“I can trace their tracks still,” said Sakalar, in a low deep tone.  “On, while they are alive, or at least for vengeance!”

“Friends!” cried Ivan.

“Father!” said Kolina, and in an instant the whole party were united.  Five words were enough to determine Sakalar.  The whole body rushed back, entered the cavern, and found themselves masters of it without a struggle.  The women and children attempted no resistance.  As soon as they were placed in a corner, under the guard of the Kolimsk men, a council was held.  Sakalar, as the most experienced, decided what was to be done.  He knew the value of threats:  one of the women was released, and bade go tell the men what had occurred.  She was to add the offer of a treaty of peace, to which, if both parties agreed, the women were to be given up on the one side, and the hut and its contents on the other.  But the victors announced their intention of taking four of the best-looking boys as hostages, to be returned whenever they were convinced of the good faith of the Tchouktchas.  The envoy soon returned, agreeing to everything.  They had not gone near the hut, fearing an ambuscade.  The four boys were at once selected, and the belligerents separated.

Sakalar made the little fellows run before, and thus the hut was regained.  An inner cabin was erected for the prisoners, and the dogs placed over them as spies.  But as the boys understood Sakalar to mean that the dogs were to eat them if they stirred, they remained still enough, and made no attempt to run away.

A hasty meal was now cooked, and after its conclusion Ivan related the events of the day, warmly dilating on the devotion and courage of Kolina, who, with the keenness of a Yakouta, had found out his prison by the smoke, and had seen him on the ground despite the gloom.  Sakalar then explained how, on his return, he had been terribly alarmed, and had followed the trail on the snow.  After mutual congratulations the whole party went to sleep.

The next morning early, the mothers came humbly with provisions for their children.  They received some trifling presents and were sent away in delight.  About midday the whole tribe presented themselves unarmed, within a short distance of the hut, and offered a traffic.  They brought a great quantity of fish, which they wanted to exchange for tobacco.  Sakalar, who spoke their language freely, first gave them a roll, letting them understand it was in payment of the fish taken without leave.  This at once dissipated all feelings of hostility, and solid peace was insured.  So satisfied was Sakalar of their sincerity, that he at once released the captives.

From that day the two parties were one, and all thoughts of war were completely at an end.  A vast deal of bloodshed had been prevented by a few concessions on both sides.  The same result might indeed have been come to by killing half of each little tribe, but it is doubtful if the peace would have been as satisfactory to the survivors.