t of the island where they had left their
kayaks and women's boats in charge of a party of natives who were
resident on the island at the time they passed, and from whom they had
borrowed the dogs and sledges with which they had travelled south.

Meanwhile the white men took to rambling; Leo to shoot wild-fowl for
supper, Alf to search for "specimens," and Benjy to scramble among the
rocks in search of anything that might "turn up." Butterface assisted
the latter in his explorations. While the rest were thus engaged, the
Captain extemporised a flag-staff out of two spears lashed together with
a small block at the top for the purpose of running up a flag, and
formally taking possession of the island when they should re-assemble.
This done, he wrote a brief outline of his recent doings, which he
inserted in a ginger-beer bottle brought for that very purpose. Then he
assisted Anders in making the encampment and preparing supper.

The two were yet in the midst of the latter operation when a shout was
heard in the distance. Looking in the direction whence it came they saw
Chingatok striding over the rocks towards them with unusual haste. He
was followed by the other Eskimos, who came forward gesticulating
violently.

"My countrymen have left the island," said Chingatok when he came up.

"And taken the kayaks with them?" asked Captain Vane anxiously.

"Every one," replied the giant.

This was depressing news to the Captain, who had counted much on making
use of the Eskimo canoes in the event of his own appliances failing.

"Where have they gone, think you?" he asked.

"Tell Blackbeard," replied Chingatok, turning to Anders, "that no one
knows. Since they went away the lanes of open water have closed, and
the ice is solid everywhere."

"But where the kayak and the oomiak cannot float the sledge may go,"
said the Captain.

"That is true; tell the pale chief he is wise, yet he knows not all
things. Let him think. When he comes to the great open sea what will
he do without canoes?"

"Huk!" exclaimed Oolichuk, with that look and tone which intimated his
belief that the pale chief had received a "clincher."

The chattering of the other Eskimos ceased for a moment or two as they
awaited eagerly the Captain's answer, but the Captain disappointed them.
He merely said, "Well, we shall see. I may not know all things,
Chingatok, nevertheless I know a deal more than you can guess at. Come
now, let's have supper, An