paddle or his arms, if only his nose had been a little bigger, and
though he meant this for a joke, the twins believed that he really
could do it.

The moment he was right side up again, Kesshoo gave chase once more to
the bladder. The seal was very weak now, and Kesshoo knew that it would
soon come to the surface and float and that then he could tow it in.

He had not long to wait. The bladder bobbed about for a while and then
was still. Kesshoo drew up the line, and paddled back to the ice raft,
towing the big seal after him.

"Catch this," he said to Menie. He threw him the end of the line. "Wind
the line six times round the harpoon," he said, "and hold tight to the
end of it."

Menie did as he was told. Then Kesshoo tied together the two ends of
the harpoon line, which he had cut, and began to tow the ice raft back
to share again.

Menie kept tight hold of the other line and towed the seal!

Kesshoo paddled slowly and carefully along, until at last there was
only a little strip of water between the kyak and the solid ice.

But how in the world could Menie get across that strip of water to
safety?

The kyak was between him and the solid ice, and Menie could not
possibly get into the kyak. Neither could he swim. But Kesshoo knew a
way.

He came up closer to the solid ice. Then he gave a great sweep with his
paddle and lifted his kyak right up on to it. He sprang out, and,
seizing the harpoon line, pulled Menie's raft close up to the edge of
the firm ice.

Menie was still holding tight to the line that held the big seal.
Kesshoo threw him another line. Menie caught the end of it.

"Now tie the big seal's line fast to that," Kesshoo said. Menie was a
very small boy, but he knew how to tie knots. He did just what his
father told him to.

"Now," said his father, "pull up the harpoon." Menie did so. "Tie the
harpoon line to the little seal." Menie did that. "Now throw the
harpoon to me," commanded Kesshoo.

Menie threw it with all his might. His father caught it, and stood on
the firm ice, holding in his hands the line that the big seal was tied
to, and the harpoon, with its line fastened to the little seal.

"Now hold on to the little seal, and I will pull you right up against
the solid ice, and when I say 'Jump,' you jump," said Kesshoo.

Slowly and very, carefully he pulled, until the raft grated against the
solid ice.

"Jump!" shouted Kesshoo.

Menie jumped. The ice raft gave a lurch that nearly