the snow
was blackened with dust and small fragments of coal; while, after this
had been kept on for a week, the men treating the dirty job as quite a
frolic, Steve felt that the sooner another fall of snow came down the
better for the face of nature. He was not kept long waiting, for the
second night after the captain had been satisfied that no more coal
could be stored with any convenience down came the storm again, lasting
a couple of days, and the last hope of the weather becoming open that
season departed.

"No, sir," said Johannes; "the winter has come, and means to stay."

"Right on through the long, black darkness when there is no sun," said
Steve with a slight shiver, and he went and looked at the glass.

The doctor saw him go, and joined him. "Down to zero, my lad," he said.
"That would make people at home stare. But it's only the mercury
that's down to zero; our spirits must be up to a thoroughly genial
height."

Steve nodded, but he could not help a curious sensation of awe creeping
over him as once more he thought of the coming six months, during which
they would almost have bidden good-bye to the sun.

"I can't quite think how we shall do without any light, Mr Handscombe,"
said Steve quietly.

"Nor I neither, my lad; but _experientia docet_, as the Latin folk used
to say."

"But doctors should not," said the captain merrily, as he came up.
"_Docet_ sounds suggestive from the lips of a medical man. Now, Steve,
I appoint you commander-in-chief of the fires. See that they are
properly kept up from now till the end of next spring."

"If spring there be," said the doctor. "I expect that we shall step
from winter into summer, as we did from summer to winter; but we shall
see."

"Yes," said the captain, "we shall see."

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

CHILL DAYS.

"Ha-Ha! Ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

A regular rollicking burst of good, sound, old-fashioned, honest,
English laughter, which rang out clear, bright, and cheery in the frosty
air.

"She'll pe laughin' at me, Meester Stevey?"

"Yes!" cried the lad, bursting out into another peal, in which Skene
joined with a good, sound, rattling bark. "Why, even the dog can't help
it. Look at him!"

"She'll pe only barkin' and not laughin'. Togs canna laugh."

"Well, they can show their teeth!" cried Steve. "Oh, I say, Watty, you
do look a guy! Your mother wouldn't know you."

"Her ain mither wad ken her anywhere," said Watty proudly.