und with her face bowed on her knees. Kannoa went and sat down
beside her, patted her on the shoulder and began to comfort her.

"We must not stay here," said the leader of the band, merely casting a
look of indifference at the old creature. "The women who have escaped
will tell the men, and in a very short time we shall have them howling
on our track."

"Let us wait and fight them," said one of the men, fiercely.

"It would be great glory for a small band to fight a big one, no doubt,"
returned the leader in a sarcastic tone; "but it would be greater glory
for one man to do that alone--so you had better stay here and fight them
yourself."

A short laugh greeted this remark.

"It will be very dark to-night," said another man.

"Yes; too dark for our foes to follow us, but not too dark for us to
advance steadily, though slowly, into the mountains," returned the
leader. "When there, we shall be safe. Come, we will start at once."

"But what are we to do with the old woman?" asked one. "She cannot
walk."

"Leave her," said another.

"No; she will bring evil on us if we leave her," cried the fierce man.
"I am sure she is a witch. We must carry her with us, and when we come
to a convenient cliff, toss her into the sea."

In pursuance of this plan, the fierce robber tied the old woman up in a
bear-skin--made a bundle of her, in fact--and swung her on his back.
Fortunately, being rather deaf, Kannoa had not heard what was in store
for her; and as the position she occupied on the fierce man's broad back
was not uncomfortable, all things considered, she submitted with
characteristic patience. Poor, horrified Nunaga thought it best to let
her companion remain in ignorance of what was proposed, and cast about
in her mind the possibility of making her escape, and carrying the news
of her danger to the camp. If she could only get there and see Angut,
she was sure that all would go well, for Angut, she felt, could put
everything right--somehow.

In a short time the robbers were far away from the scene of their
consultation; and the darkness of the night, as predicted, became so
intense that it was quite impossible to advance further over the rough
ground without the risk of broken limbs, if not worse. A halt was
therefore called for rest, food, and consultation.

The spot on which they stood was the top of a little mound, with thick
shrubs on the land side, which clothed a steep, almost precipitous
descent. J