of the young man.

"Ippegoo," he said, with an air of unwonted solemnity, for, having made
up his mind to a desperate venture, the wizard wished to subdue his tool
entirely as well as promptly to his will; "Ippegoo, my torngak says the
thing must be done to-night, if it is to be done at all. Putting off,
he says, will perhaps produce failure."

"`Perhaps'!" echoed the youth, with that perplexed look which so
frequently crossed his features when the wizard's words puzzled him. "I
thought that torngaks knew everything, and never needed to say
`perhaps.'"

"You think too much," said Ujarak testily.

"Was it not yesterday," returned the pupil humbly, "that you told me to
think well before speaking?"

"True, O simple one! but there are times to think and times not to
think. Your misfortune is that you always do both at the wrong time,
and never do either at the right time."

"I wish," returned Ippegoo, with a sigh, "that it were always the time
not to think. How much pleasanter it would be!"

"Well, it is time to listen just now," said the wizard, "so give me your
attention. I shall this night harness my dogs, and carry off Nunaga by
force. And you must harness your dogs in another sledge, and follow
me."

"But--but--my mother!" murmured the youth.

"Must be left behind," said the wizard, with tremendous decision and a
dark frown; but he had under-estimated his tool, who replied with
decision quite equal to his own--

"That _must_ not be."

Although taken much by surprise, Ujarak managed to dissemble.

"Well, then," he said, "you must carry her away by force."

"That is impossible," returned Ippegoo, with a faint smile and shake of
the head.

For the first time in his life the wizard lost all patience with his
poor worshipper, and was on the point of giving way to wrath, when the
sound of approaching footsteps outside the cave arrested him. Not
caring to be interrupted at that moment, and without waiting to see who
approached, Ujarak suddenly gave vent to a fearful intermittent yell,
which was well understood by all Eskimos to be the laughter of a torngak
or fiend, and, therefore, calculated to scare away any one who
approached.

In the present instance it did so most effectually, for poor little
Pussi and Tumbler were already rather awed by the grandeur and
mysterious appearance of the sea-green cave. Turning instantly, they
fled--or toddled--on the wings of terror, and with so little regard to