st your Angakok forever!"

The thought of this was so dreadful that the Angakok paused and wiped
his eyes. Then he went on again with his story.

"However, with great courage I kept upon my way until at last I saw the
Old Woman's house! A deep gulf lay between us and her dwelling, and
outside it stood a great dog with bloody jaws. This dog guards the
entrance, and he sleeps only for a single moment, once in a very great
while."

"For six days I and my Tornak waited there for the dog to sleep. At
last on the seventh day he closed his eyes! Instantly the Tornak seized
my hand and drew me across the bridge which spanned the chasm. This
bridge was as narrow as a single thread."

"When we were safely across the bridge we passed the sleeping dog and
boldly entered the Old Woman's house. The Old Woman is terrible to look
upon! Her hand is the size of a large walrus, and her teeth like the
rocks along the coast!" The Angakok dropped his voice to a whisper.

"However, when she looked upon me she trembled!" he said. "She saw at
once that I possessed great power, and was a great Angakok. I spoke to
her flattering words. Then I told her of the hunger of my children!"

"I begged that she would send the seal and walrus and sea-birds to our
coast at once. But she had no mind to yield to my requests. Then I
stormed and threatened." The Angakok's voice grew louder. "The walls
shook with the thunder of my voice! At last I seized her by the hair! I
tipped over the saucer with my foot! My great power prevailed against
the mighty sorceress!"

"The seal and walrus swam away. The birds flew into the air and were
gone. I had conquered the Old Woman of the Sea! My children were
saved!" The Angakok was silent for a moment. Then he spoke again in a
natural voice.

"When I opened my eyes in my own igloo again," he said, "the famine was
already over. Flocks of sea-birds were flying overhead. The sea swarmed
with fish, and with walrus and seal. Every one along the whole coast
was happy. Ask yourselves--is it not so?"

The Angakok seemed very much pleased with himself, and he looked about,
as if he expected every one else to be pleased with him too. All the
people were filled with wonder at his great power. They began to talk
among themselves.

"Yes, I remember the famine well," said Koko's father. "I was away up
the coast that season. Several died in our village for lack of food."

Other men remembered things about other times when food