personal safety, that Pussi found herself suddenly on the edge of an
ice-cliff, without the power to stop. Tumbler, however, had himself
more under command. He pulled up in time, and caught hold of his
companion by the tail, but she, being already on a steep gradient,
dragged her champion on, and it is certain that both would have gone
over the ice precipice and been killed, if Tumbler had not got both
heels against an opportune lump of ice. Holding on to the tail with
heroic resolution, while Pussi was already swinging in mid-air, the poor
boy opened wide his eyes and mouth, and gave vent to a series of yells
so tremendous that the hearts of Ujarak and Ippegoo leaped into their
throats, as they rushed out of the cavern and hastened to the rescue.

But another ear had been assailed by those cries. Just as Ippegoo--who
was fleeter than his master--caught Tumbler with one hand, and Pussi's
tail with the other, and lifted both children out of danger, Reginald
Rooney, who chanced to be wandering in the vicinity, appeared, in a
state of great anxiety, on the scene.

"Glad am I you were in time, Ippegoo," said the seaman, shouldering the
little girl, while the young Eskimo put the boy on his back, "but I
thought that you and Ujarak were away south with the hunters. What has
brought you back so soon? Nothing wrong, I trust?"

"No; all goes well," returned Ippegoo, as they went towards the village.
"We have only come back to--to--"

"To make preparation for the feast when they return," said the wizard,
coming quickly to the rescue of his unready follower.

"Then they will be back immediately, I suppose?" said Rooney, looking
pointedly at the wizard.

"Yes, immediately," answered Ujarak, without appearing to observe the
pointed look, "unless something happens to detain them."

Suspecting that there was something behind this reply, the sailor said
no more. Ujarak, feeling that he was suspected, and that his plan,
therefore, must be given up for the time being, determined to set
himself to work to allay suspicion by making himself generally useful,
and giving himself up entirely to the festivities that were about to
take place on the return of the men from their successful hunt.

CHAPTER TEN.

RED ROONEY BECOMES A SPECTACLE AND THEN A PRESIDENT.

Late on the evening of the following day the fur-clad hunters arrived at
their village with shouts of rejoicing--hairy and happy--for they
brought with them many a c