318 THE WORLD OF ICE.

and son to pour out the deep feelings of their hearts
to each other, and follow the footsteps of honest John
Buzzby, as he sailed down the village with his wife
and children, and a host of admiring friends in tow.

Buzzby’s feelings had been rather powerfully stirred
up by the joy of all around, and a tear would occa-
sionally tumble over his weather-beaten cheek, and
hang at the point of his sunburnt and oft frost-bitten
nose, despite his utmost efforts to subdue such out-
rageous demonstrations.

“Sit down, John dear,” said Mrs. Buzzby in kind
but commanding tones, when she got her husband
fairly into his cottage, the little parlour of which was
instantly crowded to excess. “Sit down, John dear,
and tell us all about it.”

“ Wot! begin to spin the whole yarn o’ the voyage
afore I’ve had time to say, ‘ How d’ye do?’” exclaimed
Buzzby, at the same time prasping his two uproarious
sons, who had, the instant he sat down, rushed at his
legs like two miniature midshipmen, climbed up them
as if they had been two masts, and settled on his knees
as if they had been their own favourite cross-trees !

“No, John, not the yarn of the voyage,” replied his
wife, while she spread the board before him with
bread and cheese and beer, “but tell us how you
found old Captain Ellice, and where, and what’s
comed of the crew.”

“Werry good! then here goes.”

Buzzby was a man of action. He screwed up his
weather-eye (the one next his wite, of cowr'se, that