After the fire began to fade and to die they all returned to their
Christmas dinner in the hut.

No fewer than four candles were lighted to-night, one in each corner of
the room. Oh, Tom meant to do everything in first-class form, I can tell
you!

And I feel pretty certain that even at home in Merrie England no one that
evening ate more heartily or made a better dinner than our Crusoes, all
alone though they were in the far-off Frozen North.

After supper they all came round the fire, and the dogs went off to
sleep, perchance to dream; but the children kept very wide awake indeed.
And Tom told lots of droll, funny stories, and everybody sang songs.
After this, all the talk was about home and the delightful time they were
sure to have in one year's time, when Christmas came round again once
more.

Then came sleep, and when Tom looked at his watch--next morning let me
call it--it was very nearly twelve o'clock!

* * * * *

Although it now wanted but a fortnight, according to Tom's reckoning, of
the first sunrise, it was still as dark as ever, and but for the moon and
stars and glorious Aurora, life about this time would have been very tame
and dreary indeed.

Yet, owing to the clearness of the air and the purity of everything