by the blazing hearths, on which fuel was not spared.  Several times, one or other of the settlers descended to the beach in the midst of ice which the waves heaped up at each tide, but they soon climbed up again to Granite House, and it was not without pain and difficulty that their hands could hold to the rounds of the ladder.  In consequence of the intense cold, their fingers felt as if burned when they touched the rounds.  To occupy the leisure hours, which the tenants of Granite House now had at their disposal, Cyrus Harding undertook an operation which could be performed indoors.

We know that the settlers had no other sugar at their disposal than the liquid substance which they drew from the maple, by making deep incisions in the tree.  They contented themselves with collecting this liquor in jars and employing it in this state for different culinary purposes, and the more so, as on growing old, this liquid began to become white and to be of a syrupy consistence.

But there was something better to be made of it, and one day Cyrus Harding announced that they were going to turn into refiners.

“Refiners!” replied Pencroft.  “That is rather a warm trade, I think.”

“Very warm,” answered the engineer.

“Then it will be seasonable!” said the sailor.

This word refining need not awake in the mind thoughts of an elaborate manufactory with apparatus and numerous workmen.  No! to crystallize this liquor, only an extremely easy operation is required.  Placed on the fire in large earthen pots, it was simply subjected to evaporation, and soon a scum arose to its surface.  As soon as this began to thicken, Neb carefully removed it with a wooden spatula; this accelerated the evaporation, and at the same time prevented it from contracting an empyreumatic flavor.

After boiling for several hours on a hot fire, which did as much good to the operators as the substance operated upon, the latter was transformed into a thick syrup.  This syrup was poured into clay molds, previously fabricated in the kitchen stove, and to which they had given various shapes.  The next day this syrup had become cold, and formed cakes and tablets.  This was sugar of rather a reddish color, but nearly transparent and of a delicious taste.

The cold continued to the middle of September, and the prisoners in Granite House began to find their captivity rather tedious.  Nearly every day they attempted sorties which they could not prolong.  They constantly worked at the improvement of their dwelling.  They talked while working.  Harding instructed his companions in many things, principally explaining to them the practical applications of science.  The colonists had no library at their disposal; but the engineer was a book which was always at hand, always open at the page which one wanted, a book which answered all their questions, and which they often consulted.  The time thus passed away pleasantly, these brave men not appearing to have any fears for the future.