as steady, and sufficiently strong. It took twenty Eskimos to
hold it when allowed full play, and even these it jerked about in a
manner that highly diverted them. These Eskimos were very fond of
kite-flying, for its own sake, without reference to utility!

"I knew you were going to try it on the sledge," exclaimed Benjy, with
sparkling eyes.

"Why did you ask me about it, then?" returned the Captain.

"Do let _me_ make the first trial, father!"

Captain Vane was fastening the drag-line to the fore part of the light
sledge, and refused, at first, to listen to the boy's entreaties,
fearing that some accident might befall him.

"You know how accustomed I am to manage the kites, father. There's not
the least fear; and I'll be superhumanly cautious."

There was no resisting Benjy's tone and eyes. He was allowed to take
his place on the sledge as manager. Butterface sat behind to steer.
Steering was to be managed by means of a stout pole, pressed varyingly
on the snow on either side.

"Don't go more than a mile or so, my boy," said the Captain, in a
serious tone. "It's only a trial, you know. If it succeeds, we'll
divide the loading of the sledges, and make a fair start in company."

Benjy promised to manipulate the check-string with care. The struggling
natives were ordered to let the kite straighten the slack of the line
gradually.

"Are you ready, Ben?"

"All right, father."

"Got your hand on the check-string? Mind, it will pull hard. Now--let
go!"

The natives obeyed. Benjy at the same instant hauled sharply on the
check-string, intending to tilt the kite well forward, and start in a
slow, stately manner, but there was a hitch of some sort somewhere, for
the string would not act. The kite acted, however, with its full force.
Up went the fore part of the sledge as it flew off like an arrow from a
bow, causing Butterface to throw a back somersault, and leaving him
behind.

Benjy held on to the head of the sledge, and made violent efforts to
free the check-string. Fortunately, the surface of the snow was smooth.

"After him, lads," roared the Captain, setting a brave example, and for
some time heading the natives in the chase; but a few moments sufficed
to prove the hopelessness of the race.

Tug as Benjy would at the regulator, it refused to act. Fortunately,
being made of silk, it did not break. By this time the kite had
attained its maximum speed, equal, as the Captain said, to a twenty