oderation such as is seldom imitated in this selfish and
mercenary world.

After supper, however, on this first evening, an unwonted cloud hung
over the brow of the host, which yielded not to the benign influence of
four cups of tea, and eatables in proportion; withstood the sedative
consolations of a meerschaum of the best "Navy," and scarcely gave way
when, with the two eldest of the party, he sat down to a steaming glass
of "something hot," whose "controlling spirit" was "materialized" from a
bottle labeled "Cabinet Brandy." After a sip or two, he hemmed twice, to
attract general attention, and said, solemnly,--

"It is nonsense, of course, to warn you, gents, of danger, when the ice
is so thick everywhere that you couldn't get in if you tried; but mark
my words, that something out of the common is going to happen this
spring, on this here island. I went over to the Pint, just now, after
you came into the yard, to look up one of the cows, and saw two men in
white walking up the track, just below the bank. I thought it must be
some of you coming up from the East Bar, but all of a sudden the men
vanished, and I was alone; and when I came into the yard, you were all
here! Now something of the kind almost always precedes a death among us,
and I shan't feel easy until your trip is safely over, and you are all
well and comfortable at home."

"Now, Lund," said the elder Davies, "you don't believe in any such
nonsense, do you?"

"Nonsense!" said Lund, quietly but gravely; "little Johnnie there, my
youngest boy, will tell you that he has often seen on the East Bar the
warning glare of the Packet Light, which often warns us of the approach
of a heavy storm. It is nearly thirty years since it first glowed from
the cabin windows of the doomed mail packet, but to all who dwell upon
this island its existence is beyond doubt. Few who have sailed the Gulf
as I have, but have seen the Fireship which haunts these waters, and
more than once I have steered to avoid an approaching light, and after
changing my course nearly eight pints, found the spectre light still
dead ahead. No, gentlemen, I shan't slight the warning. If you value
life, be careful; for if we get through the breaking up of the ice
without losing two men, I shall miss my guess."

"Come, Tom," said Risk, quickly, "don't depress the spirits of the
youngsters with such old-world superstitions. As you say, they couldn't
get through the ice now if they would, without cut