Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/89

Rh the little ones Service and Garnett made a large snow man, with a big head, and an enormous nose. And it may as well be confessed that although during the day Dole and Costar were brave enough to pelt the man with snowballs, yet at night, when the darkness had made the figure look larger, they could not look at it without being frightened.

"Oh! the cowards!" said Iverson and Jenkins, who pretended to be very brave, although they were no less terrified than their young companions.

At the end of June their amusements had to be given up. The snow, piled up to three or four feet in thickness, rendered it almost impossible to get out. To venture more than a few hundred yards from French Den was to run the risk of being unable to return.

The young colonists were thus kept in for a fortnight — until the 9th of July. The work did not suffer; on the contrary, the daily programme was strictly adhered to. The discussions took place on the proper days. In them all took delight, and it is not surprising that Donagan, with his ease of speech and advanced education, held the first place. But why was he so vain of it? His vanity spoilt all his brilliant qualities.

Although the hours of recreation had to be passed in the hall, the general health did not suffer, thanks to the ventilation obtained by means of the passage. The question of health was an important one. If one of the boys was to fall ill how could they give him the needful attention? Fortunately they escaped with a few colds and sore throats, which rest and warm drinks soon got rid of.

There was another question to be solved. In practice the water had been got from the stream at low tide when the brackishness had disappeared. But when the surface of the stream was frozen over this would not be possible. Gordon consulted with Baxter, his "engineer in ordinary," as to what was best to be done. Baxter, after consideration, proposed to run a pipe a few feet below the bank so that the water in