THE WINTER MONTHS.

The party did not arrive at Fort Hope until the 28th, after a most arduous

journey. They had now nothing to depend on but the boat, and that they could not

use until the sea was open, which would not be for six months.

Preparations for another winter were therefore made. The sledges were

unloaded, the provisions put back in the pantry, and the clothes, arms, furs,

&c., in the magazines. The dogs returned to their dog-house, and the

reindeer to their stable.

Great was the despair of Thomas Black at this return to seclusion. The poor

astronomer carried his instruments, his books, and his MSS. back to his room,

and more angry than ever with "the evil fate which pursued him," he held himself

aloof from everything which went on in the factory.

All were again settled at their usual winter avocations the day after their

arrival, and the monotonous winter life once more commenced. Needlework, mending

the clothes, taking care of the furs, some of which might yet be saved, the

observation of the weather, the examination of the ice-field, and reading aloud,

were the daily occupations. Mrs Barnett was, as before, the leader in

everything, and her influence was everywhere felt. If, as sometimes happened,

now that all were uneasy about the future, a slight disagreement occurred

between any of the soldiers, a few words from Mrs Barnett soon set matters

straight, for she had acquired wonderful power over the little world in which

she moved, and she always used it for the good of the community.

Kalumah had become a great favourite with everybody, for she was always

pleasant and obliging. Mrs Barnett had undertaken her education, and she got on

quickly, for she was both intelligent and eager to learn. She improved her

English speaking, and also taught her to read and write in that language. There

were, however, twelve masters for Kalumah, all eager to assist in this branch of

her education, as the soldiers had all been taught reading, writing, and

arithmetic either in England or in English colonies.

The building of the boat proceeded rapidly, and it was to be planked and

decked before the end of the month. Mac-Nab and some of his men worked hard in

the darkness outside, with no light but the flames of burning resin, whilst

others were busy making the rigging in the magazines of the factory. Although

the season was now far advanced, the weather still remained very undecided. The

cold was sometimes intense, but owing to the prevalence of west winds it never

lasted long.

Thus passed the whole of December, rain and intermittent falls of snow

succeeded each other, the temperature meanwhile varying from 26? to 34?

Fahrenheit. The consumption of fuel was moderate, although there was no need to

economise it, the reserves being considerable. It was otherwise with the oil,

upon which they depended for light, for the stock was getting so low that the

Lieutenant could at last only allow the lamps to be lit for a few hours every

day. He tried using reindeer fat for lighting the house, but the smell of it was

so unbearable that every one preferred being in the dark. All work had of course

to be given up for the time, and very tedious did the long dark hours

appear.

Some Aurora Borealis and two or three lunar halos appeared at full moon, and

Thomas Black might now have minutely observed all these phenomenon, and have

made precise calculations on their intensity, their coloration, connection with

the electric state of the atmosphere, and their influence upon the magnetic

needle, &c. But the astronomer did not even leave his room. His spirit was

completely crushed.

On the 30th December the light of the moon revealed a long circular line of

icebergs shutting in the horizon on the north and east of Victoria Island. This

was the ice-wall, the frozen masses of which were piled up to a height of some

three or four hundred feet. Two-thirds of the island were hemmed in by this

mighty barrier, and it seemed probable that the blockade would become yet more

complete.

The sky was clear for the first week of January. The new year, 1861, opened

with very cold weather, and the column of mercury fell to 8? Fahrenheit. It was

the lowest temperature that had yet been experienced in this singular winter,

although it was anything but low for such a high latitude.

The Lieutenant felt it his duty once more to take the latitude and longitude

of the island by means of stellar observations, and found that its position had

not changed at all.

About this time, in spite of all their economy, the oil seemed likely to fail

altogether. The sun would not appear above the horizon before early in February,

so that there was a month to wait, during which there was a danger of the

colonists having to remain in complete darkness. Thanks to the young Esquimaux,

however, a fresh supply of oil for the lamps was obtained.

