FROM JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 20TH.

Hobson's first care on his return to the fort, was to make inquiries of

Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony. No change had taken place

for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had

floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion

towards the west. It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape,

a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American

coast. The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part

of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson's

annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait. It was now only the 24th July,

and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the

strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt "like a

lump of sugar in a glass of water."

Mrs Barnett acquainted Madge with the result of the exploration of the

island. She explained to her the arrangement of the layers of earth and ice at

the part where the isthmus had been broken off; told her that the thickness of

the ice below the sea level was estimated at five feet; related the accident to

Sergeant Long-in short, she made her fully understand the reasons there were to

fear the breaking up or sinking of the ice field.

The rest of the colony had, however, no suspicion of the truth; a feeling of

perfect security prevailed. It never occurred to any of the brave fellows that

Fort Hope was floating above an awful abyss, and that the lives of all its

inhabitants were in danger. All were in good health, the weather was fine, and

the climate pleasant and bracing. The baby Michael got on wonderfully; he was

beginning to toddle about between the house and the palisade; and Corporal

Joliffe, who was extremely fond of him, was already beginning to teach him to

hold a gun, and to understand the first duties of a soldier. Oh, if Mrs Joliffe

would but present him with such a son! but, alas! the blessing of children, for

which he and his wife prayed every day, was as yet denied to them.

Meanwhile the soldiers had plenty to do.

Mac-Nab and his men-Petersen, Belcher, Garry, Pond, and Hope-worked zealously

at the construction of a boat, a difficult task, likely to occupy them for

several months. But as their vessel would be of no use until next year after the

thaw, they neglected none of their duties at the factory on its account. Hobson

let things go on as if the future of the factory were not compromised, and

persevered in keeping the men in ignorance. This serious question was often

discussed by the officer and his "staff," and Mrs Barnett and Madge differed

from their chief on the subject. They thought it would be better to tell the

whole truth; the men were brave and energetic, not likely to yield to despair,

and the shock would not be great if they heard of it now, instead of only when

their situation was so hopeless that it could not be concealed. But in spite of

the justice of these remarks, Hobson would not yield, and he was supported by

Sergeant Long. Perhaps, after all, they were right; they were both men of long

experience, and knew the temper of their men.

And so the work of provisioning and strengthening the fort proceeded. The

palisaded enceinte was repaired with new stakes, and made higher in many places,

so that it really formed a very strong fortification. Mac-Nab also put into

execution, with his chief's approval, a plan he had long had at heart. At the

corners abutting on the lake he built two little pointed sentry-boxes, which

completed the defences; and Corporal Joliffe anticipated with delight the time

when he should be sent to relieve guard: he felt that they gave a military look

to the buildings, and made them really imposing.

The palisade was now completely finished, and Mac-Nab, remembering the

sufferings of the last winter, built a new wood shed close up against the house

itself, with a door of communication inside, so that there would be no need to

go outside at all. By this contrivance the fuel would always be ready to hand.

On the left side of the house, opposite the shed, Mac-Nab constructed a large

sleeping-room for the soldiers, so that the camp-bed could be removed from the

common room. This room was also to be used for meals, and work. The three

married couples had private rooms walled off, so that the large house was

relieved of them as well as of all the other soldiers. A magazine for furs only

was also erected behind the house near the powder-magazine, leaving the loft

free for stores; and the rafters and ribs of the latter were bound with iron

cramps, that they might be able to resist all attacks. Mac-Nab also intended to

build a little wooden chapel, which had been included in Hobson's original plan

of the factory; but its erection was put off until the next summer.

With what eager interest would the Lieutenant have once watched the progress

of his establishment! Had he been building on firm ground, with what delight

would he have watched the houses, sheds, and magazines rising around him! He

remembered the scheme of crowning Cape Bathurst with a redoubt for the

protection of Fort Hope with a sigh. The very name of the factory, "Fort Hope,"

made his heart sink within him; for should it not more truly be called "Fort

Despair?"

These various works took up the whole summer, and there was no time for

ennui. The construction of the boat proceeded rapidly. Mac-Nab meant it to be of

about thirty tons measurement, which would make it large enough to carry some

twenty passengers several hundred miles in the fine season. The carpenter had

been fortunate enough to find some bent pieces of wood, so that he was able

quickly to form the first ribs of the vessel, and soon the stern and sternpost,

fixed to the keel, were upon the dockyard at the foot of Cape Bathurst.

Whilst the carpenters were busy with hatchets, saws, and adzes, the hunters

were eagerly hunting the reindeer and Polar hares, which abounded near the fort.

