greater mystery," returned the seaman, "if the Great
Spirit was _not_ mysterious."

"He has allowed Ujarak to carry off Nunaga, though she loves not Ujarak,
and Ujarak does not love her, else he could not have treated her so
badly. Why did the Great Spirit allow that?" demanded the Eskimo, with
some bitterness of tone.

"I know not, Angut, yet I know it is for good, because the Great Spirit
is our Great Father, and if human fathers know how to treat their
children well, does the Great Father of all not know?"

The Eskimo gravely bowed his head in assent to this proposition, and the
seaman continued--

"I have spoken to you more than once, Angut, about the men in our land
called surgeons--that you call knife-men,--how they will cut and carve
your body, and tie you down sometimes, and give you terrible and
prolonged suffering for the purpose of curing you and relieving your
pain."

"True," replied Angut, who at once saw the drift of his friend's remark;
"but then you _know_ that the knife-man's object is good. It is to
cure, to relieve."

"But suppose," argued Rooney, "that you did _not_ know that his object
was good--that you looked on him as a cruel, bloody, heartless monster,
who cared not for your cries of pain--would your ignorance change his
character?"

"No, no; he would remain good, whatever you might think," said Angut
quickly; "I see. I see. I will try to think as you think--the Great
Father is good, _must_ be good. And He will prove it some day. Don't
you think so, Ridroonee?"

"Ay, truly, I think so; I am sure of it. But listen! Do you not hear
sounds?"

They both listened intently, and gazed towards the northern headland of
the bay, which at the time was bathed in brilliant moonlight. Presently
two black specks, one larger than the other, were seen to round the
point, and the chattering of women's voices was heard.

It was Arbalik in a kayak, preceding an oomiak propelled by several
women. In her impatience to join her lord, Madame Okiok had insisted on
a forced march. A few minutes more, and the women landed amid noisy
demonstrations of satisfaction. Ere long the united party were busy
round the unfailing lamps, enjoying social intercourse over an
intermediate meal which, as it came between supper and breakfast, has
not yet obtained a name.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE CHASE CONTINUED AND DISASTROUSLY INTERRUPTED.

The day following that on which the wives of Simek and Okiok, and t