The bright moonlight now waning, was replaced for an instant or two only--the transition was so short--by a hazy, misty chiaro-oscuro, which, in another second, was dissolved by the ready effulgence of the solar rays, that darted here, there, and everywhere through it, piercing the curtain of mist to the core as it annihilated it.
Then, the sun rose.
But no, it did not rise in the ordinary sense of the expression; it literally jumped up at once from the sea, appearing several degrees above the horizon the same instant almost that Fritz and Eric caught sight of it and before they could realise its presence, albeit their eyes were intently fixed all the while on the point where it heralded its coming by the glowing vapours sent before.
"Ah!" exclaimed Fritz, drawing a deep breath when this transformation of nature was complete, the light touching up the projecting peaks of the cliff and making a glittering pathway right into the bay.

"This sight is enough to inspire any one.

It ought to make us set to our work with a good heart!" "Right you are," responded Eric, who was equally impressed with the magic scene--in spite of his disclaimer about having seen a better sunrise in antarctic seas.

"As soon as we've had breakfast, for I confess I feel peckish again--it's on account of going to bed so early, I suppose!--I'm ready to bear a hand as your assistant and help you with the garden.

But, who shall be cook?
One of the two of us had better take that office permanently, I think; eh, Fritz ?" "You can be, if you like," said the other.