrigerator about a hundred miles square!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVII.
+
+THE BREAKING UP OF THE ICE.
+
+
+Breakfast was late the next morning, for Katy proposed to vary their
+fare by frying some snow-birds with bacon, and Jim was called upon to
+help pluck and prepare them--work which did not please that young
+gentleman very much.
+
+"I suppose now we shall have nothing but snow-birds, snow-birds," he
+growled.
+
+"Do try and be a little more cheerful, Jim," said Katy. "You are
+always grumbling about something."
+
+"What else do you want?" asked Tug. "You have got beef, though it's
+dried, and bacon and poultry."
+
+"Flesh, fowl, and good red herring," quoted Aleck, from an old
+proverb.
+
+"All but the herring," grunted The Youngster, crossly. "Now if only we
+had some fish--"
+
+"Fish!" Tug shouted, leaping to his feet. "Never thought of it, as I'm
+a Dutchman! Why shouldn't we? We have only got to cut a hole in the
+ice, and 'drop 'em a line,' as the man told his wife to do when he
+went off to Californy."
+
+"Strange we never thought of that," said Katy.
+
+"Strange? I'm the biggest dolt in three counties. Why, I'll catch you
+some be-'utiful muskallonge for dinner. Come on, Captain. Let's cut a
+hole while the boy is cleaning those twopenny tomtits."
+
+"Hold on!" cried the disgusted Jim; "I'm coming too."
+
+"No, no, my dear child" (Tug's voice was that of a pitying mother).
+"Remember Captain's order. You're to be a nice boy, and help in the
+kitchen. Maybe we'll let you cut the heads off our fishes, if you do
+well with the birds. Ca-a-reful!" and the tormentor dodged a club
+hurled by the angry lad, who wished (and said so) that he was only a
+little bigger.
+
+Jim and Katy both felt it was hard indeed that he should be deprived
+of this particular fun, in which he took so much interest, and it
+seemed as though the big fellows might have waited. The cook would
+willingly have let her scullion depart, but an order was an order, and
+he had to stay, plucking savagely at the pretty feathers of the
+innocent buntings, and declining to come back to good-humor, until the
+lads returned with the report that they had cut two holes in the thin
+ice that formed over the "lead," which, the reader will remember, was
+crossed just a few rods back, and now were ready to set their lines.
+
+Here was a chance of revenge. Jim's own line was the most important
+one in their small stock. He was tempted to refuse to let them use it;
+but he was not a bad fellow, and a better heart prevailed.
+
+"You'll find my line and pickerel spoon in that little box of things
+in our chest," he said.
+
+Tug walked up to him and offered his hand.
+
+"Jeems, I'll accept your apology for throwing sticks of wood at your
+uncle, and call it square. Agreed?"
+
+"Yes!" said Jim, with a laugh, and peace was restored.
+
+Doubtless you expect an entertaining chapter out of the fishing, but
+it can't be given if we are to stick to the facts of this cruise. No:
+the big muskallonge they hoped to catch was somewhere under the ice,
+but whether it was because he didn't see their bait, or was not
+tempted, or knew better than to bite, certain is it that none of these
+giants of winter fishing were caught. With the toothsome pickerel they
+had better luck, and several were taken on this first and on following
+days, so that Jim did not lose all the fun by his unlucky engagement
+in the kitchen. The greatest adventures of the trip were not so much
+in fishing and hunting as in being fished and hunted _after_; and
+these were to begin without much delay.
+
+The day the log was found and the first snow-birds were captured it
+had turned cold again, and it remained so for a whole week; but our
+heroes were kept busy in watching the traps, which caught them more
+snow-birds than they could eat; in attending to the fishing; and in
+getting wood. The snow did not melt at all, for the weather was very
+cold indeed, and sometimes the wind blew frightfully, but always in
+such a way that the hummock sheltered the tenthouse pretty well, so
+that, with the help of a big fire, they could keep warm enough. For
+amusement, they marked out a checker-board, and played checkers and
+other games. They tried their hands--or, rather, their heads--at
+spinning yarns also; they examined each other in geography or grammar,
+and held spelling competitions, choosing words out of Dr. Dasent's
+book, which they came to learn almost by heart. At all these studious
+entertainments Katy was likely to be ahead. But when the subject was
+turned to arithmetic, Aleck became teacher, for that was his favorite
+study.
+
+Thus the week had passed, and its close completed the fifteenth day
+since they had left home, which seemed very far away now. They had no
+anxiety so long as the weather held cold; or, if any one felt worried,
+he did not talk about it.
+
+At the end of this week, however, the wind changed in the night to the
+southward, so that on the eighth morning of their stay in the igloo
+they found the air almost as balmy as spring, with a gentle breeze
+from the south. The sun was shining, also, and no birds came near the
+house all day. This was compensated for, however, by their taking the
+largest pickerel yet. Towards noon it clouded up, and began to rain,
+melting the snow with such rapidity that the whole region was covered
+with slush. The shapeless tent-roof let streams of water pour in at
+the sides, and, altogether, affairs were very disagreeable.
+
+No one felt disposed to grumble, however, since, when the snow had
+been washed away, or cold weather came again to freeze solid the slush
+and surface-water, they could go ahead on their journey--something all
+were extremely anxious to do.
+
+The wind continued to blow from the south all night, and when Aleck
+went out next morning he hurried back with an alarmed face to report
+that distant open water could be seen in that direction.
+
+"The snow has almost gone. I must take a scout after breakfast, and
+see what the prospect is."
+
+As soon as the coffee and fried pickerel had been disposed of,
+therefore, Aleck set out, taking Jim with him.
+
+When two hours had passed, and the scouts did not return, Tug and Katy
+became alarmed, and went to the crest of the ridge. It had grown so
+foggy, however, that nothing could be seen.
+
+"Hadn't we better make a big smoke," Katy suggested, "as a signal? The
+fog might lift for a minute, and give them a chance to catch sight of
+it. They must be lost."
+
+"It's a good idea, as are most of your notions, Katy. I'll get some of
+that wet root-wood, and make a fire on top of the hummock."
+
+It was done, and another hour passed. Chilly with the fog and the raw
+wind, they had gone down into the hut to get warm, and were just
+attending to the "kitchen" fire, when their ears were startled by a
+loud, sharp noise, like the report of a distant cannon, only much
+sharper; then another, still louder; then a third, somewhat nearer;
+and, after a minute's interval, a fourth tremendous crash, close by
+the house, which trembled under their feet and over their heads as
+though an earthquake had shaken it.
+
+"The ice is cracking!" Tug cried, seizing Katy's hand, and dragging
+her to the boat, into which both jumped in terror.
+
+An instant later Tug recovered himself. "This is no use," he said.
+"Our ice is firm just here, and I don't hear her bursting any more.
+Let's go outside."
+
+"Don't you think we'd better put some of the food-boxes and things
+into the boat, so that they won't be lost if the ice here should break
+to pieces suddenly?"
+
+"Yes, we might do that. Let's hurry."
+
+Five minutes was enough for this work, and then both went out and
+climbed upon the hummock. They found the whole appearance of things
+changed towards the south and east. Where, yesterday, had lain one
+broad white field of solid ice, as far as the eye could reach, now
+were spread before them (for the fog had lifted a little, so that they
+could see better) the long, slow waves of a lake of blue water, filled
+with cakes and wide sheets of floating ice.
+
+"Oh! oh!" Katy cried, wringing her little hands at the thought, "Aleck
+and Jim are drowned."
+
+"No, I guess not," said Tug, encouragingly. "They are probably safe on
+some of those big pieces of ice."
+
+"But how will they ever get back?"
+
+"I don't know," her companion answered, slowly. "If only this terrible
+fog would go away, so that we could see something, perhaps we might
+help them. I don't know what we can do now but to keep up our smoke."
+
+"I wonder if _we_ are afloat?" Katy asked, trying to steady her voice,
+for she saw how useless it was to weep when so much might be required
+of her any minute. "Ah, Rex, good dog, what shall we do now? Can't you
+find your master?"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVIII.
+
+RESCUING THE WANDERERS.
+
+
+Rex wagged his tail mournfully, and looked at the strange scene,
+whining as if he understood it all, but was at his wits' end how to
+act.
+
+"Afloat?" Tug repeated, after a minute. "There are cracks on each side
+of us, and a narrow one part way behind, between us and that high
+hummock over there to the southward, which, in my opinion, hides the
+low, flat land, for I think it is only four or five miles to the
+shore. But it might as well have been four or five hundred while that
+snow lasted. Let's watch, and see if the crack gets wider."
+
+"Do you feel quite sure, Tug, that Aleck and Jim are on one of those
+big cakes of ice?" The tone of Katy's voice was very anxious.
+
+"Yes, I do, Katy. They certainly have not jumped off and drowned
+themselves on purpose."
+
+This made Katy smile, in spite of her anxiety.
+
+"They surely are not very far off; but, the most alarming part of the
+business is, how they are to get to us if that big crack increases to
+the size of a river. Can you make up your mind whether it is really
+growing wider?"
+
+In the course of half an hour it became very plain that the crack was
+getting wider rapidly, and their icy foundation, which they had
+thought so fixed, had now become a big raft, slowly drifting down the
+lake under the pushing of the steady west wind--moving a little faster
+than its companion rafts in the wide waste, because its high hummock
+served as a sort of sail. All the cakes our watchers could see were
+much smaller than this one. Occasionally these pieces would crash
+together, and crumble, or one would slide under the other. Sometimes
+their own "floe," as Dr. Kane would have called so large a piece,
+collided with others, but always came off victorious. They came to the
+conclusion that its having the thick hummock, like a great, solid
+back-bone, rendered it far stronger than the rest, as well as a better
+sailer.
+
+Beside them another floe, also bearing a hummock (a section of their
+own), was pressing its way on, to the ruin of smaller ones. It was
+separated from their floe by an open canal, perhaps five hundred yards
+wide, and floated along about even with them, sometimes swinging
+nearer, sometimes receding. This great cake, an acre or more in
+extent, lay in the direction whither the absent ones had gone, and it
+was hoped that they were upon it. This would be the next best thing
+to having them safely back, but the chance was a small one, at best.
+
+Talking over these loopholes of escape, Katy and Tug tried to forget
+their discomforts and dangers, and to show each other cheerful and
+reliant faces. Nevertheless it was dreary work.
+
+The weary day wore on--the day they thought would perhaps be their
+last--until night, with its starless gloom, was surrounding the
+desolate picture of grinding ice and of black, rolling waves, dimly
+seen. Chilled to the bone, for neither could bear to stay within the
+hut, they had grown silent and almost despairing, when Rex suddenly
+started to his feet, and, pricking up his ears, looked intently
+towards the great floe beside them, which had now approached much
+nearer. Then, after listening a moment, he uttered a loud bark, and
+bounded off. The two castaways followed to the edge of the ice, and
+there, having silenced Rex, could presently hear a faint halloo--her
+brother's voice!
+
+"Halloo! halloo-o!" they shrieked back.
+
+"Let us get the boat, and go after them!" cried Katy, nearly wild with
+joy and excitement.
+
+"Can't do it," said Tug, in a discouraged tone. "All four of us
+couldn't budge that boat and sledge before morning. It is frozen in,
+and has got to be chopped out and dried up. Must do something besides
+get the boat."
+
+"That floe is nearer than it has been before, Tug. Maybe it'll come
+quite close."
+
+"Yes, mebbe it will. I 'low that's our only hope. We can do nothing,
+Katy, but watch, and--and pray, Katy. Let us go back to the fire. It
+is cold here, and we can do no good. Once in a while I'll come down
+and scream across to cheer 'em up."
+
+Reluctantly, therefore, they returned to the igloo, warmed their feet,
+and picked up something to eat, but did not go to bed. Tug and Rex
+would frequently run out and shout across to Aleck, reporting at each
+return that the water-space (as well as could be guessed in the
+darkness) seemed to be surely narrowing. Towards morning Katy was
+persuaded to lie down, consenting to do so only when promised that she
+should be roused as soon as daylight appeared. Tug himself fell
+asleep, but both awoke with the first light of dawn, and hastened
+together to the edge of the floe, where the water lay calm and smooth,
+gray as iron and cold as death, between the divided friends.
+
+"Oh, I can see them!" cried the girl, and sent a cheery call across
+the "lead," which had now narrowed to a few rods. "Poor little Jim!
+See how he has to lean against Aleck."
+
+"We're safe," came back the shout, "but almost worn-out. Can you move
+the boat?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then unroll the ball of twine, and tie one end of it to the
+clothes-line, and to the other end of the clothes-line knot all the
+drag-ropes put together. Then fasten the loose end of the twine to
+Rex's collar, and make the dog bring it to me. Understand?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+But Tug didn't quite understand. He was off too soon, in his haste to
+get the twine and clothes-line and ropes. Aleck hadn't finished his
+directions.
+
+"Tell Tug," he shouted again to Katy, "to bring the sled, and fasten
+that to the drag-ropes. When I have hauled the ropes across, and got
+hold of the sled, I'll send Rex back, and you can pull in the twine,
+and catch the ropes, and tow us across. Hurry up, if you want us
+alive! This ice may drift apart again."
+
+In five minutes Tug came running back, with all his preparations made.
+Now everything depended upon Rex. The twine was slipped through his
+collar, and securely knotted, Katy kneeling the while with her arms
+about his shaggy head, whispering to him what he was to do. Then, in a
+stern voice, Tug commanded:
+
+"Go, Rex--go to Aleck!" at the same time pushing him into the water,
+while the Captain coaxed from the other side, and even Jim roused
+himself at this joyful prospect of deliverance.
+
+At first the dog, brave as he was, turned back, whining pitifully at
+the freezing water. But they fought him away, and finally poor Rex
+struck out and swam across to where Aleck was anxiously waiting to
+lift him out. Taking hold of the twine the dog had brought, the
+Captain reeled it in as rapidly as his stiffened fingers would let
+him, until the clothes-line began to come, and after it the heavier
+drag-ropes.
