furs, who seemed to have lost some of his authority on entering
the ice chamber, motioned the captives to be seated. They sat down,
crossed legs, and waited.

They were aware that the interior of the cave was much warmer than the
air outside, and soon were forced to lay aside some of their heavy
garments. In a little while several women approached bearing huge
platters on which rested smoked chunks of hot meat.

It did not look very inviting. There were no knives, no forks, no
napkins and no plates. None of the somewhat limited comforts of the
airship were to be had. But the captives were too hungry to mind such
things. Using their fingers, they ate ravenously, and found the meat
very good, though they did not know what it was.

"I feel much better," said Jack. "If I only had some place to wash my
hands now, I'd be quite satisfied."

"You ought to be thankful you got something to eat," returned Mark. "I
was almost starved."

"Dat was as good as roast beef, chicken, pork-chops, cranberry sauce,
celery an' potatoes," observed Washington with a sigh of satisfaction.

Since the native women had brought them food no one in the cave had
taken the slightest notice of the prisoners. The men in the centre about
the big stone lamp sat like so many dark and graven images, saying not a
word.

"I wonder what is next on the program?" asked Andy.

In a few minutes an old woman, bearing a stone basin full of some
liquid, and a horn cup, approached them, and, filling the smaller
vessel, offered the old professor something to drink. As she neared him
she caught sight of his white face and long whitish beard and hair, and
gave such a start that she nearly dropped the basin she was carrying.
She peered down into the old man's face and muttered something that
sounded like:

"Ingliss!"

"What has she got and what is she saying?" asked the hunter.

"I don't know what she said," replied Amos Henderson, "but she has
given me some good milk."

Then, going from one to the other, the old woman, who seemed strangely
agitated as she saw so many white faces, poured out the reindeers' milk,
which made a welcome drink.

"They are treating us better than I thought they would," remarked Andy.
"Maybe we will not be so badly off as I feared."

Suddenly, from the midst of the circle of natives, a voice arose. The
captives glanced quickly over in the direction, and saw that the man in
the white furs, who had superintended their capture, wa