"until he comes quite up above our heads?"

"Not exactly that at noon; though abeam, as it might be, mornings and
evenings."

"Still, the coldest of our weather is yet to come, or I have no exper'ence
in such things. Why does not the heat come back with the sun--or what
seems to be the sun coming back? though, as you tell me, Captain Gar'ner,
it's only the 'arth sheering this-a-way and that-a-way in her course."

"One may well ask such a question--but cold produces cold, and it takes
time to wear it out. February is commonly the coldest month in the year,
even in America; though days any one in February. March, and even April,
are months I dread here; and that so much the more, Stephen, because our
fuel goes a good deal faster than I could wish."

"What you say is very true, sir. Still, the people must have fire. I
turned out this morning, while all hands were still in their berths, and
looked to the stove, and it was as much as human natur' could bear to be
about without my cap and skin-covering; though in-doors the whole time. If
the weather goes on as it has begun, we shall have to keep a watch at the
stove; nor do I think one stove will answer us much longer. We shall want
another in the sleeping-room."

"Heaven knows where the wood is to come from! Unless Captain Daggett gives
up the wreck, we shall certainly be out long before the mild season
returns."

"We must keep ourselves warm, sir, by reading the bible," answered
Stimson, smiling; though the glance he cast at his officer was earnest and
anxious. "You must not forget, Captain Gar'ner, that you've promised one
who is praying for you daily, to go through the chapters she has marked,
and give the matter a patient and attentive thought. No sealin', sir, can
be half as important as this reading of the good book in the right
spirit."

"So you believe that Jesus was the Son of God!" exclaimed Roswell, half
inquiringly, and half in a modified sort of levity.

"As much as I believe that we are here, sir. I wish I was half as certain
of our ever getting away."

"What has caused you to believe this, Stimson?--reason, or the talk of
your mother and of the parson?"

"My mother died afore I could listen to her talk, sir: and very little
have I had to do with parsons, for the want of being where they are to be
found. _Faith_ tells me to believe this; and Faith comes from God."

"And I could believe it, too, were Faith imparted to me from the same
source. As it