rn home. Moreover, the spreading fir branches afforded an
excellent shelter alike from wind and snow in the centre of the clump,
while from the margin was obtained a partial view of the river and the
sea beyond. Indeed, from this look-out there was a very fine prospect
on clear winter nights of the white landscape, enlivened occasionally by
groups of arctic foxes, which might be seen scampering about in sport,
and gambolling among the hummocks of ice like young kittens.

"Now we shall turn up here," said the accountant, as he walked a short
way up the brook before mentioned, and halted in front of what appeared
to be an impenetrable mass of bushes.

"We shall have to cut our way, then," said Harry, looking to the right
and left, in the vain hope of discovering a place where, the bushes
being less dense, they might effect an entrance into the knoll or grove.

"Not so. I have taken care to make a passage into my winter camp,
although it was only a whim, after all, to make a concealed entrance,
seeing that no one ever passes this way except wolves and foxes, whose
noses render the use of their eyes in most cases unnecessary."

So saying, the accountant turned aside a thick branch, and disclosed a
narrow track, into which he entered, followed by his two companions.

A few minutes brought them to the centre of the knoll. Here they found
a clear space of about twenty feet in diameter, around which the trees
circled so thickly that in daylight nothing could be seen but tree-stems
as far as the eye could penetrate, while overhead the broad, flat
branches of the firs, with their evergreen verdure, spread out and
interlaced so thickly that very little light penetrated into the space
below. Of course at night, even in moonlight, the place was pitch dark.
Into this retreat the accountant led his companions, and bidding them
stand still for a minute lest they should tumble into the fireplace, he
proceeded to strike a light.

Those who have never travelled in the wild parts of this world can form
but a faint conception of the extraordinary and sudden change that is
produced, not only in the scene, but in the mind of the beholder, when a
blazing fire is lighted in a dark night. Before the fire is kindled,
and you stand, perhaps (as Harry and his friend did on the present
occasion) shivering in the cold, the heart sinks, and sad, gloomy
thoughts arise, while your eye endeavours to pierce the thick darkness,
which, if it succ