It was on this little anticipated holiday that the event took place which it is the business of this story to relate. Two of the most delighted boys at Dr. Longstrap’s school were Harvey Silver and Andy Martin. They were great chums, being as much attached to each other as they were unlike one another in appearance. They lived in the same neighbourhood, were pretty much of the same age—namely, fourteen last birthday—went to the same school, learned the same lessons, and were fond of the same sports. But there the resemblance between them stopped. Andy was hasty, impetuous, and daring; Harvey was quiet, slow, and cautious. In fact, one was both the contrast and the complement of the other, and it was this, no doubt, more than anything else, which made them so attached to each other. Had their mutual likeness been greater, their mutual liking would perhaps have been less. "Isn’t it just splendid having a whole holiday to-morrow?" cried Harvey, enthusiastically, to his chum, as the crowd of boys poured tumultuously out of school for their morning recess, Dr. Longstrap having, with a grim smile, just announced that in view of the freezing of the harbour being such an extremely rare event, he had decided to grant them one day’s liberty. "We must put in the whole day on the harbour," responded Andy heartily. "Couldn’t we take some lunch with us, and then we needn’t go home in the middle of the day?" "What a big head you have, to be sure!" exclaimed Harvey, with a look of mock admiration. "That’s a great idea. We’ll do it." The following day was Thursday, and when the two boys opened their eyes after such a sleep as only tired healthy schoolboys can secure, they were delighted to find every promise of a fine day. The sun shone brightly, the air was clear, the wind was hushed, and everything in their favour. As Harvey, in the highest spirits, took his seat at the breakfast table, he pointed out the window, from which a full view of the harbour could be obtained. "Look, father," said he, "if there isn’t the English mail steamer just coming round the lighthouse! There’ll be no getting to the wharf for her to-day. What do you think they’ll do?" "Come up the harbour as far as they can, and then land the mails and passengers on the ice, I suppose," answered Mr. Silver. "But how can she come up when it’s all frozen?" queried Harvey. "Easily enough. Ram her way through until it is thick enough to stop her." "Oh, what fun that will be!" exclaimed Harvey. "How glad I am that we have a holiday to-day, so we can see it all!" "Well, take good care of yourself, my boy, and be sure and be back before dark," said Mr. Silver. When, according to promise, Andy Martin called for him soon after breakfast, Harvey dragged him to the dining-room window, and pointing out the steamer, now coming into the harbour at a good rate of speed, said gleefully,—