The Lieutenant, however, told Marbre and Sabine not to go far away, stating as a

reason, that until the buildings were completed he did not wish to attract the

notice of rivals. The truth was, he did not wish the changes which had taken

place to be noticed.

One day Marbre inquired if it was not now time to go to Walruses' Bay, and

get a fresh supply of morse-oil for burning, and Hobson replied rather

hastily-

"No, Marbre; it would be useless."

The Lieutenant knew only too well that Walruses' Bay was two hundred miles

away, and that there were no morses to be hunted on the island.

It must not be supposed that Hobson considered the situation desperate even

now. He often assured Mrs Barnett, Madge, and Long that he was convinced the

island would hold together until the bitter cold of winter should thicken its

foundation and arrest its course at one and the same time.

After his journey of discovery, Hobson estimated exactly the area of his new

dominions. The island measured more than forty miles round, from which its

superficial area[r] would appear to be about one hundred and forty miles at the

least. By way of comparison, we may say that Victoria Island was rather larger

than St Helena, and its area was about the same as that of Paris within the line

of fortifications. If then it should break up into fragments, the separate parts

might still be of sufficient size to be habitable for some time.

When Mrs Barnett expressed her surprise that a floating ice-field could be so

large, Hobson replied by reminding her of the observations of Arctic navigators.

Parry, Penny, and Franklin had met with ice-fields in the Polar seas one hundred

miles long and fifty broad. Captain Kellet abandoned his boat on an ice-field

measuring at least three hundred square miles, and what was Victoria Island

compared to it?

Its size was, however, sufficient to justify a hope that it would resist the

action of the warm currents until the cold weather set in. Hobson would not

allow himself to doubt; his despair arose rather from the knowledge that the

fruit of all his cares, anxieties, and dangers must eventually be swallowed up

by the deep, and it was no wonder that he could take no interest in the works

that were going on.

Mrs Barnett kept up a good heart through it all; she encouraged her comrades

in their work, and took her share in it, as if she had still a future to look

forward to. Seeing what an interest Mrs Joliffe took in her plants, she joined

her every day in the garden. There was now a fine crop of sorrel and

scurvy-grass-thanks to the Corporal's unwearying exertions to keep off the birds

of every kind, which congregated by hundreds.

The taming of the reindeer had been quite successful; there were now a good

many young, and little Michael had been partly brought up on the milk of the

mothers. There were now some thirty head in the herd which grazed near the fort,

and a supply of the herbage on which they feed was dried and laid up for the

winter. These useful animals, which are easily domesticated, were already quite

familiar with all the colonists, and did not go far from the enceinte. Some of

them were used in sledges to carry timber backwards and forwards. A good many

reindeer, still wild, now fell into the trap half way between the fort and Port

Barnett. It will be remembered that a large bear was once taken in it; but

nothing of the kind occurred this season-none fell victims but the reindeer,

whose flesh was salted and laid by for future use. Twenty at least were taken,

which in the ordinary course of things would have gone down to the south in the

winter.

One day, however, the reindeer-trap suddenly became useless in consequence of

the conformation of the soil. After visiting it as usual, the hunter Marbre

approached Hobson, and said to him in a significant tone--

"I have just paid my daily visit to the reindeer-trap, sir."

"Well, Marbre, I hope you have been as successful to-day as yesterday, and

have caught a couple of reindeer," replied Hobson.

"No, sir, no," replied Marbre, with some embarrassment.

"Your trap has not yielded its ordinary contingent then?"

"No, sir; and if any animal had fallen in, it would certainly have been

drowned!"

"Drowned!" cried the Lieutenant, looking at the hunter with an anxious

expression.

"Yes, sir," replied Marbre, looking attentively at his superior, "the pit is

full of water."

"Ah!" said Hobson, in the tone of a man who attached no importance to that,

"you know your pit was partly hollowed out of ice; its walls have melted with

the heat of the sun, and then "--

"Beg pardon for interrupting you, sir," said Marbre; "but the water cannot

have been produced by the melting of ice."

"Why not, Marbre?" "Because if it came from ice it would be sweet, as you

explained to me once before. Now the water in our pit is salt!"

Master of himself as he was, Hobson could not help changing countenance

slightly, and he had not a word to say.

"Besides," added Marbre, "I wanted to sound the trench, to see how deep the

water was, and to my great surprise, I can tell you, I could not find the

bottom."

"Well, Marbre," replied Hobson hastily, "there is nothing so wonderful in

that. Some fracture of the soil has established a communication between the sea

and the trap. So don't be uneasy about it, my brave fellow, but leave the trap

alone for the present, and be content with setting snares near the fort."

