ange
smell of tobacco-smoke at last rendered it unbearable.

Slowly, sternly, as if it were part of his duty to spy, he moved to the
torn window and peeped in. He was fascinated at once of course. After
gazing for five minutes in rapt admiration, he chanced to withdraw his
face for a moment, and then found that nine Eskimos had discovered nine
holes or crevices in the hut walls, against which their fat faces were
thrust, while at least half-a-dozen others were vainly searching for
other peep-holes.

A scarcely audible hiss caused the rapt nine to look up. A terrible
frown and a shake of the official spear caused them to retire down the
slope that led to the hut.

This was the unaccountable "squall" that had first perplexed Leo and his
comrade.

But like tigers who have tasted blood, the Flatlanders could not now be
restrained.

"Go!" said the sentinel in a low stern voice to the retreating
trespassers, whom he followed to the foot of the slope. "If you come up
again I will tell Grabantak, who will have you all speared and turned
into whale-buoys."

The boys did not appear to care much for the threat. They were
obviously buoyed up with hope.

"Oh! do, _do_ let us peep! just once!" entreated several of them in
subdued but eager tones.

The sentinel shook his obdurate head and raised his deadly spear.

"We will make no noise," said a youth who was the exact counterpart of
Benjamin Vane in all respects except colour and costume--the first being
dirty yellow and the latter hairy.

The sentinel frowned worse than ever.

"The Kablunets," said another of the band, entreatingly, "shall hear
nothing louder than the falling of a snow-flake or a bit of eider-down."

Still the sentinel was inexorable.

The Eskimos were in despair.

Suddenly Benjy's counterpart turned and fled to the village on light and
noiseless toe. He returned immediately with a rich, odorous, steaming
piece of blubber in his hand. It was a wise stroke of policy. The
sentinel had been placed there without any reference to the fact that he
had not had his supper. He was ravenously hungry. Can you blame him
for lowering his spear, untying his eyebrows, and smiling blandly as the
held out his hand?

"Just one peep, and it is yours," said the counterpart, holding the
morsel behind him.

"My life is in danger if I do," remonstrated the sentinel.

"Your supper is in danger if you don't," said the counterpart.

It was too much for him.