electric light is
turned aside.

"Yes, it comes and goes like that," said Johannes; "and I have never
known yet, sir, any one who could explain it to make it seem clear and
reasonable to me. But it is very good."

"Good! What does it do?"

"Gives us light through the long, black winter, sir, when we're glad of
anything that brightens the sky where there is no sun. Hark! That's
not birds."

Skene had heard it, and he emitted a deep growl now at the long, low
noise faintly heard, apparently from the valley by the glacier.

"What is it?" whispered Steve. "There it is again. Why, it must be
wolves. There, that sounds like two or three!"

"And I should say it was the cry of wolves, sir, if there are any. But
we have not seen a sign."

"No, not even a fox."

"But there are deer," said Johannes; "and where there are deer you
generally find wolves to prey upon them. Yes, the cold weather is
bringing them now. It must be wolves."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

PREPARING FOR THE ENEMY.

"Well, Johannes, what do you say to this?" said the captain, when he
appeared on deck the next morning--a natural morning Steve called it,
for there had been darkness once more in the night.

"Winter's coming, sir," replied the Norseman, as he glanced round him at
the dark, clear, metal-like ice which spread from shore to shore, and
looked strong enough to bear.

"Yes, but has it come? Surely this will melt before sunset, and we
shall have some mild weather ere the cold regularly sets in?"

"If we were two or three hundred miles farther south, sir," replied the
man, "I could answer you; but who can tell what the weather is likely to
be up here, where man has had no experience. We can only wait and see."

They waited; and for a fortnight longer the ice which formed in the
night melted in the day. Then came one that was dull and sunless, when
the ice did not melt, and they had a fall of snow. That night the ice
more than doubled in thickness, and they started ashore next morning for
a good long tramp eastward, drawing a light sledge bearing provisions,
and ready for the carriage of any game that might be shot.

This was a new experience, for winter garments were now worn, with heavy
boots and mittens, fur caps, and eye-protectors. The snow filled up the
inequalities of the ground, and the sledge glided easily upon its
runners; but its load was soon increased, for the walking was heavy, and
as the sun shone out the men