"now what?" asked tug, holding his head very high to prevent the snow going down the back of his neck. "now what?"
"now," aleck answered, in a tone of command, "get the boat up there under the lee of that hummock. everybody take hold."
the ropes were seized with a will, but the heavy boat could not be dragged in the snow until it had been lightened; then by great exertion it was taken over the fifty yards that lay between the water and the hummock. at that spot the ice had been thrust up like a smooth wall about fifteen feet high, which overhung slightly, so as to form a cosey shelter from the storm. the bow of the boat was swung close against its foot, while the stern was slanted away until there remained a space of about eight feet between it and the smooth face of the hummock at that end. tug and jim went back after the sled and what baggage had been left behind at the "lead," while aleck and katy began to contrive a shelter.
to manage this they cleared out the movable things in the boat, arranging all the cargo (except the mess chest), as fast as it was removed, in the shape of a wall extending across from the stern of the boat to the hummock. in this way, with the help of thwarts, two oars, and some blocks of ice, a rough wall was raised, about four feet high, enclosing a three-cornered space eight feet in width, having the hummock and starboard side of the boat for its sides, and the cargo wall (through which a hole had been left as a doorway) for its end or "base."
next, a roof must be contrived. the mast and two oars were set in a leaning position from the outer gunwale of the boat, where they rested firmly upon the thwart-cleats, up against the hummock, to which they were securely wedged.
it had now become dark, and katy lighted the lantern. tug and jim, covered with snow, brought their last sled-load and added it to the wall, throwing all their little stock of firewood, which amounted to about three bushels, into the hut. then all hands set to work in the wind, which blew in sharp gusts now and then over the crest of the hummock, to stretch the sails upon the rafters formed by the mast and oars and thus form an awning-roof.
the handling of the heavy mainsail proved an extremely difficult matter. once it blew quite away from their grasp, and went off in the darkness, but jim and the dog gave chase, and soon caught it, rex grabbing it with his teeth, and so holding on to it till the others came to the rescue. at the next attempt they succeeded in fastening one end, after which the task grew easier.
the mainsail fairly in place, the jib was next hoisted across the end, and here its leg-of-mutton shape was a great advantage, for when the broad lower part was hung against the hummock wall the narrowing peak just fitted between the sloping roof and the top of the wall.
when the two sails had been fastened, the party found themselves covered rudely but pretty tightly, and the spare canvas remained to serve as a carpet, which was greatly needed. plenty of snow and cold were "lying round loose" yet, but to be inside was far better than to be out of doors. that this safety and warmth were possible to their frail structure was owing, of course, to the fact that it stood under the lee of the tall ice wall, which acted as a shield against the force of the gale.
"really, the wind does us more good than harm now," aleck remarked, "for it drifts the snow under the boatsledge and against the wall, and, if it keeps on, will soon stop up all the holes, and leave us boxed into a tighter house than our old snow-chinked cabin back at the river."
"mebbe it'll bury us," said jim, in an awful whisper.
"guess not. anyhow, we can have a fire first—there are holes enough left yet to let the smoke out. tug, just shovel the drifted snow out of the house, or pack it between the bobs under the boat, while i whittle some kindling. there won't any more blow in—the drift's too high now."
"shall i boil tea or coffee?" asked katy.
"coffee, i guess; and give us some fried bacon and crackers—but lots of coffee."
"why couldn't we use our oil stove now?"
"we don't really need to. we have some wood, and can build a fire well enough inside here, and the oil is easier carried than the wood for a greater need. ready, tug?"
"ay, ay, sir."
"all right. here are our kindlings. katy, open your lantern, and let me set these shavings afire. matches are too precious to be wasted or even risked."
a minute later a brisk little fire was burning, snow was turning to water, and cold water to hot, while coffee was thinking that presently it would be in the pot, and slices of bacon were saying good-bye to their fellows, as one by one they dropped into the frying-pan.
it was a strange scene, but the actors in it were too tired and hungry to notice how they looked, as they watched with eager interest the progress of supper-getting. they were not cold, and wraps were all thrown aside, for the wind was cut off, and the fire, small as it was, made a great deal of heat in the confined space. the atmosphere of an eskimo house of ice, though there may be no better fire than a little pool of train-oil in a soapstone saucer, where a wick of moss is smoking and flaring, will become so warm that the people remove not only their furs, but a large part of their under-clothing, and this when the temperature outside is fifty degrees or so below freezing-point.
"it is just about big enough for a play-house," katy remarked, as she jostled one and another in moving about.
"i'm glad the snow blows over, and doesn't settle on the roof. if it did, i'm afraid the canvas would sag down awfully, or the oars break."
"how will we sleep to-night?" asked jim.
"well," said aleck, "i think we must all sleep in the boat somehow. katy and you can lie on the straw in the stern-sheets, as usual, and tug and i will bunk in somewhere for'ard. if we had plenty of wood to keep the fire going, it would be comfortable out here, but we must economize. if this snow keeps on, i don't know when—"
"supper!" called katy, and aleck didn't finish what he was saying; but they all felt a little more serious about their situation. though jim objected, aleck ordered him to put out every bit of the fire, and perched up in the boat they ate their supper by the light of the lantern.
"it's precious lucky we found this straw in the cabin," said tug, as he sat upon it, with a tin cup of coffee in one hand, and in the other a sandwich made of two pieces of cold johnny-cake and a slice of bacon.
"that's cool! the luck is that kate had the good sense to make us bring it. i know two young fellows who objected."
"i know three," katy spoke up. "fair play. you sneered at me at first, mr. captain, as much as anybody. you needn't play goody-goody over the rest of them."
"go in, katy!" they both cried. "give it to him! he was going to leave every bit behind—and the rushes too."
"well, well," pleaded aleck, "i know now it was a good idea, and i'm not always so—"
"—big a fool as you look, eh?" exclaimed tug, giving them all a laugh at the face made by the tall fellow, who was thus cheated out of his smooth apology.
"never you mind; i'll get even with you before long."
then the captain took out his watch and wound it. holding it in his hand he said: "now it's my turn. i'll give you merry jesters just four minutes to finish your supper and make your beds. then i blow out the lantern. oil is precious."
