Steve nodded, but he could not help a curious sensation of awe creeping over him as once more he thought of the coming six months, during which they would almost have bidden good-bye to the sun.
“I can’t quite think how we shall do without any light, Mr Handscombe,” said Steve quietly.
“Nor I neither, my lad; but experientia docet, as the Latin folk used to say.”
“But doctors should not,” said the captain merrily, as he came up. “Docet sounds suggestive from the lips of a medical man. Now, Steve, I appoint you commander-in-chief of the fires. See that they are properly kept up from now till the end of next spring.”
“If spring there be,” said the doctor. “I expect that we shall step from winter into summer, as we did from summer to winter; but we shall see.”
“Yes,” said the captain, “we shall see.”