.

But Peter was discomfort-proof, and his negligence of bothersome details
and happy acceptance of existing conditions set a standard for the
manners and customs of their party. Joshua, who had come to New York
City to meet them, was not, by nature, possessed of the sort of heart
that doeth good like medicine. But under the sunny smile of Peter's blue
eyes, his customary scowl softened to a look of mild wonder at the
effervescent gayety of the man who was yet so efficient and even
hard-working when occasion required it.

Shelby was a close second in the matter of efficiency. He was a big
chap, not handsome, but good-looking, in a dark, dignified way, and of a
lithe, sinewy strength that enabled him to endure as well as to meet
hardship bravely.

Not that they looked especially for hardships. Discomfort, even
unpleasantness, they did anticipate, but nothing of more importance than
inclement weather or possible colds or coughs. And against the latter
ills Mrs. Crane had provided both remedies and preventions to such an
extent that some were discarded as excess weight.

For the necessities of their trip, including as they did, canoe, tent,
blankets, tarpaulins, duffel bags, shooting irons and cooking
utensils,--besides food, were of no small bulk and weight even divided
among four porters.

And Blair, though possessed of will and energy quite equaling the
others', was less physically fit to stand the hard going.

It was already August when they were treated to a first sight of the
Labrador.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Shelby, "and Shackelton, and Peary,--yes and
old Doc Cook! What an outlook! If those breaking waves were looking for
a stern and rockbound coast to dash on, they missed it when they chose
the New England shore instead of this! I've seen crags and cliffs, I've
climbed the dark brow of the mighty Helvellyn, but this puts it over all
the earth! How do we get in, anyway?"

"Great, isn't it?" and Peter lay back in his inadequate little deck
chair and beamed at the desolation he saw.

For the coast of Labrador is nearly a thousand miles of barren bleakness
and forbidding and foreboding rock wall. After buffeting untold ages of
icy gales and biting storms the bare rocks seem to discourage human
approach and crave only their own black solitude.

The one softening element was the fog that rode the sea, and now and
then swooped down, hiding the dangerous reefs until the danger was
increased tenfold by the o