SCHAROK AGAIN 267 



days ago — that would be Saturday, the 26th instant — he 

 had seen a steamer off the northern end of the upper sand- 

 banks. She was there, he said, all the morning, but in the 

 afternoon was gone. Of course he had fully made up his 

 mind that she was our boat, and as he always hoped we 

 should be with him all the winter, so now he felt that sure. 



But I was of a different mind. The date was too early, 

 and I knew quite well that if the Saxon had succeeded 

 in coming so close as that, she would not have gone off 

 so quickly. 



Now came the question, what were we to do ? We 

 had no vegetables, no bread, and only a few biscuits in 

 the bag. I attributed much of Hyland's aches and pains 

 to want of vegetable food. Round our present camp 

 all was bog or peat ; but up with Uano there were 

 grassy banks where sorrel grew. I knew also that from 

 Pesanka camp we could keep an eye on the sea. So 

 I told the old man that he must come down to-morrow 

 and brino- us sleiohs so that we could return with him. 

 Of course he was delighted. 



July 2,1st. — So we sat there talking and talking, in 

 the hope that the wind would fall or the rain stop. 



Is it in Dean Ramsay, or where ? I forget. But the 

 rector says to the old clerk — 



' This is getting very serious, John. We must have 

 on Sunday the prayers appointed for rain.' 



' Yes, sir, very good,' says old John ; ' prayers 'pinted. 



