Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/97

Rh great increase of temperature. The snow began to melt, the surface of the lake began to break up with a deafening noise. The bergs that did not melt in the lake were swept into the river, and, piled one on the other, formed a barrier that did not clear away till the 10th of September.

And so the winter had passed. Owing to the precautions that had been taken, the little colony had not suffered much. All had kept in good health, and the studies having been attended to, Gordon had had hardly one complaint to deal with.

One day, however, he had had to chastise Dole, whose conduct required punishment.

Several times the obstinate boy had refined to do what he was told, and Gordon had reprimanded him, but he took no notice of his observations. And in the end Gordon sentenced him to be flogged.

And so Dole received a birching at the hands of Wilcox, who had been selected by lot for the post of public executioner. And the example had its effect, in preventing any further disobedience.

On September the 10th six months had gone by since the schooner was lost on the reefs of Charman Island.