two hours they were
distinguished on the horizon, far off to the southward, winding their
way among the hummocks.

"Now, Meetuck," said the captain, "drive like the wind, and lay me
alongside of Awatok's sledge, and be ready, men, to act."

"Ay, ay, sir!" was the prompt reply, as the heavy whip fell on the
flanks of the leaders.

A few minutes brought them up with Awatok's sledge, and Captain Guy,
leaping upon it with a clasp-knife in his hand, cut the traces in a
twinkling, set the dogs free, and, turning round, seized the Esquimaux
by the collar. The big chief at first showed a disposition to resent
this unceremonious treatment, but before he could move, Grim seized his
elbows in his iron grasp, and tied them adroitly together behind his
back with a cord. At the same time poor Aninga and her baby were
swiftly transferred to the sailors' sledge.

Seeing this, the whole band of natives turned back, and rushed in a body
to the rescue, flourishing their lances and yelling fiercely.

"Form line!" shouted the captain, handing Awatok and Aninga over to the
care of O'Riley. "Three of you on the right fire over their heads, and
let the rest reserve their fire. I will kill one of their dogs, for it
won't do to let them fancy that nothing but noise comes out of our
muskets. Ready--present!"

A rattling volley followed, and at the same moment one of the dogs fell
with a death-yell on the ice and dyed it with its blood.

"Forward!" shouted the captain.

The men advanced in a body at a smart run, but the terrified Esquimaux,
who had never heard the report of firearms before, did not wait for
them; they turned and fled precipitately, but not before Grim captured
Oosuck and dragged him forcibly to the rear, where he was pinioned and
placed on the sledge with the others.

"Now then, lads, that will do; get upon the sledge again. Away with
you, Meetuck. Look after Awatok, Grim; O'Riley will see that Aninga
does not jump off."

"That he will, darlint," said the Irishman, patting the woman on the
back.

"And I shall look after the baby," said Fred, chucking that series of
dumplings under the chin--an act of familiarity that seemed to afford it
immense satisfaction, for, notwithstanding the melancholy position of
its father and mother as prisoners, it smiled on Fred benignly.

In five minutes the party were far on their way back to the ship; and in
less than five hours after the Esquimaux had closed their barter, and