Muskets were loaded, jumpers and mittens put on, dogs caught and harnessed, and every preparation made for a sudden chase.
"There, that will do," cried the Captain, hurrying on deck with a brace of pistols and a cutlass in his belt, "six men are enough; let twelve of the remainder follow on foot.

Jump on the sledge, Grim and Buzzby; O'Riley, you go too.

Have a Care, Fred; not too near the front.

Now, Meetuck--" One crack of the long whip terminated the sentence as if with a full stop, and in another moment the sledge was bounding over the snow like a feather at the tails of twelve dogs.
It was a long chase, for it was a "stern" one, but the Esquimaux never dreamed of-pursuit, and as their dogs were not too well fed they had progressed rather slowly.

In less than two hours they were distinguished on the horizon far off to the southward, winding their way among the hummocks.
"Now, Meetuck," said the captain, "drive like the wind, and lay me alongside of Awatok's sledge;--and be ready, men, to act." "Ay, ay, sir," Was the prompt reply, as the heavy whip fell on the flanks of the leaders.
A few minutes brought them up with Awatok's sledge, and Captain Guy, leaping upon it with a clasp-knife in his hand, cut the traces in a twinkling, set the dogs free, and turning round, seized the Esquimau by the collar.