by the assembled community.

Benjy waited a few seconds, and then gave the handle another and
slightly stronger turn.

The laugh this time was longer and more ferocious, while the gallant
Eskimo drew himself together, determined to resist the strange and
subtle influence; at the same time frowning defiance at the Captain, who
never for a moment took his coal-black eye off him!

Again Benjy turned the handle gently. He evidently possessed something
of the ancient Inquisitor spirit, and gloated over the pains of his
victim! The result was that Oolichuk not only quivered from head to
foot, but gave a little jump and anything but a little yell. Benjy's
powers of self-restraint were by that time exhausted. He sent the
handle round with a whirr and Oolichuk, tumbling backwards off the mat,
rent the air with a shriek of demoniac laughter.

Of course the delight of the Eskimos--especially of the children--was
beyond all bounds, and eager were the efforts made to induce another
warrior to go upon the mysterious mat, but not one would venture. They
would rather have faced their natural enemy, the great Grabantak,
unarmed, any day!

In this difficulty an idea occurred to Amalatok. Seizing a huge dog by
the neck he dragged it to the mat, and bade it lie down. The dog
crouched and looked sheepishly round. Next moment he was in the air
wriggling. Then he came to the ground, over which he rushed with a
prolonged howl, and disappeared among the rocks on the hill side.

It is said that that poor dog was never again seen, but Benjy asserts
most positively that, a week afterwards, he saw it sneaking into the
village with its tail very much between its legs, and an expression of
the deepest humility on its countenance.

"You'd better give them a taste of dynamite, father," said Benjy that
evening, as they all sat round their supper-kettle.

"No, no, boy. It is bad policy to fire off all your ammunition in a
hurry. We'll give it 'em bit by bit."

"Just so, impress them by degrees," said Alf.

"De fust warrior was nigh bu'sted by degrees," said Butterface, with a
broad grin, as he stirred the kettle. "You gib it 'im a'most too
strong, Massa Benjee."

"Blackbeard must be the bad spirit," remarked Amalatok to his son that
same night as they held converse together--according to custom--before
going to bed.

"The bad spirit is _never_ kind or good," replied Chingatok, after a
pause.

"No," said the old man, "never."