“He means the man we saw drowned,” suggested Hugo.
Jack made a motion as of ice opening and closing.
He then went through the pantomime of a man drowning.
The Esquimaux looked fixedly at him for a moment or two, and then shook his head solemnly.
He arose without another word and left the hut.
The little party were preparing to sleep when a loud thud sounded on the outside of the hut.
It was followed by others, as if large projectiles were being flung against the hut.
Then a huge block in the side was dashed in, almost striking one of the boys.
A second block fell--the hut seemed crumbling into ruins.
Jack caught a glimpse of a dozen or more of the Esquimaux.
They were shouting and gesticulating wildly, and were armed with large clubs and solid chunks of ice.
“We will be crushed to death!” he cried. “Hand me the gun, Hugo.”
“We must, or they will kill us. It is our only means of self protection to frighten them away.”
“Yes; they think we killed the owner of the dogs and stole the animals.”
As Hugo uttered the warning a shower of ice fell over the ruined hut.
The yells of the Esquimaux mingled with the deafening explosion.
That the Esquimaux were enraged, and believing that their companion had been murdered, were determined to avenge his death, there could be no doubt.
They had retreated when the gun was fired, and Jack said, quickly:
“Climb out of here as soon as you can. We must fly.”
“But won’t they listen to reason?” demurred Hugo.
“They can’t understand us. See yonder, Hugo, is a sled and some dogs. Get the boys there.”
“I intend to escape as best we may before the Esquimaux return to the attack,” replied Jack, determinedly.
As the natives made a forward movement the gun was again fired, and had the effect of checking their advance.
They had some difficulty in urging the dogs away from the camp, but once started the sled flew over the snowy expanse.
They were not followed by the Esquimaux, who were, doubtless, affrighted at the guns.
After several hours Jack ordered a halt, and they found a shelter for the night, resuming their journey the next day.
Several times on their way they passed ice huts and other evidences of the passage of recent travelers, such as broken sleds and scraps of food.