uld have pushed across without fear at once.

"Why did we come without a compass?" cried Philip, not for the first
time. "Remember, you fellows, never to leave home without one. You do
not know when you may require it in this country." After sitting down
on the bank for some time, Philip started up, exclaiming, "They will be
breaking their hearts with anxiety about us. I must go. You two have
plenty of food, and if you will promise me that you will not stir from
the island till a boat comes for you, or till the weather clears and the
ice hardens thoroughly, I will go across to the settlement and send on
home overland. I know that I can hit it, as there is a breeze blowing,
and I took the bearings before the rain came on." Harry and Charley
were very unwilling to let their brother go, but at length, when he had
persuaded them that there was no danger to himself, they agreed to obey
his wishes.

Having disencumbered himself of his axe and an overcoat, as well as of
the remainder of D'Arcy's fish, which he left for his brothers, Philip
buckled on his skates, and taking one of the spears in his hand, away he
glided; his brothers, standing on the shore, watched him--his figure
growing less and less distinct, till he disappeared in the thick mist
which hung over the lake. "I wish that we had not let him go," cried
Charley. "Suppose any accident should happen to him, how dreadful.
Couldn't we call him back? He would hear us if we shouted."

"No, that would annoy him, as we have no reason for calling him back.
We must let him go," said Harry. "Well, at all events, we can pray for
him," exclaimed Charley, in a tone which showed that the thought was
consolatory. They did so immediately, and felt far greater confidence
than before. For themselves, they had no cause to fear. They had food
enough for a month or more, should the frost return, and they had the
means of building a hut, in which they could be perfectly sheltered from
the weather. They had abundance of fuel, and the bear's skin would keep
them warm at night. There were the cranberries, and probably some other
berries, and they knew of several roots which they thought they should
find. "Really, we are very well off," said Charley, after they had
reviewed their resources. "I don't think there is another part of the
world where, in a little island like this, we could find such ample
means of support. I shouldn't mind spending a month here at all."

"Ah