of rods and cranks
glistened in the hold.

"Huk!" exclaimed the Eskimos. They sometimes exclaimed Hi! ho! hoy! and
hah! as things were pointed out to them, but did not venture on language
more intelligible at first.

"Let 'em hear the steam-whistle," suggested the mate.

Before the Captain could countermand the order, Benjy had touched the
handle and let off a short, sharp _skirl_. The effect on the natives
was powerful.

They leaped, with a simultaneous yell, at least a foot off the deck,
with the exception of Chingatok, though even he was visibly startled,
while Oblooria seized Tekkona round the waist, and buried her face in
her friend's jacket.

A brief explanation soon restored them to equanimity, and they were
about to pass on to some other object of interest, when both the
steam-whistle and the escape-valve were suddenly opened to their full
extent, and there issued from the engine a hissing yell so prolonged and
deafening that even the Captain's angry shout was not heard.

A yard at least was the leap into the air made by the weakest of the
Eskimos--except our giant, who seemed, however, to shrink into himself,
while he grasped his knife and looked cautiously round, as if to guard
himself from any foe that might appear. Eemerk fairly turned and fled
to the stern of the yacht, over which he would certainly have plunged
had he not been forcibly restrained by two stout seamen. The others,
trembling violently, stood still, because they knew not what to do, and
poor Oblooria fell flat on the deck, catching Tekkona by the tail, and
pulling her down beside her.

"You scoundrel!" exclaimed the Captain, when the din ceased, "I--I--go
down, sir, to--"

"Oh! father, don't be hard on me," pleaded Benjy, with a gleefully
horrified look, "I really could _not_ resist it. The--the temptation
was too strong!"

"The temptation to give you a rope's-ending is almost too strong for
_me_, Benjamin," returned the Captain sternly, but there was a twinkle
in his eye notwithstanding, as he turned to explain to Chingatok that
his son had, by way of jest, allowed part of the mighty Power imprisoned
in the machinery to escape.

The Eskimo received the explanation with dignified gravity, and a faint
smile played on his lips as he glanced approvingly at Benjy, for he
loved a jest, and was keenly alive to a touch of humour.

"What power is imprisoned in the machinery?" asked our Eskimo through
the interpreter.

"What power