"You are not going back soon?" she asked, timidly.
"Certainly not for a while; but when summer comes I may have to, unless you make the new fort so charming by your presence, that even an old fellow like myself cannot tear himself away," replied the Colonel, gallantly.
"But how could we possibly do without you?"
"Oh, that can easily be managed, and to save time, preliminaries are already being arranged."
"You are cold," said Harold, noticing the sudden whiteness of her face. "Let us step to the fire."
Already one was burning, and beside it she stood, silently watching the men felling trees for the larger camp of the night.
"This is Mr. Latimer, sir," said the Corporal to Sir George, touching his hat; with him were Hardman and the shuffling skipper. "He owns the craft."
"Good day, sir," exclaimed the man, with a general air of amazement on his face.
"Good day to you," Sir George replied, extending his hand. "We were surprised to find a boat in the ice with a live man on it at this time of the year."
"No more'n I was to see youse, sir; an' where the deuce you all comes from beats me."