“One may well ask such a question—­but cold produces cold, and it takes time to wear it out.  February is commonly the coldest month in the year, even in America; though days any one in February.  March, and even April, are months I dread here; and that so much the more, Stephen, because our fuel goes a good deal faster than I could wish.”

“What you say is very true, sir.  Still, the people must have fire.  I turned out this morning, while all hands were still in their berths, and looked to the stove, and it was as much as human natur’ could bear to be about without my cap and skin-covering; though in-doors the whole time.  If the weather goes on as it has begun, we shall have to keep a watch at the stove; nor do I think one stove will answer us much longer.  We shall want another in the sleeping-room.”

“Heaven knows where the wood is to come from!  Unless Captain Daggett gives up the wreck, we shall certainly be out long before the mild season returns.”

“We must keep ourselves warm, sir, by reading the bible,” answered Stimson, smiling; though the glance he cast at his officer was earnest and anxious.  “You must not forget, Captain Gar’ner, that you’ve promised one who is praying for you daily, to go through the chapters she has marked, and give the matter a patient and attentive thought.  No sealin’, sir, can be half as important as this reading of the good book in the right spirit.”

“So you believe that Jesus was the Son of God!” exclaimed Roswell, half inquiringly, and half in a modified sort of levity.

“As much as I believe that we are here, sir.  I wish I was half as certain of our ever getting away.”

“What has caused you to believe this, Stimson?—­reason, or the talk of your mother and of the parson?”

“My mother died afore I could listen to her talk, sir:  and very little have I had to do with parsons, for the want of being where they are to be found. Faith tells me to believe this; and Faith comes from God.”

“And I could believe it, too, were Faith imparted to me from the same source.  As it is, I fear I shall never believe in what appears to me to be an impossibility.”

Then followed a long discussion, in which ingenuity, considerable command of language, human pride and worldly sentiments, contended with that clear, intuitive, deep conviction, which it is the pleasure of the Deity often to bestow on those who would otherwise seem to be unfitted to become the repositories of so great a gift.  As we shall have to deal with this part of our subject more particularly hereafter, we shall not enlarge on it here; but pursue the narrative as it is connected with the advance of the season, and the influence the latter exerted over the whole party of the lost sealers.

Chapter XXV.

  “Beyond the Jewish ruler, banded close,
  A company full glorious, I saw
  The twelve apostles stand.  O, with what looks
  Of ravishment and joy, what rapturous tears;
  What hearts of ecstacy, they gazed again
  On their beloved Master”——­