her, and wearing the same stupid
half-stunned look on her face. A few words sufficed to reveal the
truth, and, to Nunaga's consternation, she found that her friend was
suffering from what is known among the civilised as concussion of the
brain.

When the full significance of her condition at last forced itself upon
the poor girl, when she came to see clearly that she was, as it were,
cast away in the Arctic wilderness, with the whole care of a helpless
man and woman and two equally helpless children, besides a sledge and
team of dogs, devolving on her she proved herself to be a true heroine
by rising nobly to the occasion.

Her first act was to return, with characteristic humility, and ask
Ujarak what she must do.

"You must take the dogs and sledge and the children," he answered in a
low voice, "and save yourselves."

"What! and leave you here?"

"Yes; I am bad. It is well that I should die."

"But Kabelaw?" said the girl, with a glance at her friend. "She has got
the head-sickness and cannot help herself."

"Leave her to die also," said the wizard carelessly; "she is not worth
much."

"Never!" cried Nunaga, with emphasis. "I will save her, I will save you
all. Did you not tell me that the village of the Kablunets is only two
suns from here?"

"That is so, Nunaga."

"Can you creep to the sledge?" asked the girl quickly.

"I think I can."

"Try, then."

The wizard tried, and found that he could creep on his hands and one
knee, dragging the wounded limb on the ice. It gave him excruciating
pain, but he was too much of a man to mind that. In a few minutes he
was lying at full length on the sledge.

"Now, Tumbler and Pussi," said Nunaga, "cover him well up with skins,
while I go and fetch Kabelaw, but _don't touch his leg_."

She found that Kabelaw could walk slowly, with support, and after much
exertion succeeded in getting her also laid out upon the sledge
alongside of the wizard. Then Nunaga tied them both firmly down with
long walrus-lines. She also attached the children to the sledge with
lines round their waists, to prevent their being jolted off. Having
thus made things secure, and having cut off some choice portions of the
bear for food, she harnessed the dogs, grasped the whip, mounted to the
driver's place, brought the heavy lash down with wonderful effect on the
backs of the whole team, and set off at full gallop towards the land
where Kablunets were said to dwell.

Fortunately,