g. Exhalations from the moistened
earth, and, soon after, the scent of awakening vegetation, filled the
nostrils with delicious fragrance. In May, the willow-stems were green
and fresh with flowing sap. Flowers began to bud modestly, as if half
afraid of having come too soon. But there was no cause to fear that.
The glorious sun was strong in his might, and, like his Maker, warmed
the northern world into exuberant life. Mosses, poppies, saxifrages,
cochlearia, and other hardy plants began to sprout, and migratory birds
innumerable--screaming terns, cackling duck, piping plover, auks in
dense clouds with loudly whirring wings, trumpeting geese, eider-ducks,
burgomasters, etcetera, began to return with all the noisy bustle and
joyous excitement of a family on its annual visit to much-loved summer
quarters.

But here we must note a difference between the experience of our
explorers and that of all others. These myriads of happy creatures--and
many others that we have not space to name--did not pass from the south
onward to a still remoter north, but came up from all round the
horizon,--up all the meridians of longitude, as on so many railway lines
converging at the Pole, and settling down for a prolonged residence in
garrulous felicity among the swamps and hills and vales of Flatland.

Truly it was a most enjoyable season and experience, but there is no joy
without its alley here below--not even at the North Pole!

The alloy came in the form of a low fever which smote down the stalwart
Leo, reduced his great strength seriously, and confined him for many
weeks to a couch in their little stone hut, and, of course, the power of
sympathy robbed his companions of much of that exuberant joy which they
shared with the lower animals at the advent of beautiful spring.

During the period of his illness Leo's chief nurse, comforter, and
philosophical companion, was the giant of the North. And one of the
subjects which occupied their minds most frequently was the Word of God.
In the days of weakness and suffering Leo took to that great source of
comfort with thirsting avidity, and intense was his gratification at the
eager desire expressed by the giant to hear and understand what it
contained.

Of course Alf, and Benjy, and the Captain, and Butterface, as well as
Grabantak, Makitok, and Amalatok, with others of the Eskimos, were
frequently by his side, but the giant never left him for more than a
brief period, night or day