+
+But both clothes-line and drag-ropes together proved too short to
+reach quite across, and the floes seemed to have stopped their
+approach to each other, so that waiting would be useless, if not
+dangerous.
+
+"There is about ten feet lacking," Aleck shouted. "You must find some
+more rope."
+
+"Can't do it, unless I cut it off the mainsail."
+
+"Cut it off, then, and make haste."
+
+Tug went off on a run, and another five minutes passed by before he
+got back. Already the canal had begun to widen, so that fifteen feet
+instead of ten would be required.
+
+Tossing the rope into the sled-box, Tug screamed, "All right!" and the
+captain began drawing the sled to his side as quickly as possible, so
+that the two parties were again disconnected, and wholly reliant upon
+the nervous and frightened dog, which Jim was holding firmly, and
+coaxing into quiet. Swiftly splicing the rope with the new piece,
+the dog was let go. This time he leaped eagerly into the water for his
+return trip, apparently feeling perfectly the responsibility laid upon
+him, though perhaps he was only frightened, and eager to get back to
+what seemed home.
+
+[Illustration: "REX STRUCK OUT AND SWAM ACROSS."]
+
+Positions were now reversed. Aleck and Jim had the sled--Tug and Katy
+the twine. Drawing this in, all waited with feverish anxiety to see if
+there would be length of rope enough. There was; but so rapidly had
+the floes drifted apart that Tug held the very end of the taut line in
+his outstretched hand, and had not a bit to spare. One minute more,
+and the lines would not have reached across.
+
+Then they saw Aleck snatch off his overcoat, his undercoat, and his
+boots, and put them into the box of the sled, which was floating
+unsteadily at the margin of the ice. They saw him half lift the
+exhausted Jim, helping him to get into the box, and then heard him
+call out in quick words:
+
+"Don't try to pull at all hard until you can catch the big rope. I am
+going to swim and push a little ways, but I expect I shall be too
+chilled to do more than a little. When I stop pushing, and you get
+hold of the drag-ropes, haul us both ashore as fast as you can. Here
+goes!"
+
+With these words he slid into the water, swimming with his right hand,
+while with his left he pushed along the box and sled, which was half
+sunken, and in which Jimmy crouched, shaking with cold, but afraid to
+stir.
+
+"Keep it up a little longer!" Tug sung out, as he knelt on the edge of
+the ice, and carefully gathered in the clothes-line until he could
+almost clutch the end of the stronger rope. "I've almost got it! About
+two strokes more! All right! Now hold on with both arms, and we'll
+soon have you." Whereupon Katy seized the rope with him, and both
+together pulled as hard and as fast as they knew how.
+
+The strange little ferry-boat and its passengers seemed to approach
+very slowly, but finally it came so near that Tug stopped hauling on
+the line, and knelt down in order to lean out and grasp the box after
+Katy should have pulled it a few inches closer. Jim, seeing this
+motion, forgot how delicate was the balance, and rose up, when in an
+instant the unsteady craft tipped, and the boy went backward into and
+under the blue lake. At any rate, so it seemed to the spectators; but
+the little fellow, making a despairing clutch as he went over, had
+gripped a runner of the sled, and a second later his face appeared
+close by the ice, where the fond sister, pale as he, seized his arm
+and helped him scramble out.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIX.
+
+ADRIFT ON AN ICE RAFT.
+
+
+Meanwhile Aleck, startled by the upset of the sled and Jim's
+disappearance, had let go of his support. Now, seeing Jim safe, he was
+trying to regain it, when suddenly Tug saw him throw up his hand and
+sink out of sight.
+
+Tug knew what that meant, and that there was not an instant to spare.
+Tearing off his coat--he had thrown aside his overcoat in the heat of
+the work before-he watched till he saw Aleck rising through the clear
+water, then dashed in, followed by the noble dog, and grasped his
+hair. Aleck hung in his hold a dead weight, as though life had gone;
+but Tug knew that the fatal end had not come yet, and that this was
+only the fainting of utter exhaustion and the cramping paralysis of
+cold. Cold! Tug had felt the dreadful chill striking through and
+through him the instant he had touched the water. Already it was
+clogging his motions and overcoming his strength with a fearful
+numbness that would fast render him powerless. And Aleck had been in
+that stiffening, paralyzing flood several minutes!
+
+All this went through Tug's mind, as on a dark night a flash of
+lightning enters and leaves the pupil of the eye; it took "no time at
+all," and the instant he had hooked his fingers in Aleck's hair he
+shouted to Katy to shove out the sled where he might reach it. She did
+so, and by it drew both the lads to the ice, the brave rescuer
+grasping the friendly box and towing his senseless Captain.
+
+Then a new difficulty presented itself. Aleck was perfectly helpless,
+and like a log in the water; or worse than that, for he would sink if
+Tug loosed his hold. How should they get him out?
+
+Katy saw this problem, and said to Tug, as soon as the ice had been
+reached, while she knelt at the brink of the splashing water:
+
+"Let me hold his head up--I can do it--until you can climb out; then
+both of us together, I guess, can drag him up on to the ice. Oh dear!
+will he ever come to?"
+
+Her tears blinded her eyes, but she dashed them away, and took firm
+hold upon Aleck's collar, while Tug scrambled out. Then, while Katy
+held his head above the curling, gurgling little waves that the wind
+was chasing, Tug slipped one end of the rope under Aleck's arms, and
+made a loop about his body, by which they were able to drag his
+lifeless form out upon the ice, as though he were a fish or a seal.
+
+"Now let's have the sled!" screamed Tug, minding neither his own
+freezing garments nor Katy's anguish; and having pulled this from the
+water, he and Katy lifted Aleck upon it, and set off as fast as they
+could for the tent, whither the miserable Youngster had already
+started in a staggering trot, with many groans and rough tumbles. The
+others overtook him, and all went on together; but Jimkin got no
+comfort, for Aleck might be drowned--they did not know; while Jim,
+though certainly miserable, was alive and active, enough so, at least,
+to look after himself.
+
+[Illustration: "THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAG HIS LIFELESS FORM OUT UPON THE
+ICE."]
+
+"How fortunate that there happened to be a kettle of hot water on the
+fire!"
+
+"Yes. Now here we are. We'll have to drag him through the low doorway
+heels first. Help me lift him off the sled, Katy."
+
+Laid on straw and overcoats by the warm fire, Tug quickly stripped off
+the Captain's wet clothes, while Katy brought warm blankets, and
+wrapped him in them.
+
+"Didn't you say you had a little bottle of brandy, Katy?"
+
+"Yes; Miss Marshall told us we ought never to go on a long journey
+without it, and I brought it along for fear something like this might
+happen. Here it is."
+
+Taking the bottle, Tug forced a few drops between Aleck's lips and saw
+them trickle down his throat. A minute later there was a stronger
+throb of the fluttering heart, a quiver of the eyelids, and a faint,
+sighing groan, which the anxious watchers could just hear. At this
+sign of returning life they rose and grasped each other's hands. The
+tears Katy had so bravely kept back when she had had work to do and no
+time to cry came now in an unrestrained shower; but they were tears of
+joy, for the Captain was waking up all right.
+
+Now poor little Jim got some attention, and Katy left them to
+themselves while the three boys helped each other to get rid of their
+icy clothes and crawl into the blankets and warm straw of their
+bedrooms, as they called the hull of the boat. This done, Katy came
+back and made hot tea for her three tucked-up patients, which so
+revived them that Tug and Jim begged to be allowed to get up as soon
+as their clothes had been dried; but Aleck said he wanted to sleep two
+weeks, and so would stay in bed a little longer.
+
+As for Rex, whose heroism in bringing back Aleck's floating coat, when
+he was unable to aid his drowning master himself, had been forgotten
+until now, he was content to lie in a snug corner and wait for the
+half-frozen fish his mistress had promised him should presently be the
+reward of his faithfulness.
+
+That eventful day came to an end without anything further to disturb
+their peace. Aleck rose towards evening, and went out fishing with Jim
+and Tug, catching two or three pickerel. The night passed in unusual
+quiet, for the wind, though steady, was not a whistling gale, nor did
+the grinding roar of moving ice come to their ears, as it had
+sometimes during the previous daytime.
+
+In the morning the same clouds were overhead, the same vague haze hid
+the horizon, the same waste of ice and water surrounded their lonely
+camp, the same quiet breeze breathed steadily across the lake, and,
+but for occasional noises of their own making, the whole world seemed
+profoundly still. This was depressing, and the spirits of each one of
+our young adventurers sank to a level with the flat ice and the dull
+gray sky; yet it was evident that nothing could be done except to wait
+as patiently as possible for some change.
+
+"If yez can't be aisy, be as aisy as ye can," remarked Tug, quoting an
+excellent Irish rule of life under adverse circumstances; but the
+pleasantry met with only a faint smile from his disheartened
+companions. All thought that any _active_ perils would be better than
+this motionless, objectless gloom, so threatening because so still and
+uncertain.
+
+"I wonder if we haven't stopped drifting," said Katy, as they were
+pretending to eat a bit of luncheon, for which nobody had much
+appetite; and, more for the sake of doing something than because it
+seemed to make much difference whether they had come to a standstill
+or not, they took a few chips to the edge of the floe, and threw them
+into the water. These tossed up and down on the gentle waves, but did
+not change their position at all, so our navigators concluded their
+floe to be at last stationary.
+
+"How far do you think we have drifted?" Jim asked his brother.
+
+"Well," Aleck replied, "I've been studying over that. We don't know
+just when we started nor exactly when we stopped--if we have
+stopped--nor whether we have gone steadily on. I have seen something
+of drifting ice, and I should say we had gone probably between twenty
+and twenty-five miles, all right out into the middle of the lake."
+
+"Then you have some idea of where we are?"
+
+"Oh, yes; that's quite easily calculated by 'dead-reckoning,' as
+sailors say."
+
+The west wind now began to subside, and before long the air became
+still and the mists thicker, with dense, low clouds massing close
+overhead. On land it must have been a warm, thawing day. Out here it
+was always chilly, but the four persons were not uncomfortable, even
+when their overcoats were unbuttoned, partly, however, because they
+had become accustomed to constant exposure.
+
+Before the sun went down the air grew much cooler, and the fog thinned
+out, while the wind freshened and worked around until it blew briskly
+and very cold from the north. This soon swept away the mists, but not
+the clouds; yet light enough remained just before dusk to give Aleck a
+brief look to the northward. He could see a great field of rough ice,
+apparently made up of broken pieces crushed and jammed together,
+stretching in that direction to the horizon. This horizon was broken
+in one place, however, by a darker patch, that looked as though it
+might be land; but before he could examine it more carefully it had
+become lost in the darkness.
+
+Returning to the house, the Captain ordered every preparation to be
+made for a possible removal. While Katy cooked their evening meal, the
+boys worked with axe and shovel until they had freed the runners under
+the boat, so that she could be dragged away quickly. Then the wall was
+taken down, and the boxes stowed carefully. Several of them had been
+emptied during the long halt, and it made the lads feel very grave to
+notice how low their stock of provisions and lamp-oil had run. Jimmy
+refused to see the use of all this hard work when everything seemed as
+safe as ever it was, and Aleck confessed that he had no better reason
+for his precautions than that the weather had changed, and it was best
+to be on the safe side--in which he showed himself a good commander.
+
+"We won't take the tent down, Jim, nor throw in the mess kit, nor roll
+away our good beds, till we find we have to; but, if the ice should
+drop from under our feet at this moment, we could scramble into the
+boat, and have our necessary property with us."
+
+Katy, meanwhile, had set half a ham boiling--they had only one more
+left after this--and was only waiting for it to be done before going
+to bed, for it was late in the evening, and much colder than usual,
+since the hummock no longer sheltered them from this new wind, which
+blew in under the boat where the snow had been shovelled away, and
+threatened to tear the frail hut to pieces. Finally the ham was done,
+and the girl crept shivering to Jim's side amid the straw and quilts,
+thoroughly frightened and weary.
+
+She had not been there five minutes when there came a quick series of
+crashing reports, such as she had heard before. The ice was breaking
+up again. Tug was quickest to jump out, calling to all to stay in the
+boat till he came back. They could feel the ice shake and tip under
+them--or, at any rate, imagined they could--while the wind was blowing
+snow-flakes in their scared faces. It seemed an age, though really it
+was hardly a minute, before Tug came back and said they were afloat
+upon a small piece--a piece only a few yards square.
+
+"Then," said Aleck, decisively, "we must take to the boat and get off
+this cake, for the wind is blowing us right back into the open lake,
+and we couldn't live out there. I think I saw land just north of us,
+and we must try to reach it, or, at any rate, to get upon the big
+ice-field in front. It's our only hope."
+
+He and Tug were buttoning their overcoats and tying tippets about
+their heads and necks, but talking at the same time.
+
+"Now for our orders, Captain."
+
+"Well, then, listen. Katy and Jim must not step out of the boat unless
+I say so. They must light the lantern, ship the rudder, roll up the
+bedding and stow it under the thwarts, and fix everything as snug as
+they can. Jim's place will be forward; Katy will stay by the tiller;
+and remember, whatever happens, that the compass direction is due
+north. Now, Tug," he continued, "you and I will throw this kitchen
+stuff aboard, and let The Youngster pack it away the best he can.
+Then, down with the oars and mast and canvas. We must hurry."
+
+So saying, he snatched the kettle, ham and all, from the fire, and
+tossed it into the boat, where it lit on Jim's foot, and was greeted
+with an angry howl. The other goods and the spare canvas followed.
+Then they began to tear down the roof, and in five minutes this had
+been piled in a stiff, frozen heap on the bow of the boat, for they
+thought there would be no time to bend and fold it into shape. It was
+all the united efforts of the four could do to hoist it over the low
+gunwale.
+
+All these preparations took perhaps fifteen minutes--a quarter of an
+hour of terror, for now the great cake was plainly rocking under
+their feet. Then calling Jim out of the boat to help them, the three
+put their heads through the collars of the drag-ropes, and tried their
+best to move the boat, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
+
+"We must throw off that icy canvas. I should think it weighs a hundred
+pounds," Tug remarked.
