A STRANGE SACRIFICE
The natives who had made Professor Henderson, Andy, and Washington
prisoners seemed at a loss for some little time as to which direction to
take. They talked among themselves, while the prisoners were much
alarmed, for if the Esquimaux were lost, and without food, it would mean
the death of all.
At last, however, the native in charge of the main sled prevailed on the
others, and they proceeded, turning off to the left.
The sleds, including that on which the prisoners were, bumped along over
the ice, the dogs pulling the rude vehicles along swiftly. It was about
an hour later that another halt was made. This time it did not seem to
be because the way was lost, for the natives showed no signs of alarm.
Instead, they were laughing and talking. In a little while the small
advance party was joined by a larger body of Esquimaux, who had been at
the attack on the airship, but who had taken a different route.
Then the whole crowd started forward again. Half an hour's travel
brought another halt, this time a final one, for when the professor and
his companions glanced around them they found they were in the midst of
a native village of ice huts.
"Golly! We's somewhere, anyhow," spoke Washington; "but I can't say I
thinks much ob dis place. It's too lonesome."
"Better be here than out on the ice field," spoke up the professor. "The
Esquimaux have little stone stoves in which they burn oil, and their
huts are quite warm inside."
In a few minutes the captives had a chance to test this statement. They
were unbound and carried from the sled to one of the larger huts. As is
usual in the far northern regions, each hut was made of blocks of ice
laid one on the other, forming a semicircular house, with a round dome.
The door or entrance was so small that the only way to get in was to
crawl. There was no door to keep the cold out, but the passage was made
a winding one, or there were two huts, one built over the other, so that
the openings did not come opposite, and this served to keep out the
wind.
Arriving at the doorway, the Esquimaux set their prisoners down in front
of the house, and signed to them to crawl in. The professor went first,
followed by Andy and Washington. Inside they found the place to be warm
from the flame of a crude stove. This consisted of a hollowed out stone,
filled with seal oil, the wick being made of moss. The stove, or lamp,
for it served both purposes, smoked very much.
There were several natives squatting down inside the hut, but they did
not seem surprised when the three prisoners entered. Others of the
Esquimaux crowded into the ice house, until it was uncomfortably filled.
