hole gave
admittance to the chimney.

The fir-branches were then removed to the yard, and covered from the
still falling rain with the rubber blanket, while all hands joined in
enlarging their quarters. The ice was singularly hard and clear, and
contained no cracks or other sources of weakness. By sunset the lower
part of the hut was enlarged from eight feet square to twelve feet
diameter, a circular shape being given to the excavation, so that a
continuous berth, about two feet wide and a yard high, ran completely
around the floor of the hut, or rather to within about four feet of the
door on either side. The fir-twigs were replaced in the berths and
around the floor, leaving a bare space of nearly four feet diameter in
the centre. Here a slight hollow was made, to contain the novel grate,
and the stove was placed in position over it.

Waring brought in a shovelful of embers from the dying fire outside,
under whose ashes a goose, swathed in sea-weed, was preparing for
supper, and Peter followed him with some small chunks of wood. The stove
"drew" beautifully, and but one drawback could be discovered--it made
the atmosphere within too warm for comfort, at the then temperature. "No
matter that," said Peter, prophetically; "we glad see plenty fire here
to-morrow night."

It was nearly midnight when the four ate supper and gave the fragments
to their faithful dog. Before sleeping, La Salle stepped outside the
hut. The wind had lessened greatly, but still blew mildly warm from a
southerly direction. "We must now be somewhere off Shediac, but I see no
open water, and the pack is as close as ever. We shan't get down to the
capes with this wind, and to-morrow at this time, if the wind holds, we
shall be up to Point Escumenac. I don't care to think what next; but if,
as Peter says, we are to have cold, westerly weather, we must move off
into the open Gulf and then--Well, we shall endure what it pleases God
to send us."

Notwithstanding their fatigue, all were awake at daylight the next
morning, and immediately the whole party ascended their lookout. The
wind still blew in very nearly the same direction, but with little
force, and at noon, as the party sat down to their first meal for the
day, no land could be plainly determined, and for an hour the utmost
calm prevailed, with an unclouded sun. The pack was still closed,
however, with the exception of two or three small openings, in which
were seen a seal and several flock