ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD 41 



crevice ? No, a trick of the witch lights, 

 surely. The piercing eyes returned to their 

 eager watching of the seals. 



Precious as was his ammunition, and in- 

 different as was his shooting with the old, 

 big bore, Hudson Bay musket, the man was 

 beginning to think he would have to stake 

 his chances on the gun. But, suddenly, as 

 if at a handsweep of the Infinite, the great 

 lights vanished. 



For a few seconds, by the violence of the 

 contrast, it seemed as if thick darkness had 

 fallen upon the world. 



In those few seconds, noiseless and swift 

 as a panther, the man had run over the ridge 

 to within a dozen paces of the seals, and paused 

 with spear uplifted, waiting till his eyes 

 should once more be able to see in the star- 

 light glimmer. As he stood thus waiting, 

 every sense, nerve, and muscle on the last 

 strain of expectancy and readiness, he heard, 

 or seemed to feel as much as to hear, the rush 

 of some great bulk through the gloom. Then 

 came a scramble, a heavy splash, a second 

 splash, a terrible scuffling noise, and a hoarse, 

 barking scream. The man remembered that 

 before the light went out there had been three 

 seals on the ice. Two he had heard escape. 

 What had befallen the third ? Fiercely, like a 



