gh, and his example was followed by the others. The
Esquimaux closed around them. Then, before any of the prisoners could
raise a hand in their defense, they were seized by a score of the dark
natives and hurried off across the snow.

"Draw your revolvers and shoot!" cried Andy. "They are going to kill
us!"

"No! No!" shouted the old inventor. "To resist now would be folly. Have
patience a little longer!"

His voice was so earnest that all obeyed him. So, unresisting, the
captives were borne away. Then a strange thing happened.

The sun, which had been shining in the sky from which it would not
disappear for six months, suddenly seemed to darken. The captives
started in surprise.

"What's the matter?" asked the old inventor, struggling to escape from
the arms which held him. "Is it night?"

"I guess dey done gone and blindfolded us!" exclaimed Washington.

Indeed it was as black as if the prisoners had been plunged into a
gloomy pit. Then, as they looked up while being half led, half dragged
along they saw that they had left the outer air and were being conducted
into some sort of a cave.

"It's an ice-cavern!" groaned the old hunter, "They are going to torture
us as the Indians do!"

"Hush!" cautioned the inventor. "Do not think of such things. All is not
yet lost!"

In a little while the darkness, caused by the captives being suddenly
taken from the bright sunlight into the cave, was somewhat dispelled. It
grew gradually brighter, thought they were conducted farther and farther
into the recesses of the cavern. Then, as they were led around the turn
of a passage, they saw what made the light.

Scores of rude lamps, made from hollowed out stones, with twisted moss
for wicks, and burning seal oil, gave a smoky illumination, that lit up
the cave with a red glare. The lamps were set in niches in the icy walls
of the cavern, while some were placed upon the floor and others seemed
to be arranged about a sort of altar at the farther end of the big ice
chamber.

From the icy crystal walls the glare of the moss wicks was reflected
back in a thousand points of light, and amid the glow the captives
beheld a score or more of old men seated in a circle about a big centre
lamp, that shone with a flame five times as bright as any of the others.

"It looks as if we were being brought before the head men of the tribe,"
muttered the old hunter.

A short distance away from the circle of old men, the native in the
white