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 224 ^^^ P^^ COUNTRY. parts in the storm. The gulf observed the nighl before might have spread farther, and if so they would be cut oflf from their friends. They soon reached the wood they had crossed the night before. Numbers of trees were lying on the ground, some with broken stems, others torn up by the roots from the soft soil, which had not afforded them sufficient support. The few which remained erect were stripped of their leaves, and their naked branches creaked and moaned as the south-east wind swept over them. Two miles beyond this desolated forest the wanderers arrived at the edge of the gulf they had seen the night before without being able to judge of its extent. They examined it carefully, and found that it was about fifty feet wide, cutting the coast line straight across near Cape Michael and what was formerly Fort Barnett, forming a kind of estuary running more than a mile and a half inland. If the sea should again become rough in a fresh storm, this gulf would widen more and more. Just as Hobson approached the beach, he saw a large piece of ice separate from the island and float away ! " Ah ! " murmured Long, " that is the danger ! " Both then turned hurriedly to the west, and walked as fast as they could round the" huge gulf, making direct for Fort Hope. They noticed no other changes by the way, and towards four o'clock they crossed the court and found all their comrades at their usual occupations. H'. bson told his men that he had wished once more before the winter to see if there were any signs of the approach of Captain Craventy's convoy, and that his expedition had been fruitless. " Then, sir," observed Marbre, " I suppose we must give up all idea of seeing our comrades from Fort Reliance for this year at least % " "I think you must," replied Hobson simply, re-entering the public room. Mrs Barnett and Madge were told of the two chief events of the exploration : the fire and the cry. Hobson was quite sure that neither he nor the Sergeant were mistaken. The fire bad really been seen, the cry had really been heard ; and after a long consul- tation every one came to the conclusion that a ship in distress had passed within sight during the night, and that the island had not approached the American coast. The south-east wind quickly chased away the clouds and mists,