to hold the gate, as bold

"Horatius kept the bridge
In the brave days of old".

But it was already giving way, and the beasts without seemed to know it.

Briton was on his legs ready, and all seemed to be lost, when suddenly a
rattling volley of rifle fire was heard from beneath, with shouts of men.

Volley followed volley, and in less time than it takes me to tell it, the
wild wolf-foxes were seeking safety in flight.

* * * * *

"Tell us all your story again," said Tom to his uncle, as the children
sat round the stove that same evening in the cosy cabin of the
_Valhalla_.

They were all washed and clean by this time, and the girls were
beautifully dressed.

[Illustration]

"Ah! well, you see," said Uncle as he relit his pipe, "the professor here
made a dart for the vessel when the storm came on. He wanted a stronger
crew.

"He caught us just in time, for though the gale was a furious one we
could steam up to it, and were doing so, when suddenly there was a loud