.

They had already determined that they would at any rate make for the
Kanin Peninsula, and would then be guided by the weather. If it still
remained calm and quiet, they would sail across the entrance to the
White Sea, and coast along until they reached the frontier of Norway,
which would be about four hundred miles from the point of the Kanin
Peninsula; if the weather showed signs of changing they would go up the
White Sea to Archangel, which would be about the same distance.

Two days' paddling took them to the western mouth of the bay, the course
from here lay due west to Kolgueff Island, nearly two hundred miles
away. Godfrey did not hesitate to strike for it, as it was seventy or
eighty miles saved, and there was no risk of missing it. Four long days'
paddling took them there, and an equal time brought them to the western
point of the Kanin Peninsula. The weather continued still and clear, the
sea was as smooth as glass, and there were no signs of change; but
September had begun, and every hour was of importance. They therefore
determined now to abandon the boat, which made a considerable difference
in their speed.

"Our candles will do for cooking. We have still forty pounds of dried
flesh, and twenty of flour, and we may expect to get a few fish anyhow.
Our three kettles will hold two gallons and a half of water, enough to
last us seven or eight days. In three days at most we ought to strike
the coast again, and we are sure to find some streams running down to
the sea in a very short time, so we will risk it. We know that the two
of us can send her along a good five miles an hour."

Accordingly the dried meat and flour were transferred to the canoe, the
kettles were filled up with fresh water, and, after taking a long drink
and letting Jack lap as much as he could take, they took their seats in
the canoe again, threw off the tow-rope and started due west.

Accustomed as they now were to the work, and their muscles hardened by
exercise, they sent the boat rapidly through the water.

"We mustn't exert ourselves too much, Luka," Godfrey said after the
first quarter of an hour. "A long slow stroke is the one to send her
along, and we can keep that up for any time. We must do our very best
till we sight the coast again. After the way she behaved in that storm I
am not afraid of wind, but I am horribly afraid of fog. If we had but a
compass it would not matter to us one way or other; but if a fog came
down when