MRS PAULINA BARNETT S EXCURSION. 22/ vance. It was evident that parts of the island were now only on a level with the ocean. " O Madge ! " exclaimed Mrs Barnett, pointing to the long smooth tracts on which the curling waves broke in rapid succession, " our situation has indeed become aggravated by the awful storm ! It is evident that the level of the whole island is gradually becoming lower. It is now only a question of time. Will the winter come soon enough to save us % Everything depends upon that." " The winter will come, my dear girl," replied Madge with her usual unshaken confidence. " We have already had two falls of snow. Ice is begininng to accumulate, and God will send it us in time, I feel sure."
- ' You are right, Madge, we must have faith ! " said Mrs Barnett.
"We women who do not trouble ourselves about the scientific reasons for physical phenomena can hope, when men who are better informed, perhaps, despair. That is one of our blessings, which our Lieutenant unfortunately does not share. He sees the significance of facts, he reflects, he calculates, he reckons up the time still remain- ing to us, and I see that he is beginning to lose all hope."
- ' He is a brave, energetic man, for all that," replied Madge.
" Yes," added Mrs Barnett, ** and if it be in the power of man to save us, he will do it." By nine o'clock the two women had walked four miles. They were often obliged to go inland for some little distance, to avoid parts of the coast already invaded by the sea. Here and there the waves had encroached half -a-mile beyond the former high- water line, and the thickness of the ice-field had been considerably reduced. There was danger that it would soon yield in many places, and that new bays would be formed all along the coast. As they got farther from the fort Mrs Barnett noticed that the number of furred animals decreased considerably. The poor crea- tures evidently felt more secure near a human habitation. The only formidable animals which had not been led by instinct to escape in time from the dangerous island were a few wolves, savage beasts which even a common danger did not conciliate. Mrs Barnett and Madge saw several wandering about on the plains, but they did not approach, and soon disappeared behind the hills on the south of the lagoon.
- ' What will become of all these imprisoned animals," said Madge,
