posing that she
was there before him. This was not the case, however. Aneetka had gone
towards her grandfather's hut, and when the Indians fired she rushed in
to assist him to fly. But the old man was already gone. Turning
instantly, she sprang nimbly towards the shore. At that moment a single
shot was fired, and she saw her husband stumble forward and fall
headlong to the earth, where he lay motionless. Her first impulse was
to run towards the body and throw herself upon it; but this intention
was effectually checked by a strong, dark-skinned arm which encircled
her waist, and, despite her cries and struggles, bore her away into the
bushes. Her captor was the Indian whose gun once before on that day had
been levelled at her lover's head.

When the young Esquimau fell, as already related, he was so close to the
water that he stumbled into it, and, fortunately, not a yard distant
from an oomiak which the women were frantically thrusting into the sea.
They had no time to lift so heavy a weight on board, but, as the light
craft darted from the shore, an old woman, who had often received kind
attentions from the good-natured youth, leant over the stern and seized
him by the hair. In this manner he was dragged through the water until
they were out of gun-shot, when he was lifted inside and laid beside the
dogs and children.

Meanwhile the Indians had rushed into the water up to their middle, in
the hope of catching the last of the little fleet, but without success.
Mad with disappointed rage, they waded back to the shore, and, standing
in a line along the edge of the waves, reloaded their guns with the
utmost rapidity. The poor Esquimaux knew well what would follow, and
strained every nerve to increase their distance. Once more the guns
belched forth their leaden shower, which went skipping over the water
towards the flotilla. Only one kayak was hit by the discharge. It was
that of the old grandfather already mentioned. The ball ripped up the
side of the canoe, which filled and upset, and the poor old man would
certainly have been drowned but for the opportune coming up of the
oomiak containing his wounded grandson. The old woman who had already
saved the life of the young giant of the tribe, again put forth her
skinny hand and grasped the patriarch, who was soon hauled on board in
safety. A few minutes more placed the whole party out of danger.

In the meantime, the Indians, furious with disappointment, sca