ed. Next time we will be sure to succeed, and--"

"I suppose your torngak told--"

"Silence! weak-minded puffin!" thundered the wizard, to the great
astonishment of a seal which came up at that moment to breathe, and
prudently retired in time to save its life.

Once again the angekok with a mighty effort restrained his wrath, and
after a time resumed--

"Now, Ippegoo, we dare not venture again to try till after the feast,
for the suspicion which you have roused in Angut by the foolish wagging
of your tongue must be allowed to die out. But in the meantime--though
you cannot, _must_ not, speak--you can listen, and you can get your
mother to listen, and, when you hear anything that you think I ought to
know, you will tell me."

"But if," said the pupil timidly, "I should only find out things that
your torngak has already told you, what--"

He stopped short, for Ujarak, springing up, walked smartly away, leaving
his follower behind to finish the question, and gather up the spears.

"Yes; he is right. I _am_ a fool," murmured Ippegoo. "Yet his conduct
does seem strange. But he is an angekok. That must be the reason."

Consoling himself with this reflection, the puzzled youth, putting the
spears and hunting tackle on his shoulders, followed after his irate
master towards the bay where the other hunters were encamped.

We turn now to two other actors in our tale, who, although not very
important characters, deserve passing notice.

When Nuna's youngest son, little Tumbler, was brought to the Eskimo
village, he made his appearance in the new black dress suit with which
Rooney had clothed him--much to the surprise and delight of the whole
community. Not long after arriving, he waddled away through the village
in search of some piece of amusing mischief to do. On his ramble he
fell in with a companion of about his own size, whose costume was that
of a woman in miniature--namely, a short coat with a fully developed
tail, which trailed on the ground with the approved fashionable swing.
This was none other than Pussi, the little daughter of Simek, the great
hunter. Now it chanced that there was a mutual liking--a strong bond of
sympathy--between Tumbler and Pussi, which induced them always to play
together when possible.

No sooner, therefore, did Tumbler catch sight of his friend than he ran
after her, grasped her greasy little hand, and waddled away to do, in
company with her, what mischief might chance to be