d period of spring the bergs were becoming, so to speak,
rotten, and liable at any moment to fall to pieces and float away in the
form of pack-ice. If such an event had occurred when our Eskimos were
in the cave, the destruction of all would of course have been
inevitable.

"We dare not remain here," said Angut, when the icy shower had ceased.

"No; we must take to the floes," said Simek.

"Another shake like that," remarked Okiok, "might bring the whole berg
down on our heads."

"Let us go, then, at once," said Rooney; "the sky clears a little, so
we'll know how to steer."

No one replied, for all were already engaged with the utmost activity
making bundles of their bear-skins and as much of the bear-meat as the
men could carry--each of the women taking a smaller piece, according to
her strength or her prudence. The sailor followed their example in
silence, and in a very few minutes they issued from the cavern, and made
for the shore of the berg.

Some difficulty was experienced in scrambling over the chaotic masses
which had been thrown up in front of them by the ploughing process
before referred to. When they stood fairly on the floes, however, they
found that, although very rough, these were sufficiently level to admit
of slow travelling. They were in the act of arranging the order of
march, when the berg slid off into deep water, and, wheeling round as if
annoyed at the slight detention, rejoined its stately comrades in their
solemn procession to their doom in more southerly seas.

"Just in time," said Rooney, as they watched the berg floating slowly
away, nodding its shattered head as if bidding them farewell. "Now
then, ho! for the Greenland shore! Come, old Kannoa, I'll take you
under my special care."

He took the old woman's bundle from her as he spoke, and, putting his
left hand under her right arm, began to help her over the frozen sea.

But poor old thing though she certainly was, that antiquated creature
became a griggy old thing immediately, and was so tickled with the idea
of the stoutest and handsomest man of the party devoting himself
entirely to her, when all the younger women were allowed to look after
themselves, that she could scarcely walk during the first few minutes
for laughing. But it must be said in justification of the Eskimo men,
that their young women were quite capable of looking after themselves,
and would, indeed, have been incommoded as well as surprised by offers
of