water. For one moment a look of alarm flitted over the wizard's face,
as he glanced quickly shoreward to see whether the ground-ice was
passable; but it was only for a moment, for immediately he perceived
that the light had dazzled and deceived him. It was not water, but new
ice--smooth and refulgent as a mirror. The fringe of old ice on shore
was disrupted and impassable. There was therefore only one course open
to him.

Knitting his brows and clenching his teeth, Ujarak resolved to take it
at all hazards. Bringing the cruel lash to bear with extreme violence,
he sent the dogs howling out upon the glassy surface. At first they
slipped and sprawled a good deal, but soon gathered themselves well
together. They were accustomed to such work, and the friction of the
sledge being reduced, they skimmed along with ease.

Although strong enough to bear, the ice undulated terribly as they swept
over it, and sent forth rending sounds, which cannot be conceived by
those whose experience of young ice has been derived chiefly from
lakelets and ponds. Dogs in such circumstances are apt to become
terrified and to stop, in which case immersion is almost certain. But
Ujarak gave his team no time to think. With lash and voice he urged
them on until they were nearly frantic. The undulations became greater
as they advanced, and the rending sounds continuous. Still the wizard
plied his whip and shouted. Indeed it was his only chance. At the
other side of the bay the old ice still adhered to the shore. If that
could be reached, they would be safe. Eagerly the women strained their
eyes, and even stretched out their hands as if to grasp the shore, for
the fear of instant death had banished all other thoughts. A few
minutes more, and Ujarak, standing up in his eagerness, flourishing the
great whip, and shouting at the pitch of his voice, drove the yelling
dogs off the crackling sheet of ice to a place of safety on the solid
floe.

It did not require the wizard's altered tone to inform the sagacious
animals that the danger was past. Down they flopped at once to rest,
panting vehemently, and with tongues out; but they were not permitted to
rest long, Ujarak's fear of pursuit was so great. Even while securing
on the sledge the articles that had been disarranged, he could not help
casting frequent suspicious glances in the direction from which they had
come, for guilt is ever ready to anticipate retribution even when it is
f