as no uncommon thing among his countrymen. He did not yet feel
sure that Angut referred to the deed which he had so recently
perpetrated.

"This day," continued Angut, "I saw a band of Kablunet sailors--"

He got no further than that, for Grimlek attempted to spring up. The
heavy hand of Angut, however, crushed him back instantly, and a
spear-point touched his throat.

"Down with the villains!" shouted Rooney, laying the grasp of a vice on
the neck of the man next to him, and hurling him to the ground.

In the twinkling of an eye the fifteen robbers were lying flat on their
backs, with fingers grasping their throats, knees compressing their
stomachs, and spear-points at their hearts; but no blood was shed. One
or two of the fiercest, indeed, struggled at first, but without avail--
for the intended victim of each robber was handy and ready to lend
assistance at the capture, as if in righteous retribution.

It was of course a startling incident to those who were not in the
secret. Every man sprang up and drew his knife, not knowing where a foe
might appear, but Rooney's strong voice quieted them.

"We're all safe enough, Mr Egede," he cried, as he bound Grimlek's
hands behind him with a cord. The Eskimos quickly performed the same
office for their respective prisoners, and then, setting them up in a
row, proceeded to talk over the massacre, and to discuss in their
presence the best method of getting rid of the murderers.

"I propose," said Okiok, whose naturally kind heart had been deeply
stirred by the cowardly massacre which he had witnessed, "I propose that
we should drown them."

"No; drowning is far too good. Let us spear them," said Kajo, who had
become sober by that time.

"That would not hurt them," cried a fierce Eskimo, smiting his knee with
his clenched fist. "We must cut off their ears and noses, poke out
their eyes, and then roast them alive--"

"Hush! hush!" cried Egede, stepping forward; "we must do nothing of the
kind. We must not act like devils. Have we not been talking of the
mercy of the Great Spirit? Let us be just, but let us temper justice
with mercy. Angut has not yet spoken; let us hear what he will
propose."

Considering the energy with which he had denounced the murders, and the
vigour with which he had captured Grimlek, Angut's proposal was somewhat
surprising.

"Kablunet," he said, turning to the missionary, "have you not told me
that in your Book of God it is written