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its present size. I doubt if it will keep alight till after we reach the North Pole, but it will keep you warm till then, and I shall be able to bring you back very quickly. Now we are coming to the ice-world.”

Looking about him, Jack saw that the blocks of ice were growing larger and larger as they went on, and the spaces of water less and less, until at last they disappeared altogether, and nothing could be seen but an immense plain of solid ice. The moon shone upon it brightly, and moving noiselessly over the surface were a number of almost transparent forms of men and women, with deadly white faces and cold glittering eyes. They never spoke, but moved about swiftly and silently. They fled at the sight of the fire-ball, but when they saw Jack some of them stopped and motioned to him to stop too.

“Who are they?” he asked.

“They are ice-people,” said his guide; “they live on the ice, and never speak, but always glide about as you see them now.”

“Why mayn’t we stop and see them?” said Jack.

His companion said nothing, but pointed down