found their comrades already at breakfast, and by the
time the meal was disposed of, their floe lay surrounded by one of the
leads of open water, which showed scarce a vestige of the heavy seas of
the late gale. For the last time they packed their few valuables into
the boat, and stowing Carlo away under deck, took their allotted places,
dipped their paddles into the open water, and with rapid strokes
threaded the narrow channels, scaring the timid seals from their path,
and noting on every hand scenes of life and beauty, for amid the opening
pack the varied life of the Bird islands around them met their view.
Screaming gannets wheeled in clouds over their heads, and portly murres
started up heavily from the frequent pools, into which they broke with
flashing paddles, and laughter, such as they had never before indulged
in since their first misadventure.

[Illustration: "IN HIS HANDS LA SALLE WAVED THE BANNER."
Page 297.]

Guided by the pillar of black smoke, which, winding this way and that,
ever drew nearer and nearer, they came at last to an open pool, nearly
a quarter of a mile or more in length. On the opposite side, above a
small floe, they saw the prow of the advancing vessel. Evidently she had
met with a check, for as they gazed they heard the tinkle of the engine
bell, and saw her iron-sheathed bow recede behind the fantastic outlines
of the pinnacle.

"Will she leave us?" asked Waring, with trembling lips.

"They only back to run down that floe. See now."

The next moment Regnar's prediction was verified. A blacker cloud of
smoke, shot with sparks, poured from the funnel; the huge hull rapidly
advanced, her raking prow, with its iron armor, piercing the waves like
the blade of the sword-fish. There was a crash, a momentary glimpse of
falling ice and splitting walls, and the next moment the noble steamer
came at half speed across the open water, just as the little boat shot
out of the sheltering lead.

In his hands La Salle waved the banner attached to the boat-hook, which
had marked the deserted heaps of seal-skins. But it needed not: the
pilot rang his bell, and the sealer became motionless in the centre of
the pool. As they came alongside, a stout, full-bearded man, in a
Guernsey frock, threw them a rope, and hailed the strange little
craft:--

"What, do'ee want, friends, and where do'ee hail from?"

"We are sportsmen, carried off, by the ice, in the straits, eleven days
ago. We want food, and a pa