1/2 THE FUR COUNTRY, The brave woman seemed rather surprised than uneasy, and it was doubtful whether or no she understood the significance of what had occurred. Had the truth flashed upon her as it had upon the Lieutenant? had she, like him, at once seen all the consequences involved? However it may have been, she said not a word, but leant upon Madge, whose arm was round her mistress's waist The astronomer hurried to and fro, he could not keep still. His hair was disordered ; he alternately wrung his hands and let them drop against his sides. Ejaculations of despair burst from his lips ; he shook his fist at the sun, and stared at it with distended eyes. Presently, however, he grew calmer ; he felt able to speak, and with crossed arms, flashing eyes, flushed face, and frowning brows, he strode up to the Lieutenant. " I have a score to settle with you ! " he cried. " Yes, with you. Lieutenant Hobson, agent of the Hudson's Bay Company ! " The tone, the attitude, the words, were uncommonly like a challenge ; but Hobson felt so truly sorry for the poor man's dis- appointment that he could not take offence, and only looked at him quietly. " Mr Hobson," resumed Black with ill-concealed irritation, "will you be kind enough to inform me what all this means? Have you anything to do with this mystery % If so, sir, you have struck at those higher than I, and you may come to repent it ! "
- What do you mean, Mr Black ? " inquired Hobson calmly.
"I mean, sir," resumed the astronomer, "that you were ordered to take your detachment to the seventieth parallel of lati- tude ! " ' " Or beyond it," said Hobson. " Beyond it, sir I " cried Black ; " what have I to do beyond it? To observe the total eclipse of the sun, I ought not to have crossed the limits included in the seventieth parallel ; I ought to have remained in that portion of English America, and here I am three degrees above it ! " " Well, Mr Black," replied Hobson, still quietly, " we were mia- taken, that is all ! " " That is all ! " screamed the astronomer, exasperated at the Lien- tenant's calmness. "Let me remind you," resumed Hobson, "that if I was mistaken, you shared my error — yes, you^ Mr Black ; for on our arrival at
