edges during the winter work of traffic to and from the
hunting-grounds, Ujarak availed himself of the opportunity to lose, as
it were, his own track among the others, so that, in the sure event of
pursuit, the pursuers might be effectually baffled. The only point he
had to consider after that was the necessity of diverging from the track
with such care that the point of divergence should be impossible to
find.

In this he was again favoured by circumstances. Having driven at full
speed straight out from the land in a westerly direction, he came to a
place where the ice had been considerably broken up, so that the old
tracks ended abruptly in many places where lanes of water had opened up.
A sharp frost had set these lanes and open spaces fast again, and the
new ice was just strong enough to bear a sledge. There was some risk in
venturing on it, but what of that? Nothing bold can be successfully
carried out in this world without more or less of risk! At a spot where
the confusion of tracks was very great, he turned at a sharp angle, got
upon a sheet of new ice, and went off at greater speed than ever towards
the far-south.

His aim was to travel some hundreds of miles, till he reached the
Kablunet settlements on the south-western shores of Greenland, in regard
to which, various and strange reports had reached the northern Eskimos
from time to time. He said nothing, however, to his captives, but after
driving some twenty miles or so--which he did in a couple of hours--he
cast off their bonds, and bade them make themselves comfortable. The
poor creatures were only too glad to avail themselves of the permission,
for, although spring had set in, and the cold was not very severe, their
constrained position had benumbed their limbs.

Tumbler and Pussi, after gazing for a considerable time at each other in
a state of blank amazement at the whole proceedings, had finally dropped
off to sleep on a pile of deerskins. Nunaga and Kabelaw, wrapping
themselves in two of these, leaned against each other and conversed in
low whispers.

And now the wizard began in good earnest a journey, which was destined
to lead him, in more ways than one, far beyond the point at which he
originally aimed.

He plied the whip with vigour, for well did he know that it was a race
for life. If any of the men of his tribe should overtake him, he felt
assured that death would be his portion.

The dogs, as we have said, were splendid animals.