s end.

First of all, he sent a boat in charge of his two nephews, Leonard and
Alphonse Vandervell, to set up a small table on the ice, on which were
temptingly arranged various presents, consisting of knives, beads,
looking-glasses, and articles of clothing. Having done this, they
retired, like wary anglers, to watch for a bite. But the fish would not
rise, though they observed the proceedings with profound attention from
the distant hummock. After waiting a couple of hours, the navigators
removed the table and left an Eskimo dog in its place, with a string of
blue beads tied round its neck. But this bait also failed.

"Try something emblematic, uncle," suggested Leonard, the elder of the
brothers before mentioned.

"And get Benjy to manufacture it," said Alphonse.

As Benjy was possessed of the most fertile imagination on board, he was
released from punishment and brought on deck. The result of his effort
of genius was the creation of a huge white calico flag, on which were
painted roughly the figure of a sailor and an Eskimo sitting on an
iceberg, with a kettle of soup between them. On one side were a pair of
hands clasped together; on the other a sprig of heath, the only shrub
that could be seen on the shore.

"Splendid!" exclaimed Leo and Alf in the same breath, as they held the
flag up to view.

"You'll become a Royal Academician if you cultivate your talents,
Benjy," said the Captain, who was proud, as well as fond, of this his
only child.

The boy said nothing, but a pleased expression and a twinkle in his eyes
proved that he was susceptible to flattery, though not carried off his
legs by it.

The banner with the strange device was fixed to a pole which was erected
on an ice-hummock between the ship and the shore, and a bag containing
presents was hung at the foot of it.

Still these Eskimo fish would not bite, though they "rose" at the flag.

Oolichuk's curiosity had become so intense that he could not resist it.
He advanced alone, very warily, and looked at it, but did not dare to
touch it. Soon he was joined by Eemerk and the others. Seeing this,
Captain Vane sent to meet them an interpreter whom he had procured at
one of the Greenland settlements in passing. Just as this man, whose
name was Anders, stepped into the boat alongside, it occurred to the
Eskimos that their leader should be sent for. Oolichuk undertook to
fetch him; he ran back to the sledges, harnessed a small team, and set