, and thus not
appear unusual when they should really forsake the cave and attempt
their escape. In order to show that he was still on the alert, he
shortly after aimed at the canoe, which was now quite invisible, and
fired. The effect was more startling than had been expected. A
death-cry rent the air and mingled with the reverberations of the shot,
proving that it had taken deadly effect on one of the Indians, who,
under cover of the darkness, had ventured to approach the coveted canoe.
A volley was instantly fired in the direction of the cave from various
parts of the bushes, but without effect.

Maximus now kept up a continued fire, sometimes discharging a succession
of rapid shots, at other times firing at irregular intervals of from
three to ten minutes. This he did purposely, with a view to his future
plans. In the meantime the dog was made to keep up a continuous
howling.

"Now, Aneetka," said Maximus, as the ring of his last shot died away,
"go, and may the Great Spirit guide thee!"

Without a word of reply, the two women glided noiselessly like shadows
into the thick darkness. About two minutes after they had disappeared,
Maximus again fired several shots, taking care, however, to point
considerably to the right of the canoe. Then he ceased for three
minutes, and again fired several shots irregularly. At the last shot he
passed from the cave so silently and quickly that even Chimo was
deceived, and snuffed the air for a moment ere it renewed its sad
wailing. In less than two minutes the Esquimau had glided, with the
noiseless tread of a panther, to the spot where the canoe lay. Here he
found his wife and the old woman crouching beside it. The water's edge
was about ten yards distant. A few seconds would suffice to lift the
light bark in his powerful arms and launch it. Aneetka and the old
woman, who had already received minute instructions what to do, had
glided quietly into the sea the instant Maximus touched them; for, as we
have said, it was intensely dark and they could not see a yard before
them. The women now stood up to the knees in water, with their paddles
in their hands ready to embark.

Stooping down, the Esquimau seized the canoe; but, just as he was about
to lift it, he observed a tall dark object close to his side.

"Wah!" whispered the Indian, "you are before me. Quick! the Esquimau
dog will fire again."

The words of the Indian were cut short by the iron gripe of Maximus o