ump, but several of
the less brave among them bolted behind rocks, or tumbled in attempting
to do so, while myriads of sea-fowl, which clustered among the cliffs,
sprang from their perches and went screaming into the air. At the same
time echoes innumerable, which had lain dormant since creation, or at
best had given but sleepy response to the bark of walruses and the cry
of gulls, took up the shot in lively haste and sent it to and fro from
cliff to crag in bewildering continuation.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Grabantak in open-mouthed amazement, when he
beheld the shot gull tumbling from its lofty perch, "Do it again."

Leo did it again--all the more readily that another gull, unwarned by
its predecessor's fate, flew to the conical rock at the moment, and
perched itself on the same peak. It fell, as before, and the echoes
were again awakened, while the sea-birds cawed and screamed more
violently than ever.

The timid ones among the braves, having recovered from their first
shock, stood fast this time, but trembled much and glared horribly. The
chief, who was made of sterner stuff than many of his followers; did not
move, though his face flushed crimson with suppressed emotion. As to
the sea-birds, curiosity seemed to have overcome fear, for they came
circling and wheeling overhead in clouds so dense that they almost
darkened the sky--many of them swooping close past the Eskimos and then
shearing off and up with wild cries.

An idea suddenly flashed into Leo's head. Pointing his rifle upwards he
began and continued a rapid fire until all the bullets in it, (ten or
twelve), were expended. The result was as he had expected. Travelling
through such a dense mass of birds, each ball pierced we know not how
many, until it absolutely rained dead and wounded gulls on the heads of
the natives, while the rocks sent forth a roar of echoes equal to a
continuous fire of musketry. It was stupendous! Nothing like it had
occurred in the Polar regions since the world first became a little
flattened at the poles! Nothing like it will happen again until the
conjunction of a series of similar circumstances occurs. The timid
braves lost heart again and dived like the coneys into holes and corners
of the rocks. Others stood still with chattering teeth. Even Grabantak
wavered for a moment. But it was only for a moment. Recovering himself
he uttered a mighty shout; then he yelled; then he howled; then he
slapped his breast and