en and children. This plan was carried out. A favourable
report was brought back, the women were immediately embarked, and before
evening closed the whole party was landed on the mainland in safety.

Being too late to proceed further that day, the Eskimos ran up a rude
shelter of stones, moss, and sticks, the women being accommodated under
the upturned boat. Next day they found that the pack had continued to
ease off during the night, so that there was a lead of open water
between it and the shore.

"You have been praying during the night," said Okiok to Egede in an
abrupt manner, almost as if he were accusing him of taking an unfair
advantage of circumstances.

"Truly I have," answered the missionary, with an amused look, "but I did
not presume to ask the Great Spirit to help us in this particular way.
I left that to His wisdom and love. I have been taught to trust Him."

"And if you had not got an answer at all," returned Okiok, wrinkling his
brows in perplexity, "you would still have said that all was right?"

"Just so. If I get an answer it is well. If I get no answer it is
still well, for then I know that He sees delay to be best for me and I
feel sure that the answer will come at last, in the right way, and in
good time, for in the Book of the Great Spirit I am told that `all
things work together for good to them that love God.'"

"What!" exclaimed Angut, who had listened to the conversation with
intense interest; "would it be good for you if I killed you?"

"Of course it would, if God allowed it. Thousands of men and women in
time past have chosen to be killed rather than offend God by sinning."

"This is very strange teaching," said Angut, glancing at his friend
Okiok.

"It is the teaching of Jesus, the Son of God. I am only His servant,"
said the missionary, "and I hope to tell you much more that will seem
very strange before long; but at present we must arrange what is now to
be done, for it is the duty of all men to take advantage of
opportunities as they are presented to them."

The truth of this was so obvious that the Eskimos at once dropped into
the region of the practical by advising that the women should all get
into the boat and advance by water, while the men should walk by the
shore.

This being agreed to, the boat was launched. Although not an Eskimo
oomiak, the little craft, which was made of wood, and resembled a punt,
was propelled by oomiak paddles, so that Madame Okiok, who