lped the
three dead bodies and tossed them into the sea; after which they went
into the huts in order to collect all the valuables that might have been
left behind. Very little, however, was to be found, as the entire
property of an Esquimau is not worth much to a red man. The most useful
thing they laid hands on was the axe which the old grandfather had left
behind in his hurried flight. Having taken all they could carry, the
savages destroyed the rest; and then, setting fire to the village, they
returned to the bush. Here a fire was made, and a council of war held.

When the Indian who had captured the Esquimau girl led her forward
towards the fire, there was a general yell of indignation. Tomahawks
were grasped, and more than one knife was unsheathed. But the chief
commanded silence.

"What does White Heart mean to do with the Eater-of-raw-flesh?" he
inquired, turning to the young man.

"He will take her to the hunting-grounds of the Crees."

"That cannot be," said the chief. "The girl must die, and White Heart
must kill her."

The young man made no reply.

"If," continued the chief sarcastically, "White Heart is afraid to see
blood on his knife, another warrior will show him how to do it!"

As he spoke, a dark-visaged savage drew his scalping-knife, and, with
one stride, stood beside the trembling girl, who, during the
consultation of the savages, had stood silently beside her captor
listening intently to the words which she did not comprehend.

Seizing her by the shoulder, the savage plunged his knife at her bosom;
but, ere the keen point reached it, the arm was caught by the young
Indian, and the scowling savage was hurled violently back. With dilated
eye and expanded nostril, the young man, not deigning to bestow a glance
upon his fallen comrade, turned to his chief and said--

"Did not I take her? The girl is mine. I will carry her to my tent and
make her my _wife_."

"Be it so," replied the chief abruptly. Then turning to his followers,
he gave orders to start immediately.

In a few minutes all was ready. The chief led the way into the bush.
The Esquimau girl and her captor followed; and the whole band, silently
and in single file, commenced to retrace their steps to the far distant
hunting-grounds of the Cree Indians.

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Note 1. Esquimau name for Indians.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE PURSUIT--SEAL-SPEARING--T