"No; Ippegoo must come with me," he said. "I have work for him to do.
One who would be an angekok must leave bird-spearing to boys." Then
turning to Arbalik--"Did you not say that the hunters have found plenty
of game?"

"Yes, plenty."

"I told you so," said the wizard, using a phrase not unfamiliar to
civilised ears. "Remain here, and spear plenty of birds; or go where
you will."

Having thus graciously given the youth free permission to do as he
pleased--which Arbalik received with inward scorn, though outward
respect--he left the cave, followed meekly by his satellite.

After walking in silence till well out of earshot of the expert young
hunter, the wizard said in solemn tones--

"Ippegoo, I have work of more importance for you to do than spearing
birds--work that requires the wisdom of a young angekok."

All Ujarak's backhanders vanished before this confidential remark, and
the poor tool began to feel as if he were growing taller and broader
even as he walked.

"You know the hut of Okiok?" continued the wizard.

"Yes; under the ice-topped cliff."

"Well, Angut is there. I hate Angut!"

"So do I," said Ippegoo, with emphasis quite equal to that of his
master.

"And Nunaga is there," continued Ujarak. "I--I love Nunaga!"

"So do I," exclaimed Ippegoo fervently, but seeing by the wizard's
majestic frown that he had been precipitate, he took refuge in the hasty
explanation--"Of course I mean that--that--I love her because _you_ love
her. I do not love her for herself. If _you_ did not love her, I would
hate her. To me she is not of so much value as the snout of a seal."

The wizard seemed pacified, for his frown relaxed, and after a few
moments' thought he went on savagely--

"Angut also loves Nunaga."

"The madman! the insolent! the fool!" exclaimed Ippegoo; "what can he
expect but death?"

"Nothing else, and nothing less," growled the wizard, clenching his
teeth--"_if_ he gets her! But he shall never get her! I will stop
that; and that is why I ask you to listen--for you must be ready to act,
and in haste."

As Ippegoo began to entertain uncomfortable suspicions that the wizard
was about to use him as an instrument of vengeance, he made no response
whatever to the last remark.

"Now," continued his master, "you will go to the hut of Okiok. Enter it
hurriedly, and say to Nunaga that her father's grandmother, Kannoa, is
ill--ill in her mind--and will not rest till she comes to see h