other summer in the far north, and with the two
crews cheering loudly as they went. Then after various vicissitudes of
being caught in the ice, freed, caught, and freed again, she made her
way southward till the last lane in the ice-floes was threaded, and her
head laid for Nordoe in the brightest of sunshine, and the deck in the
long summer day feeling hot.

There was a warm and friendly, almost affectionate, parting from the
Norwegians, Johannes looking quite mournful when he shook farewell hands
with Steve; but they were cheered loudly as they stepped on to the
little quay, any sadness they felt being chased away by the many friends
who pressed round them to welcome them back from the icy seas.

Next morning the head of the stout little steamer was laid for home, and
the crew gave vent to the heartiest of cheers, which increased to a roar
of delight as Andrew, forgetful of all past suffering, made his
appearance, proud and solemn-looking, to march round the deck with his
pipes, driving Skene the dog below with crest and tail drooping, and his
sharp, white teeth bared to the gums.

Then all settled down to the quiet monotony of the voyage home, for the
stormy times were past, and the vessel glided south, heavily laden, but
steady, and looking, as Steve said, perfectly satisfied with having well
done her work. And so she had, for every man who had sailed was
returning safe and sound, and she was bringing back the captain and crew
of brave men for whom they had gone in search.

"I feel convinced," said Captain Marsham one evening, "that we were the
first visitors to those icy shores."

"Yes," said Captain Young; "I doubt whether any one ever reached so far
north before; but I don't like leaving my ship and so much valuable
cargo behind."

"Let them rest for the next who go there," said Captain Marsham. "It
would have been madness to have run the risk of being caught in the ice
again."

"Yes, we had enough darkness and cold to last some time."

Steve went out on deck, and found Watty right in the bows bribing Skene
to sit up with scraps of meat brought from the galley; but he ceased and
looked shyly at the boy as he advanced.

"Well, Watty," cried Steve, "we shall soon be home again now, all alive
and well."

"Ay, she'll sune pe seeing Glasgie, and her puir auld mither ance
again."

"How should you like to go up north once more?"

Watty shook his shock head.

"The pear's grease is peautiful, Meester S