+
+"Yes, off with it!" ordered Captain Aleck.
+
+This done, they tried again, and slowly and laboriously worked the
+boat twenty or thirty paces towards the edge of the ice, when it
+became clogged with the fast-falling snow, and could be pushed no
+farther.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XX.
+
+A NIGHT IN AN OPEN BOAT.
+
+
+What should be done? Aleck was sure that their only chance for life
+lay in getting the boat afloat; but unless it could be brought nearer
+the edge this could not be done, and perhaps it was impossible,
+anyway. Yet to stay where they were meant destruction. Katy and Jim
+climbed into the boat, and crouched down out of the snow, while the
+larger lads stood outside trying to find some way out of their
+desperate situation. They must think fast; minutes were precious; but,
+cudgel their brains as they might, only darkness, a howling
+snow-squall, and crashing blocks of ice greeted their eyes or
+thoughts. One minute passed, two minutes passed, yet they could see no
+way to help themselves. The third minute was slipping by, when a huge
+ice-cake crowded its resistless way underneath the rear edge of their
+own raft, towards which the stern of the boat was pointing, and slowly
+lifted it above the level of the water.
+
+At once the sledge began to feel this inclination, and started to move
+forward.
+
+"Jump in!" shouted Aleck, and leaped aboard, with Tug beside him. "Try
+to steady her!" they heard him cry, and each seized an oar, or a
+boat-hook, or whatever was nearest. But it was of little use. Slowly
+but gently the hinder part of the ice-cake rose, and the front part
+tipped down. As the slant deepened, the speed of the sliding boat
+increased, until it went with a rush, and struck the water with a
+plunging splash that would surely have swamped them had it not been
+for the tight half-deck forward; this shed the water, and caused the
+little craft to rise upon an even keel as soon as she had fairly left
+the surface of the ice. It was evident in an instant, however, that
+she would sink in a very short time unless freed of the great sledge
+that was dragging upon her bottom. Already the water was pouring over
+her sides, and Aleck knew that they were in imminent danger of sinking
+or capsizing, or both. Tug had leaped in forward, and to him Aleck
+shouted, "Cut those bands!"
+
+"Haven't any knife."
+
+"Here's the hatchet. Hurry up!"
+
+One stroke of Tug's arm parted one of the bands, and he raised his
+hatchet for the second one, for there were two straps forward. As it
+descended, Aleck drew his pocket-knife across the strained band
+astern, which parted with a loud ripping noise. The idea was that both
+straps should be severed at the same instant; but in the darkness Tug
+partly missed his aim, and the poor boat, held to the sledge by a
+single strap, began to yaw and jerk and ship water in a most alarming
+manner--a strain she could not have borne one moment had not the
+half-cut band of canvas broken, setting the boat free. Aleck had
+intended to hold to the strap and take the sledge aboard; but this
+struggle, which came so near wrecking them all, wrenched it out of his
+hand, and the first wave washed the bobs beyond recovery--a loss whose
+full force did not strike them at once, for they had too much else to
+think of.
+
+[Illustration: "TRY TO STEADY HER!"]
+
+The weight and awkwardness of the sledge having been taken away, the
+boat rode much more lightly in the face of the ice-clogged sea, and
+showed how stanch and trim she really was, though much cold water
+splashed over her rails.
+
+"Now," said Aleck, cheerfully, though it was fortunate the darkness
+could conceal how anxious was the expression of his face, "now we
+shall get along. Jim, get out your oars (the stroke); and look out for
+floating ice forward, Tug. Katy, my little steersman, are you very,
+very cold?"
+
+"N-n-n-o!" the girl answered, bravely, but her teeth chattered
+dreadfully.
+
+"Better say you are, for you can't hide it, poor child. Wait a minute
+till I get this strap off my roll of bedding, and I will wrap a
+blanket around you."
+
+Doubling a large blanket, he put it carefully over her head and
+shoulders like an immense hood. Then he buckled around her the strap
+which had held the roll together, leaving only a fold out of which she
+might grasp the tiller, and another crevice through which to peep and
+breathe.
+
+"We've got to have that lantern lit, because you must see the
+compass."
+
+Taking some matches from his pocket, he knelt down, placed the lantern
+under the skirt of Katy's blanket robe, crouched over it as close as
+he could, and struck a match. It went out. A second fizzed a while,
+which only warmed the wicking, but at the third the oil in the wick
+took fire, and the lantern was soon shining gayly into the bright face
+of the compass at Katy's feet.
+
+"Now, Youngster, for the oars. Lie low, and let me crawl over you to
+my seat."
+
+Aleck got there and was ready, but Jim was still fumbling about on
+each side, and feeling under the thwart.
+
+"What's the matter? Why don't you go to work?"
+
+"Can't find but one oar."
+
+"Only one oar? Sure?"
+
+Then the two searched, but to no purpose. It had been dropped
+overboard, evidently, during the excitement about losing the sledge.
+
+"Well, Jim, it's your fault, but it can't be helped now. You take this
+quilt, and cuddle down as close to Katy as you can get, and try to
+keep each other warm. I'll row alone. Ready, forward?"
+
+"Ay, ay, sir."
+
+Then they began to move ahead through the water, which came in long
+rollers, not in breaking waves, because there was so much ice around
+them that the wind could not get hold of it. It was very cold.
+Occasionally Tug would fend away a cake of ice, or they would stop and
+steer clear of a big piece; but pretty soon he called out in a shaky
+voice that he was too stiff to stand there any longer, where the spray
+was blowing over him, and that he should be good for nothing in a few
+minutes unless he could row awhile to get warm. So Aleck took his
+place, fixing the spare canvas into a kind of shield to keep off the
+spattering drops. It was very forlorn and miserable, and to say that
+all wished themselves back on shore would be but the faintest
+expression of their distress.
+
+Little was said. Pushing their way slowly through the cakes of ice,
+which had grown denser now; changing every little while from oars to
+boat-hook and back again, while Katy, protected from freezing by her
+double blanket and Jim's close hugging, kept the yawl's head due
+north; fighting fatigue, hunger, cold, and a great desire to sleep,
+these brave boys worked hour after hour for their lives and the lives
+in their care.
+
+When they were beginning to think it almost morning they came squarely
+against a field of ice which stretched right and left into the
+darkness farther than it was possible to see. Whether this was the
+edge of a stationary field or only a large raft they couldn't tell;
+but they were too exhausted to go farther, and they decided to tie up
+and wait for daylight. Tug struck his hook into the ice until it held
+firmly, then lashed it to the bow. Aleck also stepped out and drove
+one of the short railway spikes into the ice near the stern, around
+which a rope was hitched. Then both the boys opened a second roll of
+bedding, and snuggled down as well as they could to get what rest they
+were able to while waiting for sunrise. Crowded together in the straw
+(though it was damp with snow), and covered with quilts and blankets,
+they could keep tolerably warm, and even caught little naps. The snow
+had stopped now, and the stars began to appear, first in the north,
+then overhead, then gradually everywhere. The wind still blew, but the
+boat rose and fell more and more slowly upon the rollers, until at
+last it stood perfectly still. This happened so suddenly, and was
+followed by so complete steadiness, that it aroused Tug's curiosity.
+Poking his head from under the covering, he said, "I think we are
+frozen in." Nobody answered him, for they were asleep, or too stupid
+to care; but the gray daylight which came at last showed that he was
+right. On their right hand was a great sheet of new, thin ice; on
+their left a mass of thick old ice, white with snow. Straight ahead,
+so well had Katy steered, towered the rocks and trees of a high,
+wooded shore, coming momently into greater and greater distinctness as
+the red streamers of the morning shot higher and higher into the
+eastern sky.
+
+Tug was the first to catch this sight, and roused his fellows with a
+shout:
+
+"Land!--land! Hurrah!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXI.
+
+THE ESCAPE TO THE SHORE.
+
+
+To rouse themselves, hastily gather a few eatables, and make their way
+ashore had been the work of a very short time, though done with great
+soreness and much hobbling, after their cramped-up night in the boat.
+
+They halted on the south side of a sheltering rock, where the sun was
+beginning to shine against the gray stone. Katy hated to confess it,
+but really she was very, very tired, and was quite willing to let
+Aleck wrap her up in a thick blanket, and to lie quietly in a sunny
+nook of the rock while the boys set a fire crackling as near to her as
+was safe, and began to heat water for coffee. The mill had been
+forgotten, but Tug had a piece of buckskin in his overcoat pocket, and
+folding the grains in this they crushed them between two stones, which
+did just as well as grinding them.
+
+This done, the coffee-pot was filled and set upon the embers, and a
+moment later four cups were steaming with the hot, reviving liquid,
+and four tired hands were reaching towards the little heap of slices
+cut from the boiled ham which had been tossed into the boat the night
+before, when leaving the ice-raft. It had required all of Rex's
+strength of mind to keep his paws off these tempting pieces for some
+time past.
+
+"Poor dog!" cried Jim; "we must give you something, if we are pretty
+short. Pity there was no fish left for you."
+
+"He can have my slice of ham," Katy said, with a faint smile. "I can't
+eat it, somehow."
+
+"Better try to eat a little, sis," Aleck said, "because--"
+
+"Don't you touch a mouthful!" exclaimed Tug, snatching the shaving
+from her hand and tossing it to the dog, which swallowed it at a gulp.
+"Just you wait a minute! I ought to go and kick myself for not
+thinking of it before!" And with this puzzling remark he rushed off
+over the ice.
+
+They saw him rummage about the cargo, and then start back, bringing
+his gun and a small package.
+
+"Thought it would be just as well to make sure of the gun," he
+remarked, as he rejoined them; "and here's something, Katy, you can
+eat, I guess!" It was a box containing two dozen preserved figs that
+he opened, and handed to her. "I bought 'em just before we left
+Monore," he said, "and clean forgot 'em till now--sure as I'm a
+Dutchman!"
+
+"Oh, give me one!" cried Jim.
+
+"Jim Kincaid," said Tug, sternly, springing between the boy and Katy's
+hand, outstretched in generosity, "if you touch one of those figs I'll
+thump you well! I didn't bring them all this way for a lubber like you
+to eat!" And in spite of all the girl's protests, Tug would not touch
+a fig himself nor allow her to give one to anybody else.
+
+Aleck grinned, and munched his tough morsel; Jim scowled, and gnawed
+at his shavings as though he enjoyed viciously tearing them into
+shreds; Tug thought his beef was juicy and sweet, as he saw with what
+gusto poor Katy ate her fruit; and as for Rex, he dug his teeth into
+the tough remnant of the dried shank which had been given to him, as
+though he never expected to see another meal.
+
+Refreshed and strengthened by their breakfast, meagre as it was, the
+boys prepared to begin the work of bringing the cargo ashore, though
+the weather was so cold that a thermometer would have marked nearly
+down to zero.
+
+Aleck forbade Katy to help, so she curled up beside the wall of rock,
+which acted as a sort of oven to hold the warmth, where presently she
+fell asleep, and the boys, when they returned with their first
+sled-load of goods, were careful not to awaken her. So much had their
+stock been reduced that they found a second trip would enable them to
+bring everything of consequence ashore by carrying pretty large
+armfuls. They therefore distributed their loads as best they could,
+and started back from the abandoned boat, slipping and stumbling over
+the rough ice and through the cutting wind.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXII.
+
+REX FIGHTS UNKNOWN ENEMIES.
+
+
+With aching heads bowed under their burdens, and tired limbs, they had
+returned to within, perhaps, a hundred yards of the beach, when the
+barking of dogs, mingled with a girlish scream, caused them all to
+look up in astonishment. Then, without waiting for any one to give the
+word, each dropped what he was carrying, and began to run as fast as
+he was able over the broken ice towards the shore.
+
+When the lads had started on the second trip out to the boat, Rex,
+bidden to watch his mistress, and proud of the duty, had lain down
+almost on the edge of her blankets. There was no snow upon the sand
+here, and the warmth of the fire closed the eyes of the fagged-out
+dog, just as it had those of his mistress. The boys had been gone,
+perhaps, half an hour, and he had had time to get very soundly asleep,
+when, suddenly, he was roused by a growl and a rush, and before he
+could rise to his feet two animals were right upon him, each nearly as
+big as himself, though short-haired and wofully gaunt. With a yelp of
+surprise and rage the dog sprang up and tried to defend himself, but
+the attack of his assailants was so fierce that he was rolled over in
+an instant, and felt their teeth pressing at his throat.
+
+Into Katy's dreams of a May-day picnic under the blossoming
+apple-trees broke this rude hubbub, and before she could understand
+its meaning she felt the weight of the struggling animals pressing
+upon her bed. With the piercing scream of fright that had reached the
+ears of her brothers out on the ice, she struggled out of her
+blankets, only to be tripped and fall right upon the tumbling,
+growling, fighting heap. Afterwards she used to tell the story with
+merry laughter, but then, scarcely knowing what it all meant, she was
+too frightened to do anything but scream again, and pick herself up as
+best she could.
+
+Safely on her feet at last, and convinced that this startling
+adventure was a reality and not some frightful change in her dream,
+she saw that Rex was being overpowered by two great dogs, lean almost
+as skeletons, that seemed bent upon killing him without an instant's
+delay. To see her faithful friend surprised and overcome in this
+terrible way stirred up all her sympathies and all her wrath. Like a
+flash she remembered how African travellers had fought lions with
+firebrands, and, seizing one of the charred sticks from the fire, she
+began to strike the brute nearest to her.
+
+But what followed was most alarming, for the animal, at the very first
+blow, left Rex and turned towards her, his jaws wide open, and his
+haggard eyes glowing with rage. Instinctively she presented the
+smoking end of her long brand, as a soldier would his bayonet, and was
+fortunate enough to meet the dog squarely in the face, which staggered
+him for an instant, and before he could gather himself for a new
+attack Aleck and Tug and Jim were all beside her, and the two great
+brutes were in full flight.
