We found some sheltering ledges and waited. CHAPTER VI. WINTER. We had it all to repeat after we had endured the catastrophe. We thought that the star, having reached the end of its elongated orbit, turned with exceeding suddenness upon its course, so changing the temperature of north and south as to produce the excessive storm. I will not tell you of our discouraged hearts, but will go on to that winter which was approaching from this time. True that we were disheartened, but that we should desist from our labor was impossible. We must prepare for a frigid zone. This time we selected a high tableland, broken through with narrow clefts where the sea penetrated the land. Some of these clefts we roofed over. We built with reference to enormous weights of snow. We made coverings and corridors; we put windows and pipes and tubes all so that we could breathe and so that we could close them in case of necessity. We sunk wells, collected oil and firewood. At one spot in the rocks we found intense heat; here we built a vast low building to be warmed from the perpetual heat of the star’s volcanic fire. Time passed on. As we receded from the sun our fears became greater. Again we came where we could see our Earth, almost a moon. Then we departed into colder, darker space. Snow fell constantly until the forest disappeared under a white bank. The volcanoes were cloaked almost to their tops. The surface of the land was changed. We had wood for fifty years in our cellars. The smoke from the islands of the sea told us that the life of the star was still existing. Day became twilight. On the snow it was inexpressibly gloomy. The sky grew black; we were entering a night of years. About this time it became so cold that it was unsafe to go into the open air to look. We could only venture out in a hollow case of skins, with lamps about us for warmth. We made all our investigations through triple plates of glass. Then the bird people fell into a sleep from which it was impossible to wake them. We put them into a great hall by dozens, where they lay motionless, lifeless to all appearance. Father Renaudin, Regan, Isabella and I were alone. Day after day we watched our dear, far sun receding, and, as we gazed on the desolate, purpling waste, we wondered if we should find it possible to exist until the night was past! Such an awful sky! The sun only as a taper in it! The star was so small! Would it continue safely on or would it drop down upon some larger sphere? Then we all became aware that another form or presence was among us! Like a black mist it entered and stood beside the fire, sometimes remaining for hours.