Left on the Labrador: A Tale of Adventure Down North

ail of the mail boat gazing out at the cold, bleak rocks of the L

ck, heralding the winter near at hand, and there was no protecting nook where one could escape them and sit in any degree of comfort. The cabin was close and stuffy, and its atmosphere was heavy with that indescribable odor that

was admitted, and had decided that, as uncomfortable as

, and navigation would open for another short summer. The last fishing schooner had already hurried southward to escape the autumn gales and the blockade of ice,

ttered. "Not even a decent place on t

ng a good

smiling face of Barney MacF

didn't know anybody was

ime?" Barney grinn

and smelly inside, and there's no one to talk with. Mr. Wise sprawls in his bunk rea

ugust, we're having fine weather too, with plenty of sunshine. 'Tis then the passengers are with us, with now and

l boat would be more interesting for me while he hunted. He sent Mr. Wise along to keep me company. He's Dad's secretary. He's left me alone most of the time. Dad said I would see Indians and Eskimos and loads of interesting things, but I've been on the ship ever since we left, except at Hopedale when the Captain took me as

n you, b'y," agreed Barney sympa

fice that I don't see him often. I thought

he felt it would be unmanly to

d heartily. "I'll show you the big engines, and we'll chum up a bit. I'm off watch now, but I'll be on

much!" Charley acknowledged

nly there came a long blast of the whistle. There was activity upon the deck at once. Sailor

ing to mak

ered one of them

is it?" as

-In Ti

be a lo

inside the Tickle to take on fish and gear. I'm th

ashore in

'll be room. The boat comes back

uiry to the mate, who

answered, "but there'll b

f speed, and was already picking her way cautiously into the tickle, where the cliffs, nearly as high as the

he rocks at the north side of the harbour were some rude cabins. Opposite these the ship swung about, the boat

ed was he that he failed to observe, until it was quite near, another boat pulling toward the

atched the boy make the painter fast to the ladder, an

hood thrown back, served as a coat. His trousers were also of white moleskin, and were tucked into knee-high sealskin boots with moc

harley. "Lookin

, "I'm just pullin' ov

a sudden impulse, and

r half an hour, and maybe longer. I'll give you a

ed the boy cheerfully. "I'll be goin' down and h

into the boat, which he drew broadside to the ladder and t

go now?" asked the boy

ley. "Let's land over where I can cli

g on a shelving rock, above which the hill rose abruptly. Charley helped him pull the boat to a

r name?" as

," answere

nd I'm from New York. I'm tak

ome in that I could be takin' a crui

in the cabin. It must get pretty cold here in winter. Where

eed Toby. "'Twill not be long now till

use boats

. We cruises with dogs in winter, af

lly lonesome with n

ere's aplenty to do. We hunts

t a wolf?" asked C

I sees five wolves, but they k

see a wild wolf! Did

k and white. Dad killed

l, as they talked, wholly oblivious of t

er be goin' back. The mail

aid Charley, as they retraced their

ill. Both boys stopped and looked below them

has gone!" cried Cha

d Toby. "She's goin

her! Do something!" C

y pointed to a long black line of smoke rising above the r

hat shall I do?" wailed

cks of the Labrador coast, at the edge of an Arctic winter,

HAS GONE!" CRIED CHA