+
+Then the brave girl dropped her firebrand, and sank down on the
+nearest seat, where, perhaps, she might have been excused for fainting
+had the day been warm, instead of freezing cold. The boys gathered
+anxiously about her, with such questions as, "Where did they come
+from?" "Why did they attack you?" "Are you hurt?" and so on.
+
+The story was soon told, and this was fortunate, for everybody had
+forgotten poor Rex, who lay panting, and licking one of his feet, from
+which the blood was oozing.
+
+"Well, old fellow," exclaimed Tug, as he went and bent over the dog,
+"did they try to chew you up? Here, give us your paw. Quiet! Let me
+feel--so--good dog! No bones broken, I guess, and we'll bandage you up
+O. K. How about this ear? One hole through it, and--Well, 'twas lucky
+you had a strong collar? Just look at the tooth-marks on that piece of
+leather! If it hadn't been for that an' his thick hair, they'd been in
+his throat, and then good-bye, Rex!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIII.
+
+EXPLORING THE ISLAND.
+
+
+When all the property of our shipwrecked crew had been brought ashore
+it made a very small heap, and the biggest part of that seemed to be
+the bedding. Everybody noticed this, and it added a new gloom to the
+feeling of discouragement caused by their weariness, by Katy's fright,
+and, most of all, by the hunger of which their slight breakfast had
+only taken away the edge.
+
+"Before we do anything else at all," said Captain Aleck, "we must have
+something more to eat. Do you feel strong enough to help us, Katy?"
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed. I've got quite rid of my foolish weakness."
+
+"That's good. Let us know if we can help you."
+
+Nobody felt in the mood for talking, and Jim really took a nap between
+the rock and the fire. Though the air was still cold, the sunshine was
+bright, and under the lee of the little cliff it was very comfortable;
+but poor Katy had hard work to keep her fingers from almost freezing.
+What she made was chocolate, fried bacon, and "griddle" cakes, the
+last cooked in the skillet, and consuming every bit of buckwheat flour
+and a good share of the sugar. When the meal had been eaten to the
+last scrap, and everybody had grown wide awake and cheerful, Aleck
+rapped on a box, and made a speech:
+
+"Attention, ladies and gentlemen! Though none of us have said much
+about it, you all know well enough that we're in a regular scrape, and
+the sooner we discover how we're to get out of it the better. Now, I
+am going to propose a plan, and if any of you don't like it you can
+say so."
+
+"We'll do whatever you say," exclaimed Tug.
+
+"But I don't want to _say_ till we've talked it over. I rather think
+we're on a small island a good many miles from land. I judge so from
+what I know of the chart of the lake, and what I can guess of where we
+drifted on that ice-floe. If so, I do not think anybody lives here, or
+ever comes here in winter."
+
+"Regular desert island!" Jim was heard to mutter, in a tone that
+showed his mind busy with the romantic memory of Robinson Crusoe.
+
+"The first thing to do is to find out whether this is so or not. Now I
+propose that Jim and Katy should stay here--"
+
+"Oh, no, no," Katy interrupted, in an eager appeal. "Those dreadful
+dogs might come back, and Jimmy is so little! I want you to stay with
+me, or else let me go with you."
+
+"That's rather rough on the boy," Aleck laughed. "However, I suppose
+it won't matter. Well, then, Tug, I think you and Jim had better go
+back in the country, and see what you can find, while I stay and watch
+over the goods and the sister. What do you say?"
+
+"Good plan," Tug replied. "I'm ready. Are you, Youngster?"
+
+"Yes, siree! But you'll let us take the gun, won't you, Aleck?"
+
+"Oh, yes, you can have the gun. If the dogs, or wolves, or whatever
+they are, come at us while you're gone, Katy can fight them with
+firebrands, and I--"
+
+"Oh, _you_ can climb a tree!" said his sister, merrily.
+
+"Yes, I can climb a tree."
+
+While Tug and Jim were gone, Aleck and Katy busied themselves in
+repacking their goods in snug bundles, and in talking over their
+strange adventures. They were too anxious to feel very gay, but
+thought it foolish to give way to fretting until they had lost all
+hope. Two hours or more elapsed, and the sun had climbed to "high
+noon" in the sky, before the explorers came back, bringing solemn
+faces.
+
+"Island!" both called out as soon as they came near; "and a small one
+at that."
+
+"Any people on it?" asked Katy.
+
+"Not a soul that I could see," Tug said. "I allow they come here in
+summer, though, for the trees have been cut down, and there's a rough
+little shanty on the other side."
+
+"Could we live in it?"
+
+"Didn't go inside; don't know. It's half full of snow. Better than no
+shelter at all, I suppose. It ain't far off. Suppose you all go over
+there and look at it--Jim can show you where it is--while I guard the
+grub against those pesky dogs. I don't wonder the brutes are savage,
+for I don't see how they could get anything to eat here."
+
+When the three had left the rocks at the beach, under Jim's guidance,
+they found themselves in a brushy wood consisting largely of hemlocks
+and pines, often closely matted together. A few minutes' walking
+carried them through this and up to a ridge of jagged limestone rocks,
+one point of which, a little distance off, stood up like a big
+monument. This ridge ran about east and west, and they had come up its
+southern side. Its northern face was very snowy, had few trees, and
+sloped down an eighth of a mile to the water.
+
+At one place on this northern beach several great rocks rose from the
+water's edge, and among them stood a small grove of hemlocks and other
+trees. In that thicket, Jimmy told them, the old shanty was placed.
+They thought it must be very small, or else well stowed away, for
+they could see nothing of it. To get down to it was no easy task, for
+the crevices and holes in the rocky hillside had drifted full of snow,
+and they were continually sinking in where they had expected to stand
+firm, or finding a solid rock ahead when they tried to flounder out.
+It was a chilled and ill-tempered trio that finally reached the beach,
+and sought the shelter of the thicket.
+
+Now it became easier to understand why the hut had been invisible from
+above, for it was only a shanty propped up between two great rocks
+that helped to form its walls and support its roof. From the broken
+oars and many fragments of nets, the old corks and other rubbish lying
+about, they saw at once that it had been built by fishermen, who
+probably came there to spend the night now and then, or, perhaps,
+stayed a week or so at a time in the summer.
+
+The door stood half open, and a snowdrift lay heaped upon the
+threshold. Edging their way in, they found that the roof and walls
+were tight, the little window unbroken, and several rough articles of
+furniture lying about. An old, rusty stove, one corner propped up on
+stones, and the pipe tumbled down, stood against the chimney of mud
+and sticks that was built up against one of the rocky walls.
+
+"This is splendid!" Katy cried. "Just look at that dear old stove!"
+
+"Yes, sis; I think we must move over here. But are you sure,
+Jim--how did you find out?--that this is an island, and not the
+mainland?"
+
+[Illustration: THE CABIN ON THE ISLAND.]
+
+"From the top of that high point of rocks you can see the whole of it.
+I don't believe it is more than a mile up to the farther end, and not
+half that down to the other. The island is shaped something like a
+dumb-bell, only one end is a good deal bigger than the other. We are
+on the little end here."
+
+"Well, Youngster, you're quite a geographer; but we can't stop to talk
+about it now. Let's go back as quickly as we can, and bring part of
+our goods over this afternoon; don't you think that's best?"
+
+"Oh, yes." And twenty minutes later, rosy and panting, Katy astonished
+the sleepy Tug by rushing into camp, followed closely, not by wild
+beasts, as he thought would be the case, but by both the brothers she
+had outsped.
+
+"It's so good!" she exclaimed, catching her breath, "to feel something
+besides slippery ice under your feet! Now, what shall we take first?"
+
+By hard work and little resting the coming of twilight found them
+established in their new home. The last journey had been made after
+the bedding, by Tug and Aleck, while Jim and Katy cleared the snow all
+away from the cabin door and off the bending roof, straightened up the
+rickety old stove, and set a fire going. By the time the larger boys
+came back, raising a whoop far up the hillside as they saw the smoke
+curling up between the hemlocks, the old hut was warm, and the tin
+cover of the little iron pot was dancing, in its effort to hold back
+the escaping steam.
+
+"Ugh!" said Tug, as he pushed the door open and threw down his bundle
+of blankets; "I'm as hungry as a wolf!"
+
+"If you think you can wait fifteen minutes, Mr. Montgomery, you'll
+have a bee-yutiful supper. Can you do it?"
+
+"I 'low I can. I ain't a epi--epi--What d'ye call it?"
+
+"Epicure?"
+
+"That's the chap. I read the other day that the Tartars say he digs
+his grave with his teeth. I don't want a grave as bad as that yet."
+
+"I suppose that means that a man who lives on too rich food will die
+by it."
+
+"Yes, I reckon so. But I 'low there's no danger in our case; eh,
+Aleck? Do you think dried beef and snow-birds too rich for your
+delicate stomach, my boy?"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+That night all bunked down on the floor, for they were too weary to
+care much for anything but a chance to sleep, and the sun was high
+before any of them found out, in their shady house, that it was
+morning. When breakfast was ready, and they had all sat down at the
+rough shelf-table which the fishermen had fastened at one side of the
+cabin, Aleck called "Attention!" and said that it was time they were
+looking the situation squarely in the face.
+
+"It's all very funny," he said, "to think ourselves Crusoes, and feel
+that we are all right because we have a roof over us and a stove to
+keep warm by. But Crusoe didn't need a roof nor a stove, for he was in
+a warm climate; and he had goats and birds, and shell-fish along the
+rocks, and cocoanuts, and lots of other things. Crusoe was a king in
+his palace beside us."
+
+The circle of faces grew rather grave.
+
+"Here we are, in midwinter, on an island in a fresh-water lake--and
+not even water, but solid ice--where there are no oysters nor clams,
+no fruit-trees, and no animals--"
+
+"Except those dogs," Jim interrupted.
+
+"Even _they_ seem to have disappeared," Aleck went on; "and they are
+starved almost to skin and bone. If a pack of dogs can't get anything
+to eat, what are we four going to do? I tell you, it's a serious
+case."
+
+"Well," Tug rejoined, stoutly, "I, for one, don't give in yet. Look
+what we did out on the ice! We can fish, and trap snow-birds--I saw a
+flock last evening; and maybe we can find some mussels near the beach,
+and so stick it out till the ice breaks up and the birds begin to come
+in the spring."
+
+"Tug, you're a brick, and I was wrong to feel so lowspirited," said
+Aleck, heartily. "I think you're a better fellow to be captain here
+than I am. I resign."
+
+"Not by a long chalk!" exclaimed Tug. "Here, I'll put it to vote.
+Whoever wants Aleck to go out, and me to take my innings as captain,
+hold up his hand."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIV.
+
+THE WILD DOGS AGAIN.
+
+
+Aleck's hand alone was shown; and though he held both of his arms as
+high as he could, the other side had the majority, and would not
+accept his resignation.
+
+"Suppose we see just exactly what we have in the way of provisions,"
+Katy suggested. "It won't take long to make out the list," she added,
+with a grim little smile.
+
+They began at once, and the small housewife wrote down the list as
+fast as the stores were examined, guessing at the weights. There were
+found about eleven pounds of dried beef; bacon, one "side;" flour,
+about six pounds; corn-meal, ten pounds; beans, three pounds; coffee,
+two pounds; tea, a quarter of a pound; chocolate, half a cake; sugar,
+three pounds; small quantities of salt, pepper, soda, and so on; some
+crumbs of crackers and cookies in the bottom of a bag; a small piece
+of dried yeast; and a few swallows of the brandy that had been so
+useful at the time of Aleck's accident on the drifting ice.
+
+They had nearly all the bedding, cooking utensils, and tools with
+which they had started three weeks before; but the oil for their
+lantern and their matches were nearly used up or lost; their powder
+was low, for part of it had been spoiled by water; their clothes were
+badly worn; and their only canvas, since the loss of their tent, was
+the small "spare piece."
+
+"It's plain," said Aleck, as this overhauling was finished, "that we
+must put ourselves upon a regular allowance. The provisions won't last
+us a week unless we save them carefully."
+
+"And it's plain that we must raise some more, so I reckon I'd better
+get to work at bird-traps."
+
+"Yes, the sooner the better. As for me, I want to learn all I can
+about the island. There may be something of use to us at the other
+end, so I shall take a long walk, and see what I can find."
+
+"Mayn't I go with you?" Jim asked, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, Youngster, if you think you can stand it."
+
+"No trouble about that," replied the little fellow, courageously. He
+had grown very manly during the past month.
+
+The brothers started off, taking the gun with them, and saying that
+they would be back about three o'clock.
+
+As soon as they had gone Tug set about his traps in one corner of the
+house, behind the stove, while Katy went to work to make the hut a
+little more homelike.
+
+The cabin was about twelve feet square, and one side was the smooth
+face of a great rock, against which was heaped the rude chimney of mud
+and stones. In front of this the stove was placed, and behind it, on
+the side of the room farthest from the door, the fishermen had built a
+bunk.
+
+"You must call that your bedroom," Tug said, and he helped Katy to set
+up in front of it poles sustaining a curtain made of a shawl.
+
+"Now," said the lad, when this had been arranged, "you must have a
+mattress."
+
+So, taking the axe, he went out, and soon came back with a great
+armful of hemlock boughs, and then a second one, with which he heaped
+the bunk, laying them all very smoothly, and making a delightful bed.
+
+"I'm thinkin' we'll have to fix some more bunks for ourselves," said
+the boy, as he tried this springy couch. "That's a heap better 'n the
+soft side of a plank."
+
+Then with a hemlock broom Katy swept the floor, and spread down the
+canvas as a carpet. Finding in her little trunk some clothing wrapped
+in an old _Harper's Weekly_, she cut out the pictures and tacked them
+up, and finally she washed the grimy window to let more light in, so
+that the rough little house soon came to look quite warm and cosey.
