aid Steve testily. "It seems such a nuisance when one is
so tired and sleepy. It does no good now."

"Yes, sir, a great deal," replied the Norseman. "Makes every one feel
confident that he is being watched over, and may sleep in peace."

"Wish I was being watched over and could sleep in peace," groaned out
Steve. "No, I don't," he hastened to add; "it would be so precious
selfish. But I'm not well, Johannes; I'm chilly. Got a bad cold, I
think."

"Then go and get your sheep-skin coat."

"Would you? Well, I think I will."

He went back to the cabin, and returned, putting on the thick coat, with
its closely-cut pile of wool, shorn so regularly that it looked like
velvet in the light of the glistening stars.

"I don't like this watching in the dark," said Steve. "And how strange
it is! Only the other day it was quite light at this time. Ugh! how
cold I feel!"

"You'll be better soon," said Johannes. "You have not had time yet to
feel the good of your coat."

"What good can that do me when I'm not well?" grumbled Steve. "Hullo!
you've got on yours."

"Yes, sir; and it's very welcome. The air is very cold to-night."

"Freezing?"

"Yes, sir, hard. I daresay we shall find the fiord covered with ice in
the morning. Winter is coming, sir, you see."

"Oh, but this is only a night frost that will go away in the sun quite
early."

"Perhaps so, sir; but you can never be sure about the weather at this
time of year. It will make some of the walrus boats turn their heads
south, many of them perhaps empty, while here they swarm more than
ever."

"Then they should come up here and catch them."

"How?" said Johannes.

"Sail and steam, as we did."

"Yes, sir, that sounds easy; but suppose they cannot? Suppose you made
up your mind to sail south to-morrow?"

"Well, we couldn't go for the ice."

"Exactly, sir; and the walrus boats couldn't sail up here for the ice."

"Ugh! it is cold," said Steve with a shiver. "I wonder what the glass
says. Wish I'd looked."

"It would not have been a fair test, sir; it is warmer down in the
cabin. You are not unwell, only you feel the chill just waking up from
sleep."

"Yes, I feel better now. How the stars shine!"

"You'll see them brighter by-and-by, sir," said Johannes. "Have you got
anything hard in your pocket?"

"Only my knife. What do you want?"

"Something for you," replied the Norseman. "Wait a minute, sir."

He turned and stepped down in