ing Oliver Trench from slumber. With
the innate laziness of youth the lad turned on his other side, and was
about to settle down to a further spell of sleep when he chanced to
wink. That wink sufficed to reveal something that induced another wink,
then a stare, then a start into a sitting posture, a rubbing of the
eyes, an opening of the mouth, and a succession of exclamations, of
which "Oh! hallo! I say!" and "Hi-i-i-i!" were among the least
impressive.

Of course every one started up and made a sudden grasp at weapons, for
the memory of the recent fight was still fresh.

"Winter!" exclaimed Paul and the captain, in the same breath.

"Not quite so bad as that," remarked Hendrick, as he stepped out into
the snow and began to look round him with an anxious expression; "but it
may, nevertheless, put an end to your explorations if the snow
continues."

"Never a bit on't, man!" exclaimed the captain promptly. "What! d'ye
think we are to be frightened by a sprinkling of snow?"

To this Hendrick replied only with a gentle smile, as he returned and
set about blowing up the embers of the fire which were still
smouldering.

"There is more than a sprinkling, Master Trench," observed Paul, as he
began to overhaul the remnants of last night's supper; "but I confess it
would be greatly against the grain were we to be beaten at this point in
our travels. Let us hope that the storm won't last."

"Anyhow we can go on till we can't, daddy," said Oliver, with a
tremendous yawn and stretch.

"Well said, my son; as you once truly remarked, you are a chip of the
ancient log."

"Just so, daddy. Don't quite finish that marrow bone; I want some of
it."

"There, you young rascal, I leave you the lion's share," returned the
captain, throwing the bone in question to his son. "But now, Hendrick,
what d'ye really think o' this state of things? Shall we be forced to
give in an' 'bout ship?"

"No one can tell," answered the hunter. "If the snow stops and the
weather gets warm, all will be well. If not, it will be useless to
continue our journeying till winter fairly sets in, and the snow becomes
deep, and the rivers and lakes are frozen. In which case you must come
and stay with me in my island home."

"You are very good, Hendrick; but don't let us talk of givin' up till
the masts go by the board. We will carry all sail till then," said the
captain, rather gloomily, for he felt that the hunter knew best.

This first snow