CHAPTER VII
One morning, a month or two after this, the Crusoes awoke to find thatthe sun rose that day for the last time, and, until spring should return,they would see his golden beams no more.
But there was a bright and beautiful twilight every mid-day for two weekslonger. Then they knew that the long, dreary Arctic night had come inearnest. For about a month the Crusoes had been eating very heartilyevery day and were getting quite fat. It was the same with the animals.
Flossy had long ago lost her puppy coat, and was now a bonnywhitish-yellow seal, not very large, and with a black saddle on her back.But Flossy got drowsy too, and if the boys had not stirred her up everyday, and sent her off to catch fish, I believe she would have sleptnearly all the time.
Even the boys felt sleepy, though they could not tell why. Said Tom oneday to Frank as they sat playing draughts on a rough board, with nuts formen: "Frank, old man, by this time all the bears will have gone intowinter quarters. They won't come out much until the sun returns."
"Fancy," cried Aralia, clapping her hands, "Fancy all of us sleeping allnight long--three months, didn't you say, Tom? Wouldn't it be nice? Andif Uncle Staysail should come in to wake us in the morning! 'Get up,' hewould say, 'are you going to sleep all day?'"
They all laughed at the idea, but it was not carried out. Besides thecandles, which they only burned at supper and after, they had torchesmade of wood which they could burn at any time. Moreover, there was thelight of the camp fire, which they kept always burning, for they had laidin a vast store of peat and wood.
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Tom was time-keeper. He had a little log-book in which he had beencareful to note down day and date every morning, and, like a good lad, henever forgot to wind his watch. He made a really first-class Crusoe.
But they were all good. And what a grand guard Briton was! If ever heheard the slightest sound of bird or rabbit down amongst the trees orbushes beneath them, he gave a low growl. One night he sprang to his feetand barked very loudly and angrily.
The Crusoes were awake at once.
And no wonder, for terrible noises, like distant thunder, were heard justbeneath their feet. They were startled still more when explosion afterexplosion took place, both in the air and in the earth, while the groundwas shaken under them.
It was a curious, giddy movement, and made them all feel rather sick.
Then the thunder-storm burst in earnest, with rain and hail in torrents,and the whole island seemed to be on fire with the lightning.
Tom had to take Pansy in his arms to soothe her, for she shook andtrembled like a little bird. But in two hours it was all over, and thestars were shining as bright and large and near as before.
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Sometimes the moon shone with a stronger light than it ever does in thiscountry. It seemed so close to them, too, that Pansy used to say it wasonly just resting on the snowy hill-top.
On moonlit days the children were always abroad in the forest or by thelake-side watching Flossy catching fish. She dived and swam far morequickly than an eel.
It is terribly dreary to want the sun, but after a month one gets used toit. Besides, one knows that bright and beautiful days are on ahead. Olderpeople might have felt very weary, but none of our Crusoes lost heart.
I have not told you yet of the Aurora Borealis, which was best seen ondark, starry nights. It was not in the north only, but all around them,great bright fringes of coloured lights--chiefly green, crimson, or pink.How they danced and flickered, to be sure! Such dazzling beauty no pencould describe, and I will not attempt it.
Well, Christmas-day came at last, and how glad they all were to be stillspared alive and in comfort!
Tom meant to make the most of it. But, of course, there was no turkey orgoose to roast. Instead, they had a splendid great rabbit stuffed withnuts, and roasted roots to eat with it.
They had no crackers either, but Tom and Frank got an immense pile of drywood, and heaped it in the middle of the rocky bridge that led to themainland, and early in the day or night--whichever you like to callit--they set it alight.
Now, probably this pile saved some of their lives. It had been placedthere about five days before Christmas, and a huge bear, who had thenightmare I suppose, came yawning out of his cave and down themountain-side.
He had shambled along to about the centre of the bridge, then lain downamong the wood and gone off to sleep.
He slept so soundly that he did not hear the boys crossing over to setthe bonfire ablaze.
But when the smoke and crackling flames got towards him he started up andbegan to trot off, coughing and roaring till all the hills sent back thesound.
So awful was the echo that the boys were for a time almostterror-stricken. They thought that about a score of bears had left theirsnow-caves and were swarming down the hill.
Tom fired his rifle, but missed. Veevee wanted to follow up.
"Only just let me get at him," cried the little rascal, "and I'll tearhim limb from limb!"
Anyhow that was a fine fire, and it lit up the lake and the woods allabout, while the numerous sparks that rose and fell in the air were likegolden rain.
After the fire began to fade and to die they all returned to theirChristmas dinner in the hut.
No fewer than four candles were lighted to-night, one in each corner ofthe room. Oh, Tom meant to do everything in first-class form, I can tellyou!
And I feel pretty certain that even at home in Merrie England no one thatevening ate more heartily or made a better dinner than our Crusoes, allalone though they were in the far-off Frozen North.
After supper they all came round the fire, and the dogs went off tosleep, perchance to dream; but the children kept very wide awake indeed.And Tom told lots of droll, funny stories, and everybody sang songs.After this, all the talk was about home and the delightful time they weresure to have in one year's time, when Christmas came round again oncemore.
Then came sleep, and when Tom looked at his watch--next morning let mecall it--it was very nearly twelve o'clock!
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Although it now wanted but a fortnight, according to Tom's reckoning, ofthe first sunrise, it was still as dark as ever, and but for the moon andstars and glorious Aurora, life about this time would have been very tameand dreary indeed.
Yet, owing to the clearness of the air and the purity of everythingaround them, the children never once lost heart. In fact they were asmerry as sky-larks, and often made the island resound with song and mirthand laughter.
And the dogs, as well as Flossy, were merrier still. They barked andlaughed as only dogs can, and chased each other round and round in greatcircles, often disappearing for ten minutes at a time, and springing outand rolling Flossy over and over when she least expected them.
Flossy was gay enough, although she couldn't run, and often leapt fullysix feet high, turning over and over in the air before she came downagain.
And when she did manage to entice the dogs into the water, it was herturn to show them her skill; and indeed her feats in the water weremarvellous. Anyhow, she used quite to astonish the dogs. They were allvery well in the woods, but couldn't match Flossy in the water, and therewas no use trying it.
Crusoes of the Frozen North Page 7