"Yes, I noticed that the days grew shorter," said Steve, as he looked up
at the realm of eternal winter with aching eyes.

"Much, sir; and if we measured we should soon see that the snow up
yonder was creeping down toward us week by week."

Steve was silent for a few minutes, as he tried to familiarise himself
with these wonderful facts about nature in the arctic circle.

"I say, Johannes," he said at last, "what about the ice down at the
opening of the fiord--will it give way this year?"

"No, sir," said the man quietly.

"Then for certain we shall not be able to get out?"

"For certain you will not be able to get out, sir."

"Then there is no doubt about it whatever; we shall have to spend the
winter here, frozen up?"

"Yes, sir. I have had no doubt about it for weeks; neither has the
captain, as you have seen by the great store of food he has buried in
the ice."

"Well, it will be a change," said Steve after a pause. "I suppose it
will not be so very cold?"

The Norseman laughed.

"Colder than you think for, sir; but not too cold to bear if you take
care. You must not go away into the mountains by yourself."

"Couldn't help it if a bear were after me," said Steve, laughing. "But
I shall take care. I say, though, tell me about the darkness: does the
sun go right out of sight?"

"Yes, sir, for weeks."

"And it is quite dark--black darkness?"

"It is about the same as it is in England, sir. There are light nights
when the sky is clear, and you can see the moon and stars, and there are
dark nights when it is cloudy or a mist hangs low."

"Seems queer," said Steve thoughtfully.

"But you had the constant day, sir, when the sun never set."

"Well, I daresay I shall get used to it," said Steve; and he went to get
his gun and ammunition ready, so as to be prepared for a little
exploring expedition which the captain was going to lead along the
shore.

And now for the rest of the open time trips were made north and south
along the coast, efforts being directed to going farther in each
direction before the frost made progress in the boats impossible. Of
these trips many were made, each being pushed farther north or south;
for the ice had opened more and more away from the shore, increasing the
length and width of the channel in the incomprehensible, unexpected
manner in which such changes do take place amongst the ice.

But it was always the same: not a trace of human being having been there