There were no hummocks, however, in the neighbourhood to enable them to approach unseen; but the Esquimau was prepared for such a contingency.  He had brought a small sledge, of about two feet in length by a foot and a half in breadth, which he now unfastened from the large sledge, and proceeded quietly to arrange it, to the surprise of his companions, who had not the least idea what he was about to do, and watched his proceedings with much interest.

“Is it to sail on the ice ye’re goin’, boy?” inquired O’Riley at last, when he saw Meetuck fix a couple of poles, about four feet long, into a hole in the little sledge, like two masts, and upon these spread a piece of canvas upwards of a yard square, with a small hole in the centre of it.

But Meetuck answered not.  He fastened the canvas “sail” to a cross-yard above and below.  Then placing a harpoon and coil of rope on the sledge, and taking up his musket, he made signs to the party to keep under the cover of a hummock, and, pushing the sledge before him, advanced towards the seals in a stooping posture, so as to be completely hid behind the bit of canvas.

“O the haythen!  I see it now!” exclaimed O’Riley, his face puckering up with fun.  “Ah, but it’s a cliver trick, no doubt of it.”

“What a capital dodge!” said Fred, crouching behind the hummock, and watching the movements of the Esquimau with deep interest.

“West, hand me the little telescope; you’ll find it in the pack.”

“Here it is, sir,” said the man, pulling out a glass of about six inches long, and handing it to Fred.

“How many is there, an ye plaze?”

“Six, I think; yes—­one, two, three—­I can’t make them out quite, but I think there are six, besides the one on the ice.  Hist! there he sees him.  Ah, Meetuck, he’s too quick for you.”

As he spoke the seal on the ice began to show symptoms of alarm.  Meetuck had approached to within shot, but he did not fire; the wary Esquimau had caught sight of another object which a lump of ice had hitherto concealed from view.  This was no less a creature than a walrus, who chanced at that time to come up to take a gulp of fresh air and lave his shaggy front in the brine, before going down again to the depths of his ocean home.  Meetuck, therefore, allowed the seal to glide quietly into the sea, and advanced towards this new object of attack.  At length he took a steady aim through the hole in the canvas screen, and fired.  Instantly the seals dived, and at the same time the water round the walrus was lashed into foam and tinged with red.  It was evidently badly wounded, for had it been only slightly hurt it would probably have dived.

Meetuck immediately seized his harpoon, and rushed towards the struggling monster; while Fred grasped a gun and O’Riley a harpoon, and ran to his assistance.  West remained to keep back the dogs.  As Meetuck gained the edge of the ice the walrus recovered partially, and tried, with savage fury, to reach his assailant, who planted the harpoon deep in its breast, and held on to the rope while the animal dived.