When Mr Lloyd ordered Datchet below for the day, the look—nay, scowl—the man gave the mate was not easily forgotten.
But boy Bounce had the skates, his brow was bandaged, and when the order was given, “All hands over the side!” boy Bounce was first to jump, and was the merriest of all the mad and merry crew on that never-to-be-forgotten morning.
Chapter Seventeen.
Wild Sports of the Far North—An Arctic Storm—Breaking up of the Sea of Ice.
It was a matter of no small wonderment to the men of the Icebear why Dr Barrett should now, in a great measure, forsake the mine, where it seemed that wealth could be accumulated, slow though it might be in coming.
But the worthy surgeon “ken’t his ain ken,” as the Scotch say; in other words, he knew what he was about. He was not a gold-digger nor a silver-miner: he was sent out for the purpose of scientific discovery; not to load the Icebear with the spoils of this frozen wilderness, but to spy out the richness of the land.
Was it not possible, he argued with himself, that at some future day an expedition might be sent out, and a company formed to work mines here. It would give him, Dr Barrett, the greatest pleasure to be in charge of it Meanwhile he was very busy indeed.
Dr Barrett’s character and habits were such as might well be imitated by the youth of the rising generation, both male and female. Let me give one or two examples of it.