the trees, and the green leaves on a thousand bushes. Wild flowers were
everywhere. The birds, too, had returned, and the sea-gulls had taken up
their abode on a great patch of level ground just on the other side of
the lake. When anyone went near to their nests, which were in thousands,
and so close together that it was difficult to thread one's way through
them, the noise and screaming they made was deafening.

Now I don't think that Tom and Frank were cruel, but they had to live,
and those great green-speckled eggs made a splendid addition to the
larder, so that, what with sunshine and better food, the girls soon got
back all the colour they had lost during the long, long night of winter.

But where was the _Valhalla_ and her crew all this time? Would they
never, never come?

The Crusoes lived in hope.

Now in spring-time the foxes and bears of the north, that have slept or
starved for months, become bold and dangerous through hunger. Bears are
always to be feared, but more so at this time of the year than any other.

[Illustration]

One day the prisoners of Fairy Island had been gayer than usual, but at
last, tired and happy, they had lain down to rest. It might have been
about midnight when they were awakened by a warning growl from Briton.
Then, with Veevee, he sprang up and rushed to the gate barking furiously.

Tom sprang to his feet, and snatched up his rifle. He was not left long
in doubt as to who the enemy was. The wild wolf-foxes were in force, and