were glad to pile their heavy coats upon
the light framework and walk without them.

The scene was brilliant, and every here and there they found traces of
animals, of whose presence they would otherwise have been ignorant.
Skene was the first to notice footprints, snuffling loudly and growling,
and setting up his fur about his neck, according to his custom when he
smelt an enemy; and upon these tracks being examined, they proved to be
similar to those which would be made by a dog with thick claws and very
hairy feet.

"Wolves," said Johannes directly. "Those which you heard the other
night, Mr Steve."

A sharp look-out was kept for these visitors, but none were seen. Soon
after, though, they came upon the fresh-looking footprints of a bear--
marks so big that they indicated an animal of large size. But the beast
which printed the long marks had gone toward the shore, and though arms
were kept ready for instant use, they marched on seeing nothing but the
dazzling snow.

After a time the doctor called a halt and gave orders. "Spectacles at
once," he said, "or I shall be having cases of snow-blindness to
attend."

So eye-protectors were mounted, and the party moved on again, the
captain choosing a fresh direction, one not previously tried, and, in
spite of the heavy walking, as there was no halting to track game, they
made plenty of progress, getting miles beyond any point previously
reached before they stopped to attack the provisions and rest.

It was intensely cold, but the sun shone brilliantly, and there was not
a breath of air; so that the great lowering of the temperature was not
unpleasant, especially as the exertion had sent the blood racing through
their veins, while the novel aspect of the scene was full of interest
for Steve. The peaks glittered in the new-fallen snow, and, look where
they would, it was at a world of dazzling whiteness, save where the
shadows and valley-like rifts in the mountain-sides appeared to be of a
delicate blue.

"We must take advantage of all the light now, Steve," said the captain,
"and make expeditions inland whenever it is possible. We might pick out
a few places and make _caches_ of provision, so as to get farther out
each time. But it is more from a sense of duty than anything else. We
must feel that we have done everything possible to find our friends."

"Yes, sir. Why not make our way right across?"

"Across where?"

"The island to the farther shore, and