192 THE WORLD OF ICE.

howl of the dogs fell upon the ears of two separate
parties of travellers—the one was a band of Esqui-
maux who were moving about in search of seals and
walruses, to which band this woman and her baby
belonged; the other was a party of men under com-
mand of Buzzby, who were returning to the ship after
an unsuccessful hunt. Neither party saw the other,
for one approached from the east, the other from the
west, and the ice-belt, on the point of which the
woman. stood, rose up between them.

“Hallo! what’s yon?” exclaimed Peter Grim, who
was first to observe the woman.

“Dun'no’,” said Buzzby, halting; “it looks like a bear.”

“Faix an’ it is, then, it’s got a young wan on its
back,” evied O'Riley.

“We had better advance and find out,” remarked
West, as he led the way, while several of the men
threw up their arms in token of their friendly inten-
tions. O'Riley capered somewhat extravagantly as he
drew near, partly with the intention of expressing his
feelings of good-will towards the unknown, and partly
in order to relieve the excitement caused by the un-
expected apparition.

These demonstrations, however, had the effect of
terrifying the woman, who wheeled suddenly round
and mace off.

“Och! it 7s a man. Hooray, boys! give chase.”

“Men don’é usually carry babies on their backs and
tie their hair up into top-knots,” remarked Grim, as he
darted past in pursuit.