y, and Blake would have taken the girl. They were queered
by the way Bram would squat on his haunches, and stare at her. The
second day I saw him mumbling over something, and looked sharp. He had
one of Celie's long hairs, and when he saw me he snarled like an
animal, as though he feared I would take it from him. I knew what was
coming. I knew Blake was only waiting for Bram to get away from his
Kogmollocks--so I told Celie to give Bram a strand of her hair. She
did--with her own hands, and from that minute the madman watched her
like a dog. I tried to talk with him, but couldn't. I didn't seem to be
able to make him understand. And then--"

The Swede cut himself short.

"They're moving, Phil! Take the men with the battering rams--and let
them get half way before you fire! ... You see, Bram and his wolves had
to have meat. Blake attacked while he was gone. Russians killed--Armin
and I cornered, fighting for the girl behind us, when Bram came back
like a burst of thunder. He didn't fight. He grabbed the girl, and was
off with her like the wind with his wolf-team. Armin and I got into
this cabin, and here--forty days and nights--"

His voice stopped ominously. A fraction of a second later it was
followed by the roar of his rifle, and at the first shot one of Blake's
Kogmollocks crumpled up with a grunt half way between the snow-ridge
and the forest.

CHAPTER XXVI

The Eskimos were advancing at a trot now over the open space. Philip
was amazed at their number. There were at least a hundred, and his
heart choked with a feeling of despair even as he pulled the trigger
for his first shot. He had seen the effect of Olaf's shot, and
following the Swede's instructions aimed for his man in the nearest
group behind the main line. He did not instantly see the result, as a
puff of smoke shut out his vision, but a moment later, aiming again, he
saw a dark blotch left in the snow. From his end of the crevice Olaf
had seen the man go down, and he grunted his approbation. There were
five of the groups bearing tree trunks for battering-rams, and on one
of these Philip concentrated the six shots in his rifle. Four of the
tree-bearers went down, and the two that were left dropped their burden
and joined those ahead of them. Until Philip stepped back to reload his
gun he had not noticed Celie. She was close at his side, peering
through the gun-hole at the tragedy out on the plain. Once before he
had been astounded by the look