r old bones."

Kannoa gave a sort of lively chuckle at the novelty of the situation,
let go her hold of the sledge, and made a sudden plunge at Rooney,
grasping him tight round the neck with both arms. She was little more
than a baby in the seaman's huge grasp, nevertheless, having only one
arm to spare, and with a sledge that not only bumped, but swung about
like a wild thing, he found her quite as much as he could manage.

The night had fairly set in when the cape was rounded, so that nothing
could be distinguished, not even the track they had been following--and
travelling became dangerous.

"No use to push on, Angut," remarked Rooney, as his friend pulled up;
"we must have patience."

"Yes; the moon will be up soon," returned his friend; "we will now rest
and feed."

The resting meant sitting there in the dark on the side of the sleigh,
and the feeding consisted in devouring a lump of seal's flesh raw.
Although not very palatable, this was eminently profitable food, as
Angut well knew. As for Rooney, he had learned by that time to eat
whatever came in his way with thankfulness--when hungry, and not to eat
at all when otherwise.

The moon rose at last, and revealed the sheet of glassy ice which had
previously disconcerted Ujarak. Angut also beheld it with much concern,
and went on foot to examine it. He returned with an anxious look.

"They have crossed," he said moodily, "but the ice has cracked much, and
my sledge is, I fear, heavier than theirs."

"We can walk, you know, and so lighten it," said Rooney.

"No; it is only by a dash at full speed that we can do it. Will my
friend run the risk?"

"He would not be your friend if he were not willing," returned the
seaman gravely; "but what about Kannoa? It's not fair to risk her
life."

"We cannot leave her behind," said Angut, with a perplexed glance at the
cowering figure on the sledge. "She could not return to the village on
foot. That would be greater risk to her than going on with us."

At this point the old woman looked up with a sort of pleasant grin, and
croaked--

"Kannoa is not heavy. Take her with you. She is quite willing to live
or die with Angut and Ridroonee."

With a slight smile the Eskimo resumed his place and whip. Rooney
patted Kannoa on the head as he sat down beside her, and called her a
"brave old girl."

Another moment, and the dogs were out on the glassy plain, galloping as
well as they could, and yelping as much f