+
+Meanwhile Tug, getting out his few tools, had made the triggers of
+half a dozen such box-traps as they had caught snow-birds with when
+living on the ice, and one other queer little arrangement, of sticks
+delicately balanced, an upright one in the middle bearing at its top a
+bit of red rag:
+
+"What in the world is _that_?" Katy inquired with much curiosity.
+
+"Oh, it's a bit of a contrivance to stand over a hole in the ice where
+I propose to place a 'set' line for fish--that is, you know, a line
+that I bait and leave set for a while, trusting to luck to catch
+something. The minute a fish gets the hook through his lips and begins
+to flop around, he will set this flag a-fluttering and so let me know
+it. I might make him ring a little bell if I had one."
+
+"I should say," Katy remarked laughingly, "that to make a captured and
+dying fish ring his own funeral knell was adding insult to injury."
+
+At length Tug pulled on his overcoat and announced that he was going
+to look for a good fishing-place.
+
+He was gone nearly an hour, during which Katy busied herself in
+mending her sadly torn dress, and in thinking. But the latter was by
+no means a pleasant occupation, and she was glad to see Tug come back,
+rubbing his ears, for the day was a cold one.
+
+"I think I have found a real likely place for fishing," he told her.
+"There is a little cove the other side of this thicket, with a marsh
+around it, and a pretty narrow entrance. I reckon the water's deep
+enough in there for fish to be skulking, and I dropped my line right
+in the middle. I set the traps near here, but didn't see any birds."
+
+"Do you think--" Katy stopped suddenly, laying one hand on Tug's arm,
+and holding up the other warningly, while her face grew pale. Rex, who
+had been lying by the stove quietly licking his injured paw, rose up
+and growled deeply.
+
+"There! Did you not hear it?"
+
+"I did. It's them pesky dogs," cried Tug, and hurried to the window,
+while Rex began to bark furiously. "There are the boys on the hill
+backing down, and two--no, three--dogs following them. Where's that
+axe? I'll fix 'em!"
+
+And before Katy could quite understand what was the matter, the boy
+had burst out, and was tearing up the hill to the support of his
+friends. Rex wanted to go too, but Katy held him fast, as she stood
+watching the boys flourishing their weapons, and frightening the dogs
+back, while they slowly retreated. As they came nearer to the house
+the animals ceased pursuing, and relieved their disappointment by
+savage barks and prolonged howls.
+
+"Well," exclaimed Tug, in the country speech he always used when
+excited, "I allow them curs are the most or'nary critters I ever
+see!"
+
+"They followed us all the way from the other side of the neck," said
+Jim, dropping limp into a broken-legged chair, which tumbled him over
+backward.
+
+"Where did you go, and what did you see?" was Katy's anxious question,
+choking down her laughter at the plaintive Youngster's accident.
+
+Aleck then told them that from the highest point of the hill he could
+study the whole island, which was everywhere surrounded by ice, and
+that eastward he could see what he thought was another island several
+miles away; but that to the southward it was too misty for a long
+sight. Going on down the hill, they crossed a neck or isthmus of sand
+and rocks between two marshy bays, and entered some woods, which
+seemed to cover pretty much all the rest of the island. Pushing
+through this, and gathering a good many dried grapes, which were worth
+a hungry man's attention if he had plenty of time, they reached the
+shore somewhere near the farther end of the island without finding any
+signs that anybody had ever been there before. On the shore, however,
+by a cove, they found a tumbled-down shanty, and a little clearing
+where once had been a camp. They were going on still farther, when
+suddenly they were attacked by the three dogs, and thought it best to
+retreat. The dogs followed, and they had to fight them off all the
+way.
+
+"One of them was a giant of a mastiff," said Aleck, "and we were
+more afraid of him than of the smaller ones, which seemed to be two
+well-grown pups. I think these dogs must have been left here last
+summer by somebody. There seems to be four of them altogether--two old
+ones and two young ones--though we have never seen more than three at
+once. How they have managed to live beats me. I don't see anything for
+them to eat. I wish you had some bullets, Tug. We never can hurt 'em
+much with small shot."
+
+[Illustration: ATTACKED BY THE DOGS.]
+
+"They'll steal everything from the traps, too," Jim piped in. "By the
+way, Tug, have you set any yet?"
+
+Then Tug told what he had been doing, and said he must go before it
+became dark and see if anything had been taken. So, wrapping himself
+up, he took the gun and went off, while Aleck and Jim gathered a
+supply of wood for the night, and Katy began to get supper. By the
+time this was ready, and the red glare of a threatening sunset had
+tinged the snow and suffused the clouds with crimson, Tug came back,
+bringing nothing at all. It was not a very merry party, therefore,
+that sat around the table that evening listening to the doleful cries
+of the outcast dogs, which still kept watch on the hillside.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXV.
+
+THE PERILS OF A MIDNIGHT SEARCH.
+
+
+The next morning snow was falling, and the wind was blowing furiously.
+
+"This ought to bring us some small birds, and maybe an owl or two,"
+said Tug, as he watched the dense clouds of snow hurled along from the
+northern waste of ice.
+
+"Do you think you would dare to go out to the traps, or could find
+them in this gale?" Aleck asked.
+
+"I reckon so; and while I'm gone you take the gun and see if you can't
+find snow-birds among the hemlocks."
+
+"What'll you do if those dogs get after you? They're perfectly savage
+with hunger. It don't take much wildness or long famine to turn a dog
+back to a wolf, and we've got to look out for these curs as if they
+were wild beasts."
+
+"You're right," Tug assented. "But I hardly think they'll be out on
+the ice in this storm; you are more likely to meet them in the woods.
+At any rate, we must have something to eat, and it's my business to
+tend those traps, wolves or no wolves. If I go under, why, there's one
+less mouth to feed."
+
+So Tug and Aleck went away into the storm, one out upon the wide white
+desert, the other wading up the drifted slopes to the woods.
+
+Katy and Jim stayed at home, sitting comfortably in the house. She was
+reading aloud from an old newspaper they had found lying in a corner,
+when there came plainly to her ears the twittering of small birds.
+
+"Listen, Jimkin. Did you hear that?"
+
+"Snow-birds!" the boy exclaimed. "Right on the roof, too, and nary a
+trap!"
+
+"Let us go out," said Katy, eagerly. "Perhaps we could catch one or
+two somehow."
+
+So they crept out, and saw that the thick hemlock growing beside the
+big rock was covered with small birds. Some were hiding away from the
+"cauld blast" in the nooks between the dense branches; some were
+hanging upon the little cones, swinging and clinging like acrobats;
+some were taking short flights through the smoke to warm their toes,
+or sitting on the bare rock near the top of the chimney. They were of
+two kinds, but all equally happy and unconcerned.
+
+"If I only had the gun I could knock over about twenty at once," Jim
+whispered. "I believe I could even kill a lot with my pea-shooter."
+
+"Could you? Well, Jimkin, I've got some strong rubber cord in my
+trunk, and you might make one of those horrid forked-stick things."
+
+"That's a splendid idea, Katy. Get your rubber, and I'll cut a stick.
+Hurry up!"
+
+Ten minutes afterwards the weapon was ready. But now it occurred to
+Jim that he had no "peas" for his "shooter." So he and Katy both
+hurried down to where they knew there was a bit of beach not covered
+by ice. They scraped away the new snow, and raked up double handfuls
+of small pebbles.
+
+Jim's hands grew so cold during this operation that he had to go in
+and warm them before he could handle his "rubber gun." But the birds
+still stayed in the trees, as is their custom when a heavy snow-storm
+is raging, and the excited young hunter waited only long enough to get
+the stiffest of his fingers into decent shape.
+
+Creeping around to the rear side of the rock, he climbed slowly up
+until he could peer over the edge, and found himself not more than a
+dozen feet away from the little feathered group sitting by the
+chimney-top. Taking the best of aim, and pulling the rubber as far
+back as it would go, he let fly, and one of the largest of the birds
+tumbled over the edge. The boy had hard work to refrain from shouting
+with pride at this early success, though he wasn't sure he had killed
+the bird.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVI.
+
+FINDING SNOW-BIRDS AND LOSING THE CAPTAIN.
+
+
+Jim knew he must keep quiet, so he stood like a statue, trying to
+forget his stinging ears, until the flock had recovered from its
+surprise, when he knocked over a second bird.
+
+It was slow and very cold work, but the boy stuck to it bravely until
+his fingers became so stiff that he could not manage his little
+weapon, and then he crept down to the stove, to dance about and wring
+his hands with pain as the heat of the room set them aching.
+
+As soon as possible he went out again--missed twice and hit once. Just
+as he was taking aim a fourth time his foot slipped, and he tumbled
+backwards, followed by a small avalanche, which half buried him at the
+foot of the rock. When he picked himself up, every feather had
+disappeared.
+
+Running round to the front, he found two dead birds and three wounded
+ones, whose necks were speedily wrung. Never was a boy prouder than
+this young sportsman, as he laid his trophies in a row and admired
+them.
+
+"What a delicious broth they will make!" cried Katy, who longed to
+taste something really good.
+
+"I'm hungry enough to eat 'em raw, like an Indian. Oh, Tug, look what
+I've shot!" Jim added, as his friend opened the door and stood shaking
+off the snow.
+
+"Good for you! I've got nothin' 'cept a mighty good appetite. Why,
+they're cross-bills and red-polls!"
+
+"What are _they_?"
+
+"Birds that come down in winter from away up north. This little
+streaked sparrow-like fellow, with the rosy breast and the red cap, is
+the red-poll; they say he never breeds south of Greenland. Now look at
+these larger ones--see how strong the bills are, and how their points
+cross! That's so they can twist the hard scales off the cones and get
+at the seeds."
+
+"Yes," said Jim; "they were hanging upside down and every way on the
+cones, and I could hardly see them to take aim."
+
+"That's 'cause their plumage is such a vague sort of red and green, so
+near the color of the leaves and scales on those evergreen trees. The
+hawks and owls can't see 'em, either, half as well as if they were
+bright, and that's where the little fellows have the advantage of
+their big enemies. Did you notice any other kinds?"
+
+"There was one different one, a little larger than any of these, that
+I caught a glimpse of--it was green, just like the hemlock leaves, and
+kept inside out of the storm--"
+
+"Like a sensible bird, eh? Correct! I guess he was a pine grosbeak."
+
+"That means 'pine _big_beak' doesn't it? It ought to, for this fellow
+had a beak twice as thick as any bird I ever saw, except a cardinal
+from South Carolina that a man had in a cage last summer. Do you think
+they'll come back?"
+
+"I reckon so. None of these winter birds are shy--lucky for us! and I
+think the shelter of these trees and the warmth of our smoke will
+fetch 'em, especially if we scatter some crumbs out on the roof."
+
+"But we have none to scatter," Katy protested.
+
+All three then went to work picking the birds, whose bodies looked
+surprisingly small after their puffy coats had been taken off. "See
+what a warm undershirt of down this one wears at the roots of his
+feathers!" Tug pointed out, holding up a red-poll.
+
+"Wish I were a bird," said Jimmy; "I'd get out o' this in no time."
+
+"Perhaps if you were, this would be the very place you would most want
+to come to and stay in," Katy remarked, "just as these poor little
+things did. The 'if' makes a lot of difference, Master Jim."
+
+By this time it began to grow dusk, and though the snow was falling as
+fast as ever, the air had grown much warmer, as though the storm would
+end in rain. Aleck had not come yet, and the three, in their snug
+house, looking out upon the deep drifts and the clouded air, and
+listening to the melancholy sound of the wind in the trees, became
+more and more anxious for his appearance.
+
+When it had grown quite dark, and the broth Katy had made was ready,
+together with cakes of corn-meal, and tea, or, rather, hot water
+flavored with tea and sugar--the best meal they had seen for many a
+day--Tug said that if the Captain did not come before they got through
+eating he would go and look for him. So they tried to keep up each
+other's spirits; but when the meal was done, and still no brother
+appeared, all their merriment faded.
+
+"Jim and Rex ought both to go with you, Tug; and you must take along
+the lantern, and these extra corn cakes I have baked, and some
+bacon--"
+
+"The bacon's raw," Jim protested.
+
+"Well, stupid, you could fry it over some coals on the end of a stick,
+couldn't you?" exclaimed Tug, impatiently. He was getting very tired
+of Jim's constant objections.
+
+"And you must take this little bit of brandy, because you know, he
+might--might be--"
+
+"Now, Katy, dear Katy," said Tug, his own eyes moist, as he threw his
+arm around the shoulders of the girl, who had broken down at last, and
+was crying bitterly. "Don't cry, Katy. If _you_ give in, what are
+we goin' to do? You are the life of the party, and there ain't nothin'
+we wouldn't any of us--and specially me--do for you. Really now,
+Katy--Here, you young cub, what are _you_ bellerin' about? If I catch
+you crying round here again, discouragin' your sister in this style,
+I'll thrash you well!"
+
+[Illustration: "DON'T CRY, KATY!"]
+
+Tug was thoroughly excited and distressed by this last and heaviest
+trouble, and most anxious of all to make the rest believe he wasn't
+anxious. As usual, when excited, he dropped into the slang he had been
+striving to forget. But this added force to his speeches, for when it
+occurred everybody understood that he was very much in earnest.
+
+"I knew a young fellow," Tug himself used to say, when laughed at for
+this peculiarity, "whose father was a Dutchman, but who could never be
+persuaded to learn that language. 'Why not?' we used to ask him.
+'Well, fellows,' he would say, 'my daddy talks English till he catches
+me up to some mischief; then he begins to talk Dutch, and goes for his
+whip; so I've got a terrible distaste for Dutch.' It's with me as it
+was with that man. When I am mad, or mean business, I'm pretty likely
+to talk in the 'Dutch' I learned when I was a boy."
+
+The two boys and the dog--for Rex had nursed his foot until it was of
+use to him again, protected by bandages--bundled themselves up, took
+the lantern, the hatchet, and luncheon, and started out. Katy said
+she should not be a bit afraid, and would keep up a good fire. As they
+disappeared, letting in a flurry of snow before they could shut the
+door, she dropped into a seat (if truth must be told) to finish her
+crying. Let her do it, poor girl!--few of her associates, or yours, my
+pretty maiden, ever had better cause. We will flounder along with Tug
+and Jim, who are bowing their faces to the storm, and toiling up the
+dark and treacherous hillside.