Marbre touched his cap respectfully, and turned on his heel, but not before

he had given his chief a searching glance.

Hobson remained very thoughtful for a few moments. Marbre's tidings were of

grave importance. It was evident that the bottom of the trench, gradually melted

by the warm waters of the sea, had given way.

Hobson at once called the Sergeant, and having acquainted him with the

incident, they went together, unnoticed by their companions, to the beach at the

foot of Cape Bathurst, where they had made the bench-marks.

They examined them carefully, and found that since they last did so, the

floating island had sunk six inches.

"We are sinking gradually," murmured Sergeant Long. "The ice is wearing

away."

"Oh for the winter! the winter!" cried Hobson, stamping his foot upon the

ground.

But as yet, alas! there was no sign of the approach of the cold season. The

thermometer maintained a mean height of 59? Fahrenheit, and during the few hours

of the night the column of mercury scarcely went down three degrees.

Preparations for the approaching winter went on apace, and there was really

nothing wanting to Fort Hope, although it had not been revictualled by Captain

Craventy's detachment. The long hours of the Arctic night might be awaited in

perfect security. The stores were of course carefully husbanded. There still

remained plenty of spirits, only small quantities having been consumed; and

there was a good stock of biscuits, which, once gone, could not be replaced.

Fresh venison and salt meat were to be had in abundance, and with some

antiscorbutic vegetables, the diet was most healthy; and all the members of the

little colony were well.

A good deal of timber was cut in the woods clothing the eastern slopes of

Lake Barnett. Many were the birch-trees, pines, and firs which fell beneath the

axe of Mac-Nab, and were dragged to the house by the tamed reindeer. The

carpenter did not spare the little forest, although he cut his wood judiciously;

for he never dreamt that timber might fail him, imagining, as he did, Victoria

Island to be a peninsula, and knowing the districts near Cape Michael to be rich

in different species of trees.

Many a time did the unconscious carpenter congratulate his Lieutenant on

having chosen a spot so favoured by Heaven. Woods, game, furred animals, a

lagoon teeming with fish, plenty of herbs for the animals, and, as Corporal

Joliffe would have added, double pay for the men. Was not Cape Bathurst a corner

of a privileged land, the like of which was not to be found in the whole Arctic

regions? Truly Hobson was a favourite of Heaven, and ought to return thanks to

Providence every day for the discovery of this unique spot.

Ah, Mac-Nab, you little knew how you wrung the heart of your master when you

talked in that strain!

The manufacture of winter garments was not neglected in the factory. Mrs

Barnett, Madge, Mrs Mac-Nab, Mrs Rae, and Mrs Joliffe-when she could leave her

fires-were alike indefatigable. Mrs Barnett knew that they would all have to

leave the fort in the depth of winter, and was determined that every one should

be warmly clothed. They would have to face the bitterest cold for a good many

days during the Polar night, if Victoria Island should halt far from the

continent. Boots and clothes ought indeed to be strong and well made, for

crossing some hundreds of miles under such circumstances. Mrs Barnett and Madge

devoted all their energies to the matter in hand, and the furs, which they knew

it would be impossible to save, were turned to good account. They were used

double, so that the soft hair was both inside and outside of the clothes; and

when wearing them, the whole party would be as richly attired as the grandest

princesses, or the most wealthy ladies. Those not in the secret were rather

surprised at the free use made of the Company's property; but Hobson's authority

was not to be questioned, and really martens, polecats, musk-rats, beavers, and

foxes multiplied with such rapidity near the fort, that all the furs used could

easily be replaced by a few shots, or the setting of a few traps; and when Mrs

Mac-Nab saw the beautiful ermine coat which had been made for her baby, her

delight was unbounded, and she no longer wondered at anything.

So passed the days until the middle of the month of August. The weather

continued fine, and any mists which gathered on the horizon were quickly

dispersed by the sunbeams.

Every day Hobson took the bearings, taking care, however, to go some distance

from the fort, that suspicions might not be aroused, and he also visited

different parts of the island, and was reassured by finding that no important

changes appeared to be taking place.

On the 16th August Victoria Island was situated in 167? 27' west longitude,

and 70? 49' north latitude. It had, therefore, drifted slightly to the south,

but without getting any nearer to the American coast, which curved

considerably.

The distance traversed by the island since the fracture of the isthmus, or

rather since the last thaw, could not be less than eleven or twelve hundred

miles to the west.

But what was this distance compared to the vast extent of the ocean? Had not

boats been known to be drifted several thousands of miles by currents? Was not

this the case with the English ship Resolute, the American brig

Advance, and with the Fox, all of which were carried along upon

ice-fields until the winter arrested their advance?