wline. Taking the axe
and bearing the most of his weight on the cord, Regnar crossed the
bending surface and shifting fragments, and finding a precarious footing
on the berg, wound the rope around his left arm, and with the right cut
steps into the brittle ice-wall.

In a few moments he ascended the cliff, and the others, leaving their
guns behind them, found little difficulty in following him. Leaving the
rope still fast, the three ascended the berg, which rose high above the
surrounding ice. Their first look was to the southward. For a moment the
distance and the ever-present snow deceived them; but the sun came from
behind a cloud, and they saw, afar off, the red sandstone face of the
snow-covered cliffs of the North Cape.

"They are now about twelve miles distant, and, as I judge, there can be
but little open water between us and the shore. Let us hasten back and
get the boat ready, for if this wind only holds, and no snow or rain
comes on, we shall soon be able to reach the shore."

At that moment something fell with a splash into a small, partially open
pool, on the farther side of the berg, and all saw a huge form disappear
under the surface. Each started, felt mechanically for his weapons, and
in brief monosyllables of Esquimaux, Micmac, and English, ejaculated the
name of the animal whose presence none had even suspected.

"_Ussuk!_" whispered Regnar.

"_Nashquan_," murmured Peter.

"A seal," said La Salle.

Orloff slid down the berg, caught the firmly fastened cord, swung
himself over the ice-foot, skipped lightly over the yielding fragments,
seized his gun, and returned in almost less time than it takes to
describe his movements. The seal, a huge male, had come to the surface
among the floating fragments at the farther side of the pool, some fifty
yards away, and now lay with his round head, protruding eyes, and stiff
bristles, strikingly expressing anger, fear, and curiosity--the last
predominating. Regnar threw his gun to his shoulder.

"What size shot have you?" said La Salle, laying his hand on his
shoulder.

"Two buckshot cartridge,--heavy enough for him. If he were old 'hood'
now! Look! I show you something."

The lad took deliberate aim, and then, with the full force of his
capacious lungs, gave a sharp, shrill whistle, which almost deafened his
companions, and was re-echoed from the icy walls on the farther side of
the pool, in piercing reverberations.

Surprised and affrighted by the un