us? The very least we can do is to ask Him to guide us!"

The youth was surprised at the thought. It had flashed upon him like a
ray of light. It was not the first time that he had been in even more
imminent danger than the present, yet he had never before thought of the
necessity of asking help from God, as if He were really present and able
as well as willing to succour. Before the thought had passed he acted
on it. He had no time for formal prayer. He looked up! It was prayer
without words. In a few minutes more the boat was surrounded by the
fleet of kayaks. There were hundreds of these tiny vessels of the
north, each with its solitary occupant, using his double-bladed paddle
vigorously.

Need we say that the strangers were at first gazed on with speechless
wonder? and that the Eskimos kept for some time hovering round them at a
respectful distance, as if uncertain how to act, but with their
war-spears ready? All the time the whole party drifted before the gale
towards the island-rock.

"Anders," said Leo, while the natives remained in this state of
indecision, "my mind is made up as to our course of action. We will
offer no resistance whatever to these fellows. We must be absolutely
submissive, unless, indeed, they attempt to ill-treat Oblooria, in which
case of course we will defend her. Do you hear?"

This was said with such quiet decision, and the concluding question was
put in such a tone, that the interpreter replied, "Yis, sar," promptly.

As Leo made no sign of any kind, but continued to guide the boat
steadily with the oars, as if his sole anxiety was to round the western
point of the island and get into a place of shelter, the natives turned
their kayaks and advanced along with him. Naturally they fell into the
position of an escort--a part of the fleet paddling on each side of the
captives, (for such they now were), while the rest brought up the rear.

"What ails Oblooria, Anders?" asked Leo in a low tone.

"What is the matter?" asked the interpreter, turning to the girl, who,
ever since the approach of the Eskimos, had crouched like a bundle in
the bottom of the boat with her face buried in her hands. "There is no
fear. Grabantak is a man, not a bear. He will not eat you."

"Grabantak knows me," answered the poor girl, without lifting her head;
"he came to Poloe once, before the war, and wanted me to be the wife of
his son. I want not his son. I want Oolichuk!"

The simplicity