a sail, a
sign, a message, and they do not know any more than we do whence it is
to come. The alteration in the climate has convinced me that the
waters on our West are those of the Pacific; it has been so warm and
pleasant. I have tried to imagine what kind of a winter we may expect,
or will the winter of our discontent be made glorious summer--"

"By three crops of strawberries, like California?" she interrupted.

"Perhaps," he said, smiling. "As to the East, that may be the
Atlantic, or the Gulf; it seems more probable that it is the latter.
The St. Lawrence district was said to be the oldest section of this
continent, and it is reasonable to suppose the earth's crust thickest
there, and along the mountain ranges. I suppose the continent has gone
to make another layer, a stratum, on top of the pliocene, and after
awhile the waters will subside, or some volcanic action will raise up
a new continent. If there are any ships anywhere, on any seas, they
will search every degree of latitude and longitude. Our flag floats,
did float, all over this globe; if it still flies anywhere, we shall
see it again."

"If I did," she said irreverently, "I should feel sure we were in
heaven. It was beautiful before, but what wouldn't it mean now, Adam?
But have you any one left on earth; if this continent is all gone, who
would look for you? There are people of my blood, or there were, but
they did not even know of my existence."

"There is not a soul," he answered. "Indeed, in this country it would
have been one chance in ten million. You might have done it," he said,
half jestingly, "but you are here."

"Yes," she echoed; "I am here. Adam, how long will it be before you
are satisfied that no one is left, no one in the sense of any
civilized people, with a country and means of circumnavigation?"

"A year," he answered, "perhaps more, but a year anyhow. I shall not
give up hope until then."

IV

How gladly would I meet
Mortality my sentence, and be earth
Insensible! How glad would lay me down
As in my mother's lap!

MILTON.

The corn hardened, and the wheat ripened, and was harvested in truly
primeval fashion. Adam cut the wheat with a scythe, and Robin followed
him, binding it as best she could. They shocked it together, and then
began hauling it to the barn with the horses and bob-sleds, their only
vehicle. The stacking was weary work and progressed slowly. Adam
watched his co-worke