+
+When the top of the ridge had been gained they paused to get breath
+and to shout Aleck's name. No reply came, and they pushed on down to
+the isthmus, where the snow, which was becoming more and more sleety,
+swept about their faces with double force. In a few moments, however,
+they reached the shelter of the woods, which covered pretty much the
+whole of that part of the island; and then came the question whether
+it would be better to work along the beach or plunge into the woods.
+
+There seemed very small chance of success, in the midst of this
+darkness and storm, either way, but they felt sure that some accident
+had happened to the Captain, and they were eager to help him. After
+talking it over, they decided upon the right-hand or southern shore of
+the island, because that was to leeward, and better sheltered, and
+marched on as rapidly as they could. They had no strength to talk,
+but hand-in-hand pushed ahead, stopping now and then to shout, but
+never getting an answer.
+
+"There's one good thing about this storm," Tug remarked, after a
+while, as they halted to rest in a sort of cleft in the rock. "Those
+confounded dogs will be likely to stay indoors and not bother us."
+
+"I wonder where they keep themselves at night?"
+
+"If our island is like the rest, this limestone rock is full of caves.
+There's no telling, for instance, how deep this here opening we're
+sitting in goes back; and in some of the Puddin' Bay [Put-in-Bay]
+islands big caves have been explored that people go away into to see
+the stalactites. There are plenty of rocky holes, therefore, where
+they could find good shelter and beds of leaves that the wind had
+blown in. But we must get out of this, Youngster."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVII.
+
+ANOTHER ENCOUNTER WITH THE WILD DOGS.
+
+
+They trudged slowly on again until they thought they must be close to
+the farther end of the island, when they found progress interrupted by
+a low headland of rocks partly covered by the brush of a fallen
+tree-top. In trying to get past it they became entangled in the
+branches, and Tug said he "'lowed they'd have to light the lantern."
+
+With great care, therefore--for matches were precious--this was done,
+and its rays at once showed them that they were not the first persons
+who had been there that night. Branches were freshly broken, and the
+snow was trampled. They set up a combined shout (and bark) as soon as
+this was perceived, but nothing came back except the dull echo of
+their voices and the rustle of the sleet and snow among the leafless
+and dripping branches.
+
+"Well," said Tug, when he realized this, "our cue is to follow the
+tracks anyhow."
+
+Crushing through the branches, they saw that the tracks, which had
+approached from the other side of the rocks and brush, led them to
+the trunk of the tree, and that then Aleck (if, indeed, it were he who
+had made them) had walked along the trunk towards its roots. Of course
+they followed, Tug going ahead with the lantern; but when they arrived
+at the great base of upturned roots they could not see where Aleck had
+leaped off, or that he had leaped off at all. On one side the snow lay
+smooth and untouched; on the other, close under and around the mass of
+dead roots, was a little thicket of low bushes and a shoulder of black
+rock. Beyond these the snow had not been disturbed.
+
+This was very mysterious, and chilled their hearts with a nameless
+fear. They came close together on the high log, and talked almost in
+whispers. Jim held Tug's arm with both hands, and trembled so that his
+teeth chattered, and the tears rolled down his cheeks; while Tug
+himself, old and brave and strong as he was, was so scared (as he
+often said afterwards) that every creak and moan of the laboring,
+ice-coated trees seemed a frightful voice, and all the flitting lights
+and shadows cast by their lantern among the dark trunks and swaying
+hemlock branches took on shapes that it chilled his blood to look at.
+Even Rex seemed to catch the panic, and cowered at their feet with
+bristling hair.
+
+There had been only a moment of this helpless, causeless terror--and
+no doubt they would quickly have thrown it off--when they were roused
+by a real danger, which they knew in an instant. All ghosts and
+goblins, forms and voices, vanished at once, for they heard the
+wolfish howl of the dreaded dogs.
+
+"Only mastiffs or hounds," you may exclaim, "such as we pass on the
+street every day, and babies play with, rolling over and on them
+unharmed!"
+
+Very true; but these dogs had become savage again by their wild life;
+and no traveller in his sledge on the steppes of Siberia, or postman
+belated in the Black Forest at New Year, was ever in more danger from
+wolves than were these two lads from the dogs, if the animals chose to
+attack them. Perhaps they had not yet been quite long enough in the
+wilderness to have overcome their once well-learned fear of men, and
+so would hesitate to attack, in open fight, the beings that heretofore
+had been their masters; but this was all the hope the boys could have.
+
+"The dogs!" cried Jim, in a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Yes," said Tug, through his teeth. "Here! give me the lantern, quick:
+we must have a fire."
+
+The tangle of dead roots was quite dry, and kindled easily when the
+lantern-candle was held against it, so that it was scarcely a minute
+before a bright blaze was crackling.
+
+That moment had been enough, however, for the near approach of the
+dogs, as they knew by the increasing loudness of their cries, to
+which Rex bravely responded; and it was not long before they heard
+them crashing through the underbrush, and saw their eyes--fiery pairs
+of dots which reflected the firelight in flashes of green or
+red--though the forms of the savage animals were hidden in the gloom.
+
+Tug had hastily lopped off a young sapling and trimmed it into a long,
+rough club, which he now held in the fire, in hope that the green wood
+would get hardened, or perhaps even ablaze. Jimmy clutched the hatchet
+tightly in his right hand, and his open jackknife in his left, while
+Rex bristled and barked. All the goblin fright had vanished, and the
+boys no longer trembled because sleet and wind made uncanny noises, or
+the firelight seemed to summon eldritch forms from the aisles of
+darkness between the hemlocks.
+
+There seemed to be three of the fierce brutes, and they stopped as
+they came in sight of the fire and the group ready to receive them;
+but after a short pause the largest dog, with a tremendous bark,
+rushed forward, the others following savagely at his heels. Rex was
+crouching and ready, so that before either of the boys could seize his
+collar he had sprung to meet his foes, and had gone down under their
+combined weight.
+
+It was one of the strangest dog-fights known to history, and had the
+strangest end. In his broad collar, his long hair, and his greater
+health the Newfoundland had the advantage; but he was one and his foes
+were three, and they had no chivalrous ideas of fairness or mercy in a
+fight, but were savages, bent not only upon the death of their victim,
+but upon tearing him in pieces and devouring him afterwards.
+
+No sooner did Tug see Rex leap, and perceive the charge upon him, than
+he shouted "Give it to 'em!" and sprang into the snow, punching the
+nearest brute, bayonet fashion, with the hot tip of his sapling spear,
+while Jim got in at least one good blow with his hatchet. It sank
+almost to the haft in the neck of one of the youngest dogs, and he
+dropped dead with scarcely a shudder.
+
+Meeting this unexpected resistance, so determined, fiery (Tug's
+sapling bore a little streamer of flame, like the banner on the head
+of a Cossack's lance), and so fatal to one of their number, the two
+remaining dogs were abashed, and let go of Rex, intending to fight
+with their human assailants. But they had no time to make the change.
+Seeing that he must follow up his advantage, Tug charged again, and
+fairly put the startled brutes to flight by the combined force of his
+yells and his blazing bayonet, backed by Jim and his terrible hatchet.
+
+When the boys saw that the dogs had really run away, they turned to
+look after their own brave ally, but he was nowhere to be seen, though
+the blazing stump lit up the whole scene of the battle.
+
+"Why, where's Rex?" they asked one another, and called and whistled.
+Could he have fled into the forest? Impossible. Hark! was not that a
+faint whine?--and another?
+
+"Do you think he can be dying, and has hid himself in the brush?"
+asked Jim. "They say wounded animals do do that."
+
+"Looks like it," Tug admitted. "Here, _Rex_!"
+
+A more distinct yelp, as though the dog was in pain, came to their
+ears, and they began to search in all the shadowy places.
+
+"Poke up the fire a bit, Jimmy--let's have a little more light."
+
+Jim hastened to follow out this suggestion, and in doing so entered
+the little thicket which I have mentioned between the shoulder of rock
+and the log. Suddenly he pitched almost headlong into a dark hollow.
+He drew back hastily, but as he did so, parting the bushes, he heard
+Rex's yelping come plainly up, as though from beneath the sod.
+
+"Hello! Rex has fallen down a hole," he exclaimed. "Come here, Tug!"
+
+Sure enough, there was the mouth of a pit, how deep they could not
+tell, though they could see the Newfoundland's eyes shining at what
+did not seem so very great a distance.
+
+"Why, Rex, old fellow, are you hurt?" they called out; and the dog
+answered by a short bark, which ended in a pitiful whine of pain.
+
+"Get the lantern, Jim; we must try to see what kind of a place this
+is; and look out where you step. This is a cave country, as I told you
+awhile ago. You may fall through 'most anywhere in this darkness."
+
+The lantern was brought, and tied on the end of a pole, with a
+handkerchief. Rex began to utter a series of peculiarly short, sharp
+barks when he saw the light descending, and they knew he was dancing
+about by the way his eyes moved.
+
+When about twelve feet of the pole had been lowered the lantern
+rested, and they knew the bottom had been reached. By its faint glow
+Rex could be seen standing on his legs, apparently not much hurt.
+
+"There's something else down there that Rex seems to bother himself
+about a good deal," reported Jim, who was lying down and peering over
+the edge. "Move the lantern this way a little. It looks--Oh, Tug, it's
+a man!--it's Aleck, and he's dead!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVIII.
+
+THE ACCIDENT EXPLAINED.
+
+
+How to get down into the pit was now the great question. Guided by the
+light of the fire, steadily eating its way into the butt of the log in
+spite of the storm, they cut down a small tree and lopped off its
+branches in such a way as to make a rude ladder. Though they were in
+so great a hurry, this was slow work with their dull hatchet. Lowering
+it carefully into the pit until its end rested firmly, Jim held the
+top, while Tug went down, took the lantern, and approached the
+motionless form, whose face Rex was licking. The instant the light
+fell upon the face he saw that it was the Captain's.
+
+"It _is_ Aleck!" he called out. "Come down."
+
+"Is he dead?" asked Jim, as he scrambled down the break-neck ladder.
+
+"No," said Tug, who was kneeling by the lad's side. "His face is warm,
+and I can feel his heart beat. He's only stunned. Where's that brandy
+Katy sent?"
+
+"It's in my overcoat pocket up on the ground--I'll get it." And Jim
+scrambled up the hemlock trunk, fearless of a tumble.
+
+"Now pour a few drops between his lips," said Tug, when the boy had
+got back, at the same time lifting Aleck's head upon his knee. "Oh, if
+only we had some water! Get out!"
+
+This last was addressed to Rex, who was in the way; but it also
+answered the boy's prayer, for, in starting back, the dog stepped into
+a pool of water that lay upon the bottom of the cave. So crystal clear
+and quiet was this little pool in the lone and silent chamber of rock,
+that even when they knew it was there, and were dipping the water up
+with their hats, they could not tell by lantern-light where its edge
+was, or how near were their hands to the surface before they felt its
+icy chill against their knuckles.
+
+The dashing of this cold, pure water upon his face, and a few drops of
+the spirits, served to awaken Aleck very speedily, though at first his
+ideas were much confused.
+
+"Where am I?" was his first utterance, as it has been that of
+thousands of others in like case; and several minutes passed before he
+was able to sit up and talk to them.
+
+"I suppose--you fellows--" he began to say, presently, in a stammering
+sort of way, "would like--to know--what I'm doing--down here."
+
+"Well, Captain," said Tug, who would have liked to dance a jig, but
+was afraid to, and could only hug the dog to express his joy--"well,
+Captain, we don't want to be impertinent, Jim and me, nor what you
+might call _inquisitive_, in regard to what ain't none o' our
+business; and we hope we're not intrudin' on you here; but if you are
+willing to explain one or two matters, we'd be glad to listen."
+
+[Illustration: "'IS HE DEAD?' ASKED JIM."]
+
+"Why, I--got so tired--tramping round in the storm--that when I got to
+that brush-heap--and rocks--out there, I thought--I thought--I'd go up
+in the woods--and camp. So I came up along that big log, and stepped
+off--and that's the last I remember. But I know I've a frightful
+headache, and I wish I was home."
+
+Home! Where? In Monore? That roof was sheltering other heads. In
+Cleveland? That seemed farther away than ever. The fisherman's
+cottage? Ah, Katy would make _that_ a home to the wounded lad, if only
+they could get him there!
+
+"Do you think you could walk?" Tug asked, anxiously.
+
+"Yes, if I was out of this, and could get warm."
+
+"Well, there is a fire up there, and this ladder is not long. Drink
+the rest of this brandy: I know you hate it, but it's only a trifle,
+and it will give you strength for your climb; and then you can rest a
+bit, while we get the dog out. Here, Rex!"
+
+To do this, Tug went half-way up the ladder, and Jim handed up their
+shaggy companion, after which Tug lifted him to where he could
+scramble out.
+
+Then Aleck, by slow stages and with much help, reached the top, and
+was wrapped in overcoats, while he sat by the fire until his
+chilliness was gone, and he had eaten some of the food Katy had sent.
+This done, he felt able to begin his journey homeward. Meanwhile, Tug
+went into the pit to bring out Aleck's gun and the lantern. Standing
+on the brink of the black water, he tossed a pebble, but failed to
+strike the opposite wall. Then he hurled another with all his
+strength, and, after a time, heard it splash in the water. How far
+away lay the other end of the cave, or to what depths underneath this
+cavern-lake the cave-floor descended, he never knew. He realized how
+narrow had been the escape of all, and the strange coincidence by
+which they had been led to this spot, and had discovered the hidden
+mouth of the pit; and he thanked God, who had preserved their lives.
