Its flame and smoke leaped up from the white hill into the blue heaven.

It was the seal-hunting, then, to which all the island was going forth.

Caius, now that he understood the tumult, experienced almost the same excitement.

He ran back, donned clothes suitable for the hunt across the ice, and, mounting his horse, rode after the people.

They were all bound for the end of the island on which the lighthouse stood, for a number of fish-sheds, used for cooking and sleeping in the fishing season, were built on the western shore not far from the light; and from the direction in which the seals had appeared, these were the sheds most convenient for the present purpose.
By the time Caius reached the sheds, the greater number of the fishermen were already far out upon the ice.