ied villagers ran on until close to
the place where the ice had cracked off, and where a lane of water about
three feet wide presented itself.

Over this went men, women, and children at a flying leap--all except
poor little Pussi. That fat little thing would have been left behind
had not the mere force of the rush carried her on in a half running,
half rolling way. Being unable to manage the jump, she went in with a
plunge, and disappeared.

A wild scream from the nearest female caused every one to stop and run
back.

"Pussi!" exclaimed Nunaga, pointing wildly to the water.

"Where--where did she go in?" cried Rooney.

"She must have gone under the ice!" gasped the poor girl.

As she spoke a bubble of air rose to the surface. Next moment the
seaman cleft the cold black water and disappeared.

Then with a thrill of alarm the Eskimos observed that the great ice-cake
which had broken off was being driven shoreward by the rising tide, and
that the lane of water was rapidly closing.

But they were not kept long in suspense. Another moment, and Rooney
appeared with little Pussi in his arms. They were instantly seized by
Okiok and Angut, and dragged violently out--not much too soon, for only
a few seconds after they were rescued the ice closed with a grinding
crash, that served to increase the fervency of the "Thank God!" with
which the seaman hailed their deliverance.

The child was not quite insensible, though nearly so. Rooney seized her
in his arms, and ran as fast as he could towards the village, whither
the fleet-footed Ippegoo had already been sent to prepare skins and warm
food for the reception of rescued and rescuer.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

THE REBELLION OF THE WORM AND THE FALL OF THE WIZARD.

The event which had so suddenly interrupted the singing duel was a
matter of secret satisfaction to Ujarak, for he felt that he was no
match for Okiok, and although he had intended to fight the battle out to
the best of his ability, he knew that his ultimate defeat was so
probable that its abrupt termination before that event was a piece of
great good-fortune.

Still, his position was unsatisfactory, for, in addition to the fact
that his credit as a genuine angekok had been sadly shaken because of
Ippegoo's failure, he was well aware that the combat which had been
interrupted was only postponed. What was to be done in the
circumstances became, therefore, the urgent question of the hour. In
great perple