+
+The dull gray of the dawn was lighting up the driving rain, the slushy
+snow, and the drenched and dripping trees, when the weary boys,
+supporting their almost worn-out leader, crept down the rough hill,
+and approached the little cottage. Katy had seen them coming, and
+stood waiting in the door, looking herself as though she had not slept
+much that sad night.
+
+"Oh, Aleck!" was all she could say, as she threw her arms around her
+brother's neck, "must you always be the one to get hurt for us?"
+
+"I hope not, sis," he said, with a smile, and sank, exhausted, into a
+bunk.
+
+Then with quiet swiftness the girl heated water, washed the wounds in
+Aleck's head, and hastened to boil the corn-meal mush and the coffee,
+which formed the best breakfast she was able to give. Meanwhile she
+told how she had passed the night, making her story so bright, and
+bustling about so cheerily, that she did more to restore the tired
+boys than, in her absence, all their pulling off of soaked boots and
+stretching upon soft mattresses of springy boughs would have done.
+
+"After waiting a long, long time--it must have been until after
+midnight," Katy began the story of her night, "I had dropped asleep in
+my chair before the fire, when I was waked up by something scratching
+at the door. I knew in a minute it was those dreadful dogs, and I was
+awfully scared."
+
+"After we beat them off they must have come directly here," Tug
+remarked. "Were there more than two?"
+
+"No, but two were quite enough," Katy replied; and then continued her
+narrative:
+
+"I should have liked to have got under the bed, only there wasn't any
+bed, and so I--what do you suppose?--I got the butcher-knife and a big
+stick, and climbed up into the top berth. They growled and grumbled
+around the door, and scratched and butted at it, and every little
+while one or both of them would stand upon their hind-legs and look in
+at the window with their horrible green eyes. Ugh! I don't want to go
+through another such a night!"
+
+"Nor I!" exclaimed all three of her listeners, in chorus, each
+thinking of his own separate experience.
+
+"Passed unanimously!" cried Katy. "Now come to breakfast."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIX.
+
+DECIDING UPON A NEW MOVE.
+
+
+The warm rain continued all that day and the next night, while the
+boys rested, except that Tug went to his set-lines and brought back a
+fine pike of about six pounds' weight, which gave them a good dinner.
+By the next morning the snow had nearly all melted away, and the sun
+shone warm, while great glistening pools of water lay spread out upon
+the ice. It was evident that the long-delayed January thaw had come at
+last.
+
+The disappearance of the snow brought several things to light that
+they had not seen before. Bits of iron and general rubbish appeared
+about the door. A heap of snow which they had thought concealed a
+bowlder, exposed by its melting an old flat-bottomed skiff, turned
+upside down, and under it lay a torn sail, with its mast. Behind the
+house Tug found several articles he thought "might come handy;" among
+the rest a short piece of lead pipe, which he seized upon at once.
+Then, while Aleck and Jimmy walked out to look at the traps, Tug built
+a hot fire, and went to work at making bullets of the lead. He melted
+his old pipe in a piece of tin, which he had hammered into a spoon,
+and dropped the molten metal into cold water. The bullets, or shot,
+were not all of the same size, and were more pear-shaped than round;
+but by whittling and hammering they did very well, and in two hours he
+had a handful.
+
+"Now," said he, with a vengeful tone in his voice, "just let me get a
+shot at those or'nary curs!"
+
+Later, Aleck came back, reporting no birds, but bringing a small
+pickerel.
+
+"But I saw another flock of cross-bills, and I'm going to take my
+'pitchfork' and go after them," Jimmy added, eagerly; and at once went
+out, while Katy put on her hat and started for a short walk.
+
+"Aleck," said Tug, when they were alone, "I have wanted a good chance
+to talk with you about the fix we're in. I feel sure that, snug as we
+are, it's no good to stay here."
+
+"How are we going to get away? Our boat is useless for ice travel, now
+that the sledge is gone, even if we save her in decent condition,
+which we must see about this afternoon."
+
+"I have been looking at that little scow down on the shore. She is big
+enough to carry us in water, and I believe we could put a couple of
+low runners on her bottom, so as to move over an ice-field. Come with
+me and have a look at her."
+
+So the two lads went down to the old boat, and looked her carefully
+over, discussing all the repairs she would need, and how they could be
+made.
+
+"But why don't you think we could stay here longer?" Aleck asked,
+after a time.
+
+"Because," his companion replied, "we have almost no ammunition and
+almost no fishing-tackle. In a week from now we should have to live
+wholly on what we could catch in fishing and by traps, and we get so
+little now that I think it foolish to risk it if we can get a chance
+to escape. I reckon it'll freeze up hard again in a few days, but for
+the last time this winter. Probably the ice'll break up so badly next
+time it thaws that we couldn't sledge on it; and after that, you know,
+come the long, stormy months of spring, when, if we tried sailing, our
+boat wouldn't keep afloat with four people in it during a journey
+across the lake. If we can't get away over the ice before the next
+break-up, I believe we're goners."
+
+"It can't be very far to the mainland; but the weather has always been
+so thick I never could see far southward," Aleck remarked.
+
+"It's clear to-day," said Tug. "Let's go and take a look."
+
+Inspired with hope, the two comrades, forgetful of everything else,
+hastened up the hillside, and soon reached the pinnacle of rocks that
+formed their lookout.
+
+The air was clear, the sky cloudless, and the first glance southward
+showed them, faint upon the low horizon, yet distinct enough to be
+unmistakable, the long, dark line of the mainland. Between them and it
+all lay white, mixed with blue--a plain of ice covered with thin
+patches of rain-water. They could not see more than eight or ten
+miles; but in no direction except on the northern horizon (towards the
+centre of the lake) was there any sign of open water. They hoped, and
+this helped them to believe, that between them and the shore lay an
+unbroken plain of ice.
+
+"If that is so," said Aleck, "and it will only come on cold before it
+snows, we could skate right across."
+
+"Take us a couple of days, you'll find," Tug replied.
+
+"Pshaw! it can't be more than twenty miles."
+
+"Yes, but we're not so strong as we were when we started. We've none
+of us really had a square meal for a fortnight, and some of us have
+been knocked on the head, you know, and that don't help a man any."
+
+"At any rate, it will be best to get ready right away."
+
+"That's my ticket," Tug replied. "By the way, can we see the _Red
+Erik_? Oh, yes, there she is--all right, I reckon."
+
+"Yes, she appears to be."
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXX.
+
+KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS.
+
+
+When half-way down the hill on their return they saw Katy, who had
+been at the beach, wave her handkerchief, and turn to come and meet
+them. At the same instant they caught sight of wolfish figures
+stealing along among the rocks and bushes at the base.
+
+"The wild dogs!" both exclaimed, in the same breath, and both felt
+their blood stop flowing for an instant, for in a minute or two more
+Katy would meet the brutes, and she must do so before they could get
+there to help her. They shouted to her, as they hurried at
+neck-breaking speed down the rough ledges; but she did not hear or did
+not understand them, and then they lost sight of both her and the dogs
+behind some bushes. A moment later they saw her again, but with what
+surprise!
+
+The girl stood in the middle of a smooth, grassy plat, facing the
+three dogs, which were gathered in a group, the father of the family
+in front, and only a few feet from her. All were silent, and the big
+one was stretching his neck forward, as if debating whether he dared
+lead his mate and the pup any closer. Katy caught a glimpse of the
+boys, and quickly raised her right hand, as though signing to them not
+to advance; but she never took her eye off the animals, nor ceased to
+speak to them in coaxing tones, while she held out her left hand
+beckoning them to come nearer. Thus far this had had no effect. The
+big leader could not make up his mind to trust her, though as yet he
+showed no disposition to attack.
+
+"What shall we do?" Aleck whispered to Tug, in an agony of suspense.
+"She can't keep that up long. Let us rush in."
+
+"All right," Tug whispered back; "but we must get a stone or a club!
+'Twon't do to go at 'em naked-handed."
+
+Clubs were not handy, but each took heavy stones in both hands, and
+began a stealthy advance. At that same instant they saw the foremost
+dog begin to wag his tail slowly, while, one by one, as it were, the
+hairs upon the back of his neck were lowered. The lads halted, and
+watched the scene with astonishment and anxiety. Katy still spoke
+coaxingly, and at last took a gentle step forward. The dog, though
+suspicious, still wagged his tail. She quietly walked backward three
+or four steps, and sat down upon a bowlder--an act which the lesser
+dogs behind at once imitated. "Good dog! fine fellow! come here; come,
+Tiger," she said, over and over, changing the name every time in
+hopes of hitting some one that might have been this mastiff's before
+he was an outcast. Finally, as she sat there with her eyes steadily on
+his, and beginning to feel very tired, the animal's big square face
+suggested a picture she had seen of a German prince, just then
+beginning to become famous.
+
+"Why, Bismarck!" she called out, in confident tones, "don't you know
+me? and don't you want a bone? Good old Bismarck!"
+
+She knew instantly that she had hit it. The dog dropped his ears and
+hung his head, walked slowly up, and laid his great muzzle, big as a
+tiger's almost, in her lap, while slowly and suspiciously his
+followers came nearer and nearer to her by slow advances.
+
+"Well, I vum!" muttered Tug, in utter amazement, while Aleck was too
+astounded to say even that much. "I'm 'fraid we shall spoil that very
+pretty tea-party unless we sneak home another way; and I 'low two or
+three bullets in the gun would do no harm."
+
+But their first movement was heard. The mastiff lifted his head,
+erected his mane, and with a hoarse growl sprang towards the lads.
+Katy was terribly frightened, but kept her presence of mind.
+
+"Bismarck!" she commanded sternly, "keep quiet! come back here, sir!"
+and the great dog, growling and showing his teeth, stopped his
+course, and slowly returned to his mistress.
+
+"Boys," the girl called out, when she saw this, "go right along, and
+pay no attention to the dogs. When I see you safely near the house
+I'll come. Don't be alarmed for me."
+
+"Come on, Tug," said Aleck; "the sister knows best."
+
+Just before they reached the door they turned and saw her walking
+slowly towards them, the huge, lean father-mastiff close by her side,
+quiet and submissive, and the mother of the wild crew following tamely
+in his footsteps; while the whelp, that had never known, as the older
+dogs had, what it was to have a human master, straggled along behind,
+apparently in great doubt whether his respected parents had not lost
+their senses.
+
+Tug hastily entered the house, and quickly appeared at the window with
+his gun at his shoulder, ready to shoot if the mastiff showed any
+signs of treachery; but he did nothing of the sort. Forty yards or so
+from the house, however, he declined to go any farther, and Katy,
+without once looking round, walked steadily on to the door, where her
+brother caught her in his arms, almost at the point of fainting, for
+the strain upon her nerves had nearly exhausted her strength.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXI.
+
+ABANDONING THE ISLAND.
+
+
+After luncheon the three boys went over to inspect their old boat, and
+came back towards evening, bringing the oars, some straps of iron that
+had guarded her keel, the drag-ropes, and one or two other things.
+They had succeeded in pulling the boat ashore, but she had been too
+badly damaged to be of any further use to them.
+
+Three days were now occupied busily in shooting, fishing, and putting
+runners on the scow. These runners were simply strips of board (which
+they had taken from the house) about four inches wide and fourteen
+feet long--the length of the boat's bottom. With the iron from the
+sled runners and from their own boat they shod these boat runners
+rudely, and strengthened the frame.
+
+During this time the dogs had been almost always within sight, and
+their near approach during the night would frequently awaken the
+sleepers in the cabin, Rex quickest, of course. Katy was sure that if
+the animals could have been fed they would speedily have become
+docile; and when Tug proposed to shoot them for food, everybody
+resisted, at least, until they should be in a worse strait than now.
+Nevertheless it was probably fortunate for the mastiff family that it
+kept out of gun-range.
+
+The next and last day of their stay on the island was very cold, and a
+heavy wind brought hosts of birds, so that they captured twenty
+snow-flakes, and shot over thirty cross-bills, red-polls, and other
+small fry, which were placed on the roof as fast as obtained, where
+they froze solid, and thus kept fresh. This made Katy the most happy
+of all, for she alone knew that everything was gone except about two
+messes of coffee and one potful of corn-meal mush.
+
+"Now, if only we could catch a big fish, we should be fixed grandly,"
+said Jim, as he went out to look at and bring home the lines. When he
+came back, however, he wore the long face and empty hands of
+disappointment, but left one line in hope of taking something during
+the night.
+
+At sunset the gale went down, the stars glistened like gems, and the
+frost showed no signs of ceasing. By the light of a great fire of
+drift-wood on the beach the little scow was partly loaded, and then
+all hands went for the last time to their mattresses of hemlock
+boughs. What was ahead they had little notion, but they were now used
+to peril, and eager to begin their journey, not only because each one
+felt that he could scarcely be worse off, but from the excitement of
+commencing new adventures.
+
+[Illustration: REPAIRING THE OLD SCOW.]
+
+The morning of departure dawned clear and cold, continuing the
+promises of good weather.
+
+Jim's early visit to his set-line next morning yielded him one small
+pickerel, while the traps gave a solitary snow-bird. These, with some
+other feathered mites, Katy cooked, while Aleck and Tug finished the
+packing. It was not a bad breakfast, you may think, for shipwrecked
+persons, but try it once for yourself--fish fried in bacon grease,
+some fragments of stewed snow-bird, and weak coffee. No bread, no
+butter, no potatoes, no green relish, no hot cakes, no anything except
+pickerel and weak coffee. But they thought it the best meal they had
+had on the island; and after a hasty washing and stowing of dishes
+they buckled on their skates, took their familiar places at the
+drag-ropes, and with a cheer started southward, steering by the
+compass.
+
+Their old enemies came dashing down the hillside as the expedition
+took up its march, and stood upon the beach, seeming greatly
+astonished at the departure of the people at the cottage. Rex barked
+an angry farewell, which caused them to race out upon the ice as
+though to punish him for his impertinence; but they stopped short of
+bullet-range, greatly to Tug's disgust, and presently turned and
+trotted back to resume their wild career. When last seen they were
+prowling about the deserted house, trying to push their way into the
+door, or to break through the glass of the little window. I have no
+doubt they succeeded; and I hope that they managed to exist until the
+fishermen came the next summer and took them off, for, after all,
+these dogs knew no different way of acting, and therefore could not be
+blamed for their savagery, even though it was needful that our heroes
+should guard against it.
