after another, round the western
point of Sugar-loaf rock, it was all too evident that the girl was
right, and that the fleet of kayaks was probably bearing the northern
savage and his men to attack the inhabitants of Poloe.

Leo's first impulse was to seize his repeating rifle and fill its
cartridge-chamber quite full. It may be well to observe here that the
cartridges, being carried in a tight waterproof case, had not been
affected by the seas which had so recently overwhelmed them.

"What's de use?" asked Anders, in an unusually sulky tone, as he watched
the youth's action. "Two men not can fight all de mans of Flatland."

"No, but I can pick off a dozen of them, one after another, with my good
rifle, and then the rest will fly. Grabantak will fall first, and his
best men after him."

This was no idle boast on the part of Leo. He knew that he could
accomplish what he threatened long before the Eskimos could get within
spear-throwing distance of his boat.

"No use," repeated Anders, firmly, still shaking his head in a sulky
manner. "When you's bullets be done, more an' more inimies come on.
Then dey kill you, an' me, an' Oblooria."

Leo laid down his weapon. The resolve to die fighting to the last was
the result of a mere impulse of animal courage. Second thoughts cooled
him, and the reference to Oblooria's fate decided him.

"You are right, Anders. If by fighting to the death I could save
Oblooria, it would be my duty as well as my pleasure to fight; but I see
that I haven't the ghost of a chance against such a host as is
approaching, and it would be simply revengeful to send as many as I can
into the next world before going there myself. Besides, it would
exasperate the savages, and make them harder on the poor girl."

In saying this Leo was rather arguing out the point with himself than
talking to the interpreter, who did not indeed understand much of what
he said. Having made up his mind how to act, Leo stowed his precious
rifle and ammunition in a small bag placed for that purpose under one of
the thwarts, and, resuming the oars, prepared to meet his fate, whatever
it should be, peacefully and unarmed.

While thus drifting in silence before the gale, the thought suddenly
occurred to Leo, "How strange it is that I, who am a Christian--in name
at least--should feel as if it were absurd to pray for God's help at
such a time as this! Surely He who made me and these Eskimos is capable
of guarding