lear, silent air for miles
before it quite died away upon the ears of the men, who drew aside their
hoods to listen.

Then, and then only, did they burst forth into a stentorian cheer, which
was repeated twice and listened to until it died away.

"Bravo! bravo!" cried the captain. "Well done, Andrew, my man. It was
grand! It was worth coming through all these troubles to hear."

"Ay, the pipes is crant," said Andrew proudly. "She's the far pestest
musick as effer wass for the mountains."

"And never better played," cried the doctor. "I say bravo, too."

"Well, Watty, how are you?" whispered Steve.

"She feels petter, chust noo."

"Keep moving, my lads!" cried the captain cheerily; and he stepped
forward.

But not many yards; for there before them, piled-up in mighty masses,
was the freshly fallen rock which had come crashing down from on high,
and completely blocked up the entrance to the passage-like gorge through
which they had been wont to row to the sea.

"Will the water force its way through, Johannes?" said the captain.

"No, sir, never. If it had been ice and solid snow, it would of course
in time; but this is all granite rock."

"Well," said the captain, "it will be work for us to haul a boat right
over the mountain and keep on the other side."

In due time the word was given, and Andrew went to the front again to
strike up some of his gayest lilts; and the men marched back to muster
on deck afterwards, glowing with health and exercise, and ready to enjoy
a hearty meal.

"Steve, my lad," cried the captain, as soon as they were in the cabin,
"God bless you for this! You've started the poor fellows on a fresh
lease of life. And done me more good, boy, than ever I did to any one
yet."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Steve, who felt a choking sensation in his throat.

"No nonsense, my lad. Try to keep it up; any way, so that we can kill
the demon _ennui_."

"I'll try," said Steve huskily; "but, hard though it was, I didn't know
it would do so much good. But I'll never laugh at the bagpipes again."

CHAPTER FORTY.

BLACK DARKNESS.

Steve worked hard, and he worked wonders; but he could not do
impossibilities, and all in the cabin knew that the black darkness was
hovering heavily over the men's spirits. They fought it back for an
hour, but it settled down again upon them heavier and heavier all
through that awful January, when the cold was so intense that it was
dangerous to stir. Then