shook his head in
despair.

"Get back while you can, b'y," said North. "Quick! We're driftin'
fast! The pan's too small."

"I thinks 'tis big enough for one man an' me," said Donald.

"Get aboard an' try it, Alexander," said Job. "Quick, man!"

Alexander Bludd stepped on. The pan tipped fearfully, and the water
ran over it; but when the weight of the man and the boy was properly
adjusted, it seemed capable of bearing them both across. They pushed
off, and seemed to go well enough; but when Alexander moved to put his
gaff in the water the pan tipped again. Donald came near losing his
footing. He moved nearer the edge and the pan came to a level. They
paddled with all their strength, for the wind was blowing against
them, and there was need of haste if three passages were to be made.
Meantime the gap had grown so wide that the wind had turned the
ripples into waves, which washed over the pan as high as Donald's
ankles.

But they came safely across. Bludd stepped swiftly ashore, and Donald
pushed off. With the wind in his favour he was soon once more at the
other side.

"Now, Bill," said North; "your turn next."

"I can't do it, Job," said Stevens. "Get aboard yourself. The lad
can't come back again.

"We're driftin' out too fast. He's your lad, an' you've the right
to----"

"Ay, I can come back," said Donald. "Come on, Bill! Be quick!"

Stevens was a lighter man than Alexander Bludd; but the passage was
wider, and still widening, for the pack had gathered speed. When
Stevens was safely landed he looked back. A vast white shadow was all
that he could see. Job North's figure had been merged with the night.

"Donald, b'y," he said, "you got t' go back for your father, but I'm
fair feared you'll never----"

"Give me a push, Bill," said Donald.

Stevens caught the end of the gaff and pushed the lad out.

"Good-bye, Donald," he called.

When the pan touched the other side Job North stepped aboard without a
word. He was a heavy man. With his great body on the ice-cake, the
difficulty of return was enormously increased, as Donald had foreseen.
The pan was overweighted. Time and again it nearly shook itself free
of its load and rose to the surface. North was near the centre, plying
his gaff with difficulty, but Donald was on the extreme edge.
Moreover, the distance was twice as great as it had been at first, and
the waves were running high, and it was dark.

They made way slowly. The pan often wavered beneat