a look of amused scorn on his fallen son, who was being
attended to by Merkut.

It may be observed here that Merkut was the only woman of the tribe
allowed to go on this war-expedition. Being the chief's wife, she had
been allowed to do as she pleased, and it was her pleasure to accompany
the party and to travel like the warriors in a kayak, which she managed
as well as the best of them.

Grabantak now ordered his men to encamp, and feed till the gale should
abate. Then, calling Leo and the interpreter aside, he questioned them
closely as to the condition of the Poloese and the numbers of the white
men who had recently joined them.

Of course Leo made Anders give him a graphic account of the preparations
made by his enemies to receive him, in the hope that he might be induced
to give up his intentions, but he had mistaken the spirit of the Eskimo,
who merely showed his teeth, frowned, laughed in a diabolic manner, and
flourished his spear during the recital of Amalatok's warlike
arrangements. He wound up by saying that he was rejoiced to learn all
that, because it would be all the more to his credit to make his enemy
go down on his knees, lick the dust, crawl in his presence, and
otherwise humble himself.

"But tell him, Anders," said Leo, earnestly, "that my white brothers,
though few in number, are very strong and brave. They have weapons too
which kill far off and make a dreadful noise."

Grabantak laughed contemptuously at this.

"Does the Kablunet," he asked, "think I am afraid to die--afraid of a
noise? does he think that none but white men can kill far off?"

As he spoke he suddenly hurled his spear at a gull, which, with many
others, was perched on a cliff about thirty yards off, and transfixed
it.

"Go to the boat, Anders, and fetch my rifle," said Leo in a low tone.

When the rifle was brought a crowd of Eskimos came with it. They had
been closely observing their chief and the stranger during the
conference, but remained at a respectful distance until they saw
something unusual going on.

"Tell the chief," said Leo, "to look at that peak with the solitary gull
standing on it."

He pointed to a detached cone of rock upwards of two hundred yards
distant.

When the attention of the whole party was concentrated on the bird in
question, Leo took a steady aim and fired.

Need we say that the effect of the shot was wonderful? not only did the
braves utter a united yell and give a simultaneous j