t
pained him to believe Mary would feel at his failure to return home at the
appointed time; though it would probably have pained him more to believe
she would not thus be disappointed and anxious. Here his displeasure, or
its manifestation, ceased; and the young man turned his thoughts on the
present necessities of his situation.

Daggett appearing very earnest on the subject of removing his skins before
the snows came to impede the path, Roswell could urge no objection that
would be likely to prevail; but his acquiescence was obtained by means of
a hint from Stimson, who by this time had gained his officer's ear.

"Let him do it, Captain Gar'ner," said the boat-steerer, in an aside,
speaking respectfully, but earnestly. "He'll never stow 'em in our hold,
this season at least; but they'll make excellent filling-in for the sides
of this hut."

"You think then, Stephen, that we are likely to pass the winter here?"

"We are in the hands of Divine Providence, sir, which will do with us as
seems the best in the eyes of never-failing wisdom. At all events, Captain
Gar'ner, I think 'twill be safest to act at once as if we had the winter
afore us. In my judgment, this house might be made a good deal more
comfortable for us all, in such a case, than our craft; for we should not
only have more room, but might have as many fires as we want, and more
than we can find fuel for."

"Ay, there's the difficulty, Stephen. Where are we to find wood,
throughout a polar winter, for even one fire?"

"We must be saving, sir, and thoughtful, and keep ourselves warm as much
as we can by exercise. I have had a taste of this once, in a small way,
already; and know what ought to be done, in many partic'lars. In the first
place, the men must keep themselves as clean as water will make them--dirt
is a great helper of cold--and the water must be just as frosty as human
natur' can bear it. This will set everything into actyve movement inside,
and bring out warmth from the heart, as it might be. That's my principle
of keeping warm, Captain Gar'ner."

"I dare say it may be a pretty good one, Stephen," answered Roswell, "and
we'll bear it in mind. As for stoves we are well enough off, for there is
one in the house, and a good large one it is; then, there is a stove in
each cabin, and there are the two cambooses. If we had fuel for them all,
I should feel no concern on the score of warmth."

"There's the wrack, sir. By cutting her up at once, we