+
+The ice was in good condition, and the skaters made fair progress, so
+that by noon the dusky line of the mainland was plainly visible ahead.
+
+At last Jim called out that he couldn't skate another stroke, and
+threw himself down, utterly "done for." Aleck ordered a halt at once,
+and began to build a small fire--for fuel had not been forgotten.
+Nobody understood how fatigued they had become by the unwonted
+exercise in their weak condition, until they found that an hour's halt
+seemed of little account, and decided to make it two. After that they
+went on slowly and lamely until near sundown, by which time the island
+had almost disappeared, and the mainland was growing distinct. Then
+they camped, stewing snow-birds for supper, and making a big corn-meal
+cake, which they baked in the skillet. Immediately afterwards beds
+were made up on the cargo, underneath the canvas, and each one slept
+as well as he could.
+
+The next day several hummocks stood in the way, and just about noon
+they came to a channel of open water about a mile wide. It was not
+rough, and they slid their boat over the edge of the ice into the
+water without any difficulty.
+
+"If we had only known enough to have made us a good boat of this shape
+before starting, we should have got along much better," Aleck told
+them, and they all agreed with him, talking it over while they picked
+a few lean, and very cool bird-bones for luncheon before beginning the
+ferriage.
+
+The load sank the weak scow so deeply that the water ran into cracks
+in her side, despite their calking; and as they were afraid to embark
+the whole expedition, two trips were made. This was slow and freezing
+work; and when finally all had got across, and had skated on about a
+mile, everybody was so cold and tired and sore that a camp was made
+under the shelter of a tall hummock. Aleck comforted the pride of the
+younger ones, who worried over their exhaustion, by telling them it
+was because they were so nearly starved; but this was poor
+consolation, they thought, so long as there seemed no chance for any
+increase in their supplies, or means of regaining their strength.
+
+"Now," he remarked, "see what we have for supper to-night--two
+snow-birds and a small piece of corn-bread apiece. That would not make
+a full meal for one of us. If any accident prevents our getting ashore
+to-morrow I don't know what we shall do, for we have only enough food
+for breakfast, and a 'powerful weak' one at that!"
+
+"That's hardest on me," said Tug, "for breakfast is my strong point.
+If I can have only one meal a day, I want to take it in the morning."
+
+"That'll be your fix to-morrow, I guess," was the gloomy rejoinder.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day's run was a slow one, for the ice was bad in many
+places, and several hummocks had to be explored to find passable
+crossing-places. They could sight islands off at their left, but the
+nearest was several miles away; and though they knew they belonged to
+the Put-in-Bay group, they did not think it would pay to swerve from
+their course so long as the ice permitted them to advance towards the
+mainland. So they kept on, and the shore came nearer and nearer, until
+they could see that they were entering a great "bight," and that one
+mass of land, three or four miles towards the left, which they had
+taken for an island, was really a headland; so they shaped their
+course for it.
+
+Near the beach stood a little house surrounded by small fields and
+hemmed in by the leafless woods. Towards this cottage they made their
+way, and its owner evidently saw them coming, for a grizzled old man,
+helping himself with a cane, hobbled down to meet them as they
+approached the beach.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXII.
+
+AN ASTONISHED FARMER.
+
+
+"Wall, I swanny!" was the farmer's exclamation, as he stared at the
+strange-looking outfit invading his shores. "Who be ye? and where did
+ye come from?"
+
+They began to tell him, and at every sentence his "Wall, I swanny!"
+was thrown in, to show the astonishment with which he listened. At
+last he seemed to recollect himself.
+
+"Ye mus' be drea'ful tired--nigh about beat out--and cold, too. Come
+into the haouse and git suthin' to eat. There ain't nobody to hum, but
+I guess I can find ye suthin'."
+
+_Something!_ Why, my dear reader, they found, in the buttery and
+milk-room and cellar of that little house on the shore, a dinner the
+like of which, for goodness, they believed never was equalled. They
+ate and ate, laughing and almost crying by turns over their good
+fortune, the happiness of feeling safe and warm again taking off their
+hearts a load, whose weight they had not appreciated until it was
+removed. Meanwhile the old gentleman gossiped on in a pleasant
+strain.
+
+"My wife," he told them, "has gone down to the Port to see da'ter an'
+her husband, for a day or two. My son, he runs on the Lake Shore
+Railroad in the winter, and so I'm alone. They wanted me to go down to
+the Port, too, but I don't think any great things of the feller
+Samanthy married, and I told mother I 'lowed I'd be more comf'able
+stayin' home 'long with the cow and the chickens."
+
+"What is this Port you speak of, sir?" Aleck asked him.
+
+"What? Why, Port Linton, to be sure--don't ye know where that is? Oh,
+I forgot, ye're lost, ain't ye. He! he! Wall, Port Linton is a town on
+the railroad, and also on the shore, to the west'ard o' here, or,
+leastways, to the suthard, 'cause we're out on a pint here, and the
+Port is up at the head of the bay, behind the big ma'sh. Ye could see
+it if 'twan't for them big sycamores. 'S about five mile 'cross the
+water."
+
+"Can you let us stay with you to-night, and to-morrow we'll go on to
+the Port?"
+
+"Oh, yes, ye can stay, an' welcome. If mother was home I'd hitch up
+and take ye in, but I ain't got no horse to-day, so I s'pose that's
+the best thing ye can do. But you'll have to double up some, 'cause I
+ain't got four beds."
+
+Their rich supper and deep sleep and full breakfast made a new crew
+of them, and next morning they were eager to get on. It seemed as
+though ages had passed since they had been in civilization, and Tug
+began to wonder whether he would recognize a railway car when he saw
+it. When they were ready to go, Aleck heartily thanked the kind old
+farmer for his hospitality, and asked how much he should pay him for
+their entertainment.
+
+[Illustration: "'WA'AL, I DECLARE!'"]
+
+"Oh, I don't want nothin'--nothin' at all," he said. "You're what they
+might call mariners in distress, and I just helped you as well as I
+could. I ain't done nothin', an' I don't want no money."
+
+"Oh, but we have eaten so much, and made you so much trouble. I shall
+not feel right unless you let us pay you."
+
+"Wall, if you're so earnest about it, I 'low a dollar would be about
+right. I reckon ye didn't hurt me mor'n about that's worth."
+
+Surely this was small enough, but the farmer was entirely satisfied,
+and said he was sorry to say good-bye.
+
+They had swung along over the ice in good style after leaving the
+farmer's cottage, and the buildings and ice-bound shipping of the
+village, which in summer was a busy port, but in winter was sleepy
+enough, were now in plain view.
+
+There was to be the end of their troubles so far as the present
+scrape was concerned, but they were not a great deal nearer Cleveland
+than when they started; and their minds, relieved of present
+anxieties, began to be crowded with thoughts of the future, and how
+they were going to accomplish their purpose any better now than before
+they had started.
+
+They were to be aided, in this respect, in a way they had not
+suspected, however, and the help was now approaching in the shape of a
+skater who came on towards them with swift, strong strides.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXIII.
+
+THE "TIMES" CORRESPONDENT.
+
+
+As this skater approached, they could see that he was a tall young
+man, wearing cap and gloves of sealskin, and a fur-trimmed overcoat.
+He had skates of the newest patent, and, altogether, seemed to be what
+Tug pronounced him under his breath, "a swell."
+
+He slackened his pace as he came up, and then, seeing the boat they
+were dragging, and the queer appearance of the whole outfit, stopped
+short, raising his hat to Katy.
+
+"What kind of an expedition is this, pray tell?" he said pleasantly,
+but with his face full of curiosity.
+
+"I'm 'fraid we ain't any too scrumptious," Tug replied, off-hand, "but
+you could hardly expect it, I s'pose, seein' we've been a month or
+more on the ice."
+
+"A month on the ice! How? Where?"
+
+So they told him, each one talking a little, but making a short story
+of it. He did not interrupt by any "I swannys!" as the old farmer had,
+but kept his eyes--Katy thought they were the sharpest eyes she had
+ever seen--upon each speaker's face, as if committing every word to
+memory.
+
+"That's a mighty good story," he said. "What are you going to do now?"
+
+"We shall go on to my uncle's in Cleveland right away, that is, if we
+have money enough to take us there."
+
+"I suppose you wouldn't object to earning a little more money, then?"
+the stranger remarked, interrogatively.
+
+"Nothing would suit Tug and me better," Aleck rejoined. "Do you know
+how we can do it? My name is Aleck Kincaid, and this promising youth
+here is Thucydides, otherwise 'Tug,' Montgomery. This is my sister
+Katy, and the youngster is my brother Jim."
+
+"I am Harry Porter," the young man announced, shaking hands with them
+all, "and I am glad to get acquainted with you. Now, sit down a
+minute, and I'll make you a proposition. I live in New York city, and
+am on the staff of _The Times_, but am out here for a few days on a
+visit to my father. Your adventures would make a capital story--what
+we call a 'sensation'--in that newspaper. Do you think you could write
+it out in good shape?"
+
+"I'm afraid not, sir," Aleck said. "I've never felt that I had any
+faculty in that direction--but I could make you an automatic brass
+valve if you wanted it!"
+
+"Could you? That's more than I could do. Well, now, you see, you have
+the facts, but you must make use of my training to put them into
+readable shape, so that the story will be worth money to some
+newspaper. I can see how two or three very good articles, indeed, can
+be made, and what I propose is this: you come to a boarding-house,
+kept by a friend of mine, in Port Linton, and stay there as long as is
+necessary to tell me everything. Then I can write it all into a
+connected story, and we'll divide the profits."
+
+"But supposing _The Times_ shouldn't want to print it?"
+
+"I'll take care of that," Mr. Porter replied.
+
+"But we would have to wait a good while to get the money back,
+wouldn't we?" Aleck asked. "And we want it now worse than we ever
+shall again, probably."
+
+"Ye--es, that's a difficulty," Mr. Porter admitted, slowly. Then he
+thought over it a minute or two in silence. "I'll tell you what I'll
+do," he said at last, "and I think I shall be safe. I estimate that
+you can give me facts enough for ten or twelve columns--say ten; and
+that for this 'special and exclusive' they will pay me twenty dollars,
+or more, a column. So if you are willing to take one hundred dollars
+for your information, I'll run the risk of getting that back and
+another hundred on top of it for the labor of writing."
+
+"I am sure that we shall be very glad to do it if you think you are
+not cheating yourself."
+
+"That's _my_ lookout," said the newspaper man. "And, now, Miss
+Kincaid, if you will take a seat in the boat, I think we should all
+regard it as a pleasure to draw you the rest of the way, for I mean
+to bear a hand at dragging."
+
+Katy demurred, but all the boys insisted, so she unstrapped her
+skates, nestled warmly into the boat, where Mr. Porter folded his
+fur-trimmed coat about her, saying he should be too warm with skating
+to wear it, and they set off gayly.
+
+The plan thus made upon the ice was fully carried out, beginning that
+very evening, which was Friday; and on Tuesday morning Mr. Porter gave
+Tug twenty-five dollars and Aleck seventy-five--the latter "for the
+family," as he said. Besides this, they sold their scow for fifteen
+dollars, feeling that they had a right to do so, since, if the
+fishermen who had left it on the island (the name and position of
+which they learned) should ever return for it, they would find left in
+its place the _Red Erik_.
+
+The goods that they cared to keep were packed and sent on to Cleveland
+by freight. At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, therefore, the four
+adventurers--yes, _five_, for Rex was not forgotten--feeling
+themselves already famous in New York, and hence around the whole
+world, took the train for Cleveland, and reached their uncle's house
+in time for his one-o'clock dinner. All were heartily welcomed, and
+told their adventures again and again--in fact, until they became so
+thoroughly tired of being "trotted out" that Tug one day declared that
+he almost wished he had never left the island.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXXIV.
+
+A HAPPY CONCLUSION.
+
+
+All the members of our party, to whose courage and independence of
+mind my story has borne witness, immediately and anxiously exerted
+themselves to relieve their hospitable relative of the burden of their
+support, and it was not long before they succeeded.
+
+Aleck and Tug found profitable work to do. Katy was eager to resume
+her studies, and therefore gladly accepted an invitation to stay with
+her aunt and help her in her sewing before and after school-hours. Jim
+roomed with his brother, and went to school also, acting morning and
+evening as an office-boy for a lawyer to whom Mr. Porter had given him
+a letter of introduction.
+
+To prepare themselves for these different stations used up their stock
+of money, but by close economy they came through without any
+debt--yes, even with some money left--just nineteen cents among them
+all! To this Tug's pocket contributed nothing, but he was happy.
+"There's one great comfort in being 'dead broke,'" he told them. "You
+know precisely where you are, and that matters can get no worse. You
+are ready to begin all new again."
+
+This sense of beginning anew was a tonic that strengthened the hearts
+of all of them; for each one knew that, although he had no money, his
+feet were planted firmly on the first round of the ladder which, if
+steadily climbed, might lead to prosperity.
+
+With this satisfactory state of things the story might end, but twenty
+years and more have passed since that hard winter which made their
+journey to the island and escape from it possible; twenty years, in
+which no such hard winter has been seen again. Aleck is manager and
+part owner of a manufactory of gas-fixtures and brass fittings in
+Pittsburgh, and Jim is his cashier. Tug lives in Cleveland, where he
+is busy, as an inventor, and expects some day to be made rich by his
+improvements in railway-brakes and in oil-pumping machinery; but
+nobody addresses him as "Tug" except his wife (whom _he_ calls Katy)
+and his little boy, who never tires of hearing how papa and mamma and
+Uncle Aleck went adrift on an ice-floe in Lake Erie.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+Archaic syntax and inconsistent spelling were retained.
+
+
+
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