UNGAVA. 2A7

which tell us of their wonderful adventures, and what
they said and did long ago. I shall tell you some of
these stories one of these days. But I daresay there
are no spirits in this spring.”

“Paix, an’ it would be a rale misfortune if there
was, sir,’ remarked Bryan, who came up at this
moment, and touched his cap; “for it would be only
sperits and wather, which wouldn't kape in this cowld
climate. I’ve finished the ring-bolts for the sled, sir,
an’ came to see when ye would have them fixed.”

“Put them in your pocket, Bryan, for a few minutes,
and lend a hand here to cut a hole through this dome.”

As Frank spoke he drew a small axe from his belt
and began to lay about him so vigorously that the icy
splinters flew in all directions like a shower of broken
crystal. Bryan seconded his efforts, and in less than
half-an-hour a block of solid ice, about four feet high
and two broad, was cut out and detached from the side
of the dome.

“That'll do, Bryan,’ said Frank, when their work
was nearly completed; “I'll finish it myself now. Go
to the carpenter’s house, and Francois will show you
what to do with the sled.”

As Bryan walked away, Frank dealt the mass of ice
a blow that split it into several pieces, which he quickly
removed, revealing to the astonished and eager gaze
of his young companion a cavern of a most beautiful
light blue colour. ‘Taking Edith by the hand, he led
her into this icy cave. Its walls were quite luminous
and delicately blue, except in places where the green
moss and earth around the spring had been torn from
the ground and lifted up along with the dome.  Icicles
hung in various places from the roof, and the floor was
hard and dry, except in the centre, where the spring