AN ESCAPE, AND A NEJV ENEMY. 143 
impossible for five men and a big dog to get past and out 
through the narrow passage-way already referred to 
without discovery. They softly withdrew into the 
recesses of their own apartment for further deliberation. 
" Oo-oo-oo ! Oo-oo-oo ! " plainer than before. The 
grouse was getting impatient. 
A low exclamation from Nat directed the attention of 
the rest to Carlo, who was thrusting his black snout 
between the spruce limbs forming the rear wall of the 
hut. The close air of the place disturbed the Newfound- 
land, and, on being checked at the front door, he was 
bound to get out by hook or crook. 
The dog's instinct had led him to the loosest place in 
the wall. His masters took the hint, and softly widened 
the aperture that Carlo's nose had begun. In three min- 
utes it was large enough to allow a human body to pass, 
and one by one the captives — for such they practically 
were — squeezed through. 
How delicious the cold night air, after the foul, tainted 
atmosphere of the Ayan hut ! The dogs discovered them 
at once, and set up a doleful howling, but the natives 
were apparently too well used to midnight concerts of 
that sort to trouble themselves as to its cause. 
The very uproar made by these canine performers 
served, in fact, to cover the slight noise made by the 
escaping party. They crept around behind the huts, Nat 
holding Carlo by the collar, and Mr. Dutton leading the 
way down to the shore of the river. 
