Is the shout of victory."

"O, how beautiful and appropriate!" exclaimed the children.

"But," said William, "how did you get to the island?"

"Without any other accident," replied the Captain, "than with two frozen
noses, which were sore for a long time afterwards. But, after it was all
over, we would not have missed the sight for anything, it was so grand;
yet, had we been caught out on the sea a little farther from the hut, we
should never have got back, but both of us must have perished.

"Thus you see how Providence continued to watch over the two poor
castaways."

CHAPTER XVI.

Covers a Long Period of Time, and shows, among other
Things, how a Race may be lost at Both Ends.

"I must now tell you," continued the Captain, "that, while all these
adventures were happening, the winter was passing steadily away; and,
from what I have before told you about the Arctic seasons, you will know
that when the winter came finally to an end the darkness came to an end
too,--that is, to be more particular, first there was a little flush of
light at noon, to see which made us very glad, you may be sure; after
this, from day to day, the light grew brighter and brighter, until it
was almost broad daylight, as it is here just before the sun has risen
in the morning; then the sun came up a few days afterward only a little
way above the horizon (of course right in the south); and then, next
day, it was a little higher, and the next day a little higher still; and
then, by and by, it was (as it had been in the summer-time before)
circling round and round us, shining all the while; and now our hut was
at midnight in the shadow of the cliff; at noon the sun was blazing down
upon us, softening the snow, and making our hearts, O, how happy and
thankful!--more so than I can tell you.

"I thought that never in all my life had I seen anything so splendid as
the sun's bright face when he appeared for the first time after this
long dark winter. For you must know we were about one hundred and twenty
days without once setting eyes upon the sun at all; and now, when he did
rise, after this long interval, what could we do but take off our caps
and whirl them round and round our heads, in very joy and gladness? and
this I can assure you we did with many a good round cheer.

"The summer now came on steadily, and the temperature became warmer
every day. The spring glided into summer, and early in the month of June
the snow began to