nd realized that it
came from the north-east. The cold was piercing and awful. The
elements which had been held in subjection for so long were unleashed
and were venting themselves with all the untamed fury of the North
upon the world.

As he turned to reenter the igloo an apparition brushed past him
rushing off into the night.

"Who is it?" he shouted.

But the wind brought back no answer and overcome with a feeling of
trepidation and a sense of impending tragedy, half believing that he
had seen a ghost, he crawled back to his cover and warm sleeping bag
to wonder.

There was no cessation in the storm or change in the conditions the
next day. In the morning while they were drinking their hot tea Bob
told Akonuk and Matuk of the apparition he had seen in the night.

"That," they said in awe, "was the spirit of Torngak," and Bob was
duly impressed.

Upon a visit later to the other igloos he missed Chealuk. She had
always sat in one corner plying her needle, and had always had a word
for him when he came in to pay a visit. Her absence was therefore
noticeable and Bob asked one of the Eskimos where she was.

"Gone," said the Eskimo.

And this was all he could learn from them. Poor old Chealuk had been
sent away, and it must have been she, then, that he had seen in the
darkness.

That night Bob was aroused again, and he immediately realized that
something of moment had occurred. Akonuk and Matuk were awake and
talking excitedly, and through the shrieking of the gale outside came
a distinct and unusual sound. It was like the roar of distant thunder,
but still it was not thunder. He sat up sharply to learn the meaning
of it all.

XXI

ADRIFT ON THE ICE

The unusual sound that Bob heard was the pounding of ice driven by the
mighty force of wind and tide against the island rocks. This the
Eskimos verified with many exclamations of delight. The hoped for had
happened and release from their imprisonment was at hand. Bob thanked
God for remembering them.

"I were thinkin' th' Lard would not be losin' sight o' me now He's
been so watchful in all th' other times I were needin' help," said he
as he lay down.

To the Eskimos it was a proof of the efficacy of the appeal to the
Angakok.

During the next day the high wind and snow continued until dusk. Then
the weather began to calm and before morning the sky was clear and the
stars shining cold and brilliant, and the sun rose clear and
beautiful. Kangeva