THE WORLD OF ICE. 145

Meetuck nodded violently to indicate that Fred
was right.

“Well, what’s to be done? Luckily we are well
to leeward, and it has neither sighted nor scented
us.”

Meetuck replied by gestures and words to the effect
that West and 0’ Riley should remain with the dogs,
and keep them quiet under the shelter of a hummock,
while he and Fred should go after the reindeer, Ac
cordingly, away they went, making a pretty long
detour in order to gain the shore, and come upon it
under the shelter of the grounded floes, behind which
they might approach without being seen. In hurrying
along the coast they observed the footprints of a
musk-ox, and also of several Arctic hares and foxes ;
which delighted them much, for hitherto they had
seen none of these animals, and were beginning to be
fearful lest they should not visit that part of the
coast at all. Of course Fred knew not what sort of
animals had made the tracks in question, but he was
an adept at guessing, and the satisfied looks of his
companion gave him reason to believe that he was
correct in his surmises.

Tn half-an-hour they came within range, and Fred,
atter debating with himself for some time as to the
propriety of taking the first shot, triumphed over
himself, and stepping back a pace, motioned to the
Esquimau to fire. But Meetuck was an innate gentle-
man, and modestly declined; so Fred advanced, took
a good aim, and fired.

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