“The point where they approach nearest the sun—­when they pass the perihelion, I was going to say, the heat they endure must be terrific; when on the other hand, at their extreme distance from that body, the cold must be intense.  The comet of 1680 did not approach within five thousand myriametres of the sun.”

“Friends coming within that distance of each other should at least shake hands,” said Willis.

“Still, even at that distance, the heat, according to Newton, must be like red-hot iron, and if constituted like our earth, when heated to that degree, must take fifty thousand years to cool.”

“Fifty thousand years!” said Willis, yawning from ear to ear.

“The central position between these extremes, which would either congeal our earth into a mass of ice or burn it up into a heap of cinders, is therefore the most congenial to such beings as ourselves.  Whence I conclude—­”

Here the crimson flashes of Willis’s pipe, which had been gradually diminishing in brilliance suddenly ceased; contralto notes issued from the profundities of his breast, and it became evident to the orator that all his audience were sound asleep.

“Whence I conclude,” said Fritz, addressing himself, “that my orations must be somewhat soporiferous.”

Being thus left alone to keep a look-out on shore, his thoughts gradually receded within his own breast, where all was rose-colored and smiling, for at his age rust has not had time to corrupt, nor moths to eat away.  And it was not long before he himself, like his two companions, was fast locked in the arms of sleep.

How long this state of things lasted the chronicle saith not; but the three sleepers were eventually awakened by a simultaneous howl of the dogs.  They were instantly on their feet, with their rifles levelled.

It was too late; day had broken, and there was light enough to convince them that nothing was to be seen.  The sheep’s quarters had, however, entirely disappeared, and they had the satisfaction of knowing that they had politely given the denizens of the forest a feast gratis.

“Ah, they shall pay us for it yet,” said Jack.

“This is a case of the hunters being caught instead of the game,” remarked Fritz.

“The poor sheep!  If Ernest had been here, he would have erected a monument to its memory.”

“I doubt that; epitaphs are generally made rather to please the living than to compliment the defunct.  But, Willis, we must deprive you of your office of huntsman in chief—­I shall go into the forest and revenge this insult.”

“I have no objection to abdicate the office of huntsman, but must retain that of admiral, in which capacity I announce to you that there will be a storm presently, and that we shall just have time to make Rockhouse before it overtakes us.”

“That is rather a reason for our remaining where we are.”

“We have come for skins, and skins we must have.”