On the 3rd January Kalumah walked to Cape Bathurst to examine the state of

the ice. All along the south of the island the ice-field was very compact, the

icicles of which it was composed were more firmly welded together, there were no

liquid spaces between them, and the surface of the floe, though rough, was

perfectly firm everywhere. This was no doubt caused by the pressure of the chain

of icebergs on the horizon, which drove the ice towards the north, and squeezed

it against the island.

Although she saw no crevasses or rents, the young native noticed many

circular holes neatly cut in the ice, the use of which she knew perfectly well.

They were the holes kept open by seals imprisoned beneath the solid crust of

ice, and by which they came to the surface to breathe and look for mosses under

the snow on the coast.

Kalumah knew that in the winter bears will crouch patiently near these holes,

and watching for the moment when the seal comes out of the water, they rush upon

it, hug it to death in their paws, and carry it off. She knew, too, that the

Esquimaux, not less patient than the bears, also watch for the appearance of

these animals, and throwing a running noose over their heads when they push them

up, drag them to the surface.

What bears and Esquimaux could do might certainly also be done by skilful

hunters, and Kalumah hastened back to the fort to tell the Lieutenant of what

she had seen, feeling sure that where these holes were seals were not far

off.

Hobson sent for the hunters, and the young native described to them the way

in which the Esquimaux capture these animals in the winter, and begged them to

try.

She had not finished speaking before Sabine had a strong rope with a running

noose ready in his hand and accompanied by Hobson, Mrs Barnett, Kalumah, and two

or three soldiers, the hunters hurried to Cape Bathurst, and whilst the women

remained on the beach, the men made their way to the holes pointed out by

Kalumah. Each one was provided with a rope, and stationed himself at a different

hole.

A long time of waiting ensued-no sign of the seals, but at last the water in

the hole Marbre had chosen began to bubble, and a head with long tusks appeared.

It was that of a walrus. Marbre flung his running noose skilfully over its neck

and pulled it tightly. His comrades rushed to his assistance, and with some

difficulty the huge beast was dragged upon the ice, and despatched with

hatchets.

It was a great success, and the colonists were delighted with this novel

fishing. Other walruses were taken in the same way, and furnished plenty of oil,

which, though not strictly of the right sort, did very well for the lamps, and

there was no longer any lack of light in any of the rooms of Fort Hope.

The cold was even now not very severe, and had the colonists been on the

American mainland they could only have rejoiced in the mildness of the winter.

They were sheltered by the chain of icebergs from the north and west winds, and

the month of January passed on with the thermometer never many degrees below

freezing point, so that the sea round Victoria Island was never frozen hard.

Fissures of more or less extent broke the regularity of the surface in the

offing, as was proved by the continued presence of the ruminants and furred

animals near the factory, all of which had become strangely tame, forming in

fact part of the menagerie of the colony.

According to Hobson's orders, all these creatures were unmolested. It would

have been useless to kill them, and a reindeer was only occasionally slaughtered

to obtain a fresh supply of venison. Some of the furred animals even ventured

into the enceinte, and they were not driven away. The martens and foxes were in

all the splendour of their winter clothing, and under ordinary circumstances

would have been of immense value. These rodents found plenty of moss under the

snow, thanks to the mildness of the season, and did not therefore live upon the

reserves of the factory.

It was with some apprehensions for the future that the end of the winter was

awaited, but Mrs Barnett did all in her power to brighten the monotonous

existence of her companions in exile.

Only one incident occurred in the month of January, and that one was

distressing enough. On the 7th, Michael Mac-Nab was taken ill-severe headache,

great thirst and alternations of shivering and fever, soon reduced the poor

little fellow to a sad state. His mother and father, and indeed all his friends,

were in very great trouble. No one knew what to do, as it was impossible to say

what his illness was, but Madge, who retained her senses about her, advised

cooling drinks and poultices. Kalumah was indefatigable, remaining day and night

by her favourite's bedside, and refusing to take any rest.

About the third day there was no longer any doubt as to the nature of the

malady. A rash came out all over the child's body, and it was evident that he

had malignant scarlatina, which would certainly produce internal

inflammation.

Children of a year old are rarely attacked with this terrible disease, but

cases do occasionally occur. The medicine-chest of the factory was necessarily

insufficiently stocked, but Madge, who had nursed several patients through

scarlet lever, remembered that tincture of belladonna was recommended, and

administered one or two drops to the little invalid every day. The greatest care

was taken lest he should catch cold; he was at once removed to his parents'

room, and the rash soon came out freely. Tiny red points appeared on his tongue,

his lips, and even on the globes of his eyes. Two days later his skin assumed a

violet hue, then it became white and fell off in scales.

It was now that double care was required to combat the great internal

inflammation, which proved the severity of the attack, Nothing was neglected,

the boy was, in fact, admirably nursed, and on the 20th January, twelve days

after he was taken ill, he was pronounced out of danger.

Great was the joy in the factory. The baby was the child of the fort, of the

regiment! He was born in the terrible northern latitudes, in the colony itself,

he had been named Michael Hope, and he had come to be regarded as a kind of

talisman in the dangers and difficulties around, and all felt sure that God

would not take him from them.

Poor Kalumah would certainly not have survived him had he died, but he

gradually recovered, and fresh hope seemed to come back when he was restored to

the little circle.

The 23d of January was now reached, after all these distressing alternations

of hope and fear. The situation of Victoria Island had not changed in the least,

and it was still wrapped in the gloom of the apparently interminable Polar

night. Snow fell abundantly for some days, and was piled up on the ground to the

height of two feet.

On the 27th a somewhat alarming visit was received at the fort. The soldiers

Belcher and Pond, when on guard in front of the enceinte in the morning, saw a

huge bear quietly advancing towards the fort. They hurried into the large room,

and told Mrs Barnett of the approach of the formidable carnivorous beast.

"Perhaps it is only our bear again," observed Mrs Barnett to Hobson, and

accompanied by him, and followed by the Sergeant, Sabine, and some soldiers

provided with guns,-he fearlessly walked to the postern.

The bear was now about two hundred paces off, and was walking along without

hesitation, as if he had some settled plan in view.

"I know him!" cried Mrs Barnett, "it is your bear, Kalumah, your

preserver!"

"Oh, don't kill my bear!" exclaimed the young Esquimaux.

"He shall not be killed," said the Lieutenant, "don't injure him, my good

fellows," he added to the men, "he will probably return as he came."

"But suppose he intends coming into the enceinte?" said Long, who had his

doubts as to the friendly propensities of Polar bears.

"Let him come, Sergeant," said Mrs Barnett, "he is a prisoner like ourselves,

and you know prisoners"-

"Don't eat each other," added Hobson. "True, but only when they belong to the

same species For your sake, however, we will spare this fellow-sufferer, and

only defend ourselves if he attack us. I think, however, it will be as prudent

to go back to the House. We must not put too strong a temptation in the way of

our carnivorous friend!"

This was certainly good advice, and all returned to the large room, the

windows were closed, but not the shutters.

Through the panes the movements of the visitor were watched. The bear,

finding the postern unfastened, quietly pushed open the door, looked in,

carefully examined the premises, and finally entered the enceinte. Having

reached the centre, he examined the buildings around him, went towards the

reindeer stable and dog-house, listened for a moment to the howlings of the dogs

and the uneasy noises made by the reindeer, then continued his walk round the

palisade, and at last came and leant his great head against one of the windows

of the large room.

To own the truth everybody started back, several of the soldiers seized their

guns, and Sergeant Long began to fear he had let the joke go too far.

But Kalumah came forward, and looked through the thin partition with her

sweet eyes. The bear seemed to recognise her, at least so she thought, and

doubtless satisfied with his inspection, he gave a hearty growl, and turning

away left the enceinte, as Hobson had prophesied, as he entered it.

This was the bear's first and last visit to the fort, and on his departure

everything went on as quietly as before.

The little boy's recovery progressed favourably, and at the end of the month

he was as rosy and as bright as ever.

At noon on the 3rd of February, the northern horizon was touched with a faint

glimmer of light which did not fade away for an hour, and the yellow disc of the

sun appeared for an instant for the first time since the commencement of the

long Polar night.