e big feast 'cause I
back again. They eat an' no think of you for long time, but they chase
when they find out. Hurry! Hurry!"

It was no easy task for the prisoners to make their way up the icy
slope. Each one was given a pair of short sharp-pointed heavy bones.
With these in their hands, using them much as a seal does his tusks,
they managed to scramble up the slippery incline. Soon they found
themselves able to enter the cave the boys, Bill, Tom and Dirola had
made, through the opening from which they had tumbled.

"Good-bye," called Dirola to them, as they passed out of her sight.

"Good-bye," all called back softly, from the roof of the cavern. It was
the last they were to see of their kind friend.

Outside of the little cave they found a native waiting with a large
sled, to which twenty dogs were hitched. The Esquimaux seemed to be
watching for them, for he made a sign that they were to get on a sled.
No time was lost. Dirola had evidently made her plans well and in haste.
The dog driver looked to see that his charges were safe, and then
cracked his long whip.

Off went the sled at a swift pace, the animals tugging at their
harness. Not a native was in sight save the one driving the sled. They
were all probably at the feast Dirola had prepared in celebration of her
home-coming.

"This is the first sled ride we've had when we were not tied on like so
much cordwood," observed Andy. "Now we have a chance to observe the
scenery."

Faster and faster went the sled. It was a calm clear cold day--or it
might have been night as far as time went, but the sun shone from a blue
sky. It was very cold, and the heavy furs made the adventurers none too
warm.

Suddenly, as the party sped on, there came a loud explosion. It was like
a great cannon being fired.

"What was that?" exclaimed Andy, starting in alarm.

With a cry of fear the dog driver pointed behind him.

Looking over their shoulders, the escaping ones saw a great crack in the
ice field. In it showed the black waters of the ocean. Ahead appeared an
ever-widening black line, and on either side it was the same.

A large part of the ice field had become detached and was floating out
to sea. Though they did not know it, the adventurers had driven over
the water and away from the land.

"We are adrift on the ice!" cried Andy. "We only escaped from one danger
to fall into another!"

CHAPTER XXVI

FIGHTING WILD DOGS

For a moment the realization o