old on tight to the life-lines."

There was no need to caution Anders. That worthy was already on his
knees embracing a thwart--his teeth clenched as he gazed over the bow.

On it came like a whirlwind of the tropics, and rushed right over the
low round gunwale of the boat, sweeping loose articles overboard, and
carrying her bodily to leeward. Leo had taken a turn of the life-lines
round both thighs, and held manfully to his oars. These, after stooping
to the first rush of wind and water, he plied with all his might, and
was ably seconded by Oblooria as well as by the interpreter, but a very
few minutes of effort sufficed to convince them that they laboured in
vain. They did not even "hold their own," as sailors have it, but
drifted slowly, yet steadily, to the north.

"It's impossible to make head against _this_," said Leo, suddenly
ceasing his efforts, "and I count it a piece of good fortune, for which
we cannot be too thankful, that there is still land to leeward of us."

He pointed to the sugar-loaf rock before mentioned, towards which they
were now rapidly drifting.

"Nothing to eat dere. Nothing to drink," said Anders, gloomily.

"Oh! that won't matter much. A squall like this can't last long. We
shall soon be able to start again for home, no doubt. I say, Anders,
what are these creatures off the point there? They seem too large and
black for sea-birds, and not the shape of seals or walruses."

The interpreter gazed earnestly at the objects in question for some
moments without answering. The rock which they were quickly nearing was
rugged, barren, and steep on its southern face, against which the waves
were by that time dashing with extreme violence, so that landing there
would have been an impossibility. On its lee or northern side, however
they might count on quiet water.

"We have nothing to fear," said Leo, observing that Oblooria was much
agitated; "tell her so, Anders; we are sure to find a sheltered creek of
some sort on the other side."

"I fear not the rocks or storm," replied the Eskimo girl to Anders. "It
is Grabantak, the chief of Flatland, that I fear."

"Grabantak!" exclaimed Anders and Leo in the same breath.

"Grabantak is coming with his men!"

Poor little Oblooria, whose face had paled while her whole frame
trembled, pointed towards the dark objects which had already attracted
their attention. They were by that time near enough to be
distinguished, and as they came, one