Slag and Mitford followed his example. "I'm beginnin' to feel better on the outside," continued O'Connor, pausing, "but my spinal marrow isn't properly warm yet." "'Minds me o' Baffin's Bay," growled Slag, with a mighty slap of the arms between each word. Mitford seemed to think any remark superfluous, for he only groaned. "Pity it's too dark to see yer face, John," said Terrence. "It must be a sight worth seein'. Och, av I only had a good-sized pocket-han'kicher I'd wrap me feet in it, anyhow." "Suppose we cut some grass and try that?" suggested Mitford. The suggestion was acted on. It was slow work cutting grass with a clasp-knife; tearing it up in handfuls was still slower, but the labour warmed the tired explorers, and when they lay down again under this Adam-an'-Eveic bedding, they fell asleep almost immediately, and did not waken till the sun was pretty well up in the eastern sky. "Breakfast fust," said Slag, on completing a tremendous stretch and yawn. "It's always bin my way since I was a babby--business first; pleasure to foller. Grub is business, an' work is pleasure--leastwise, it ought to be to any man who's rated `A. One' on the ship's books. Hallo! sorrowful-monkey-face, clap a stopper on yer nose an' tumble up,--d'ye hear?" Mitford did not hear, but a touch of Slag's toe caused him to feel and to rise. O'Connor was already astir, preparing breakfast. Cold boiled mussels and a bit of pork may be good food, but it is not appetising. Consequently they did not linger long over the meal, but were soon striding up the mountain-side rejoicing in the fresh air and sunshine. There was a certain phase in John Mitford's character which had not yet been discovered by his friends, and was known only to his wife. He was romantic--powerfully so. To wander through unknown lands and be a discoverer had been the dream of his youth. He was naturally reticent, and had never said so to any one but Peggy, who, being the reverse of romantic, was somewhat awe-stricken by the discovery, and, in an imbecile way, encouraged him to hope that, "one of these days he'd 'ave 'is desires gratified, as there was nothink to prevent 'im from goin' to Novazealand--if that was the right way to pronounce it--or to Van Demons land--not in a sinful way of course, for they had given up transportin' people there now--though wherever they transported 'em to she couldn't imagine--anyhow, there was nothink to prevent his tryin'." And John did try, which was the primary cause of his being a member of the exploring party now under consideration. Influenced by his romantic spirit, Mitford betrayed a troublesome tendency to wander from his comrades in pursuit of the Unknown. O'Connor, with the straightforward simplicity of his nation, set it down to pig-headedness. Slag, being a man of feeling, opined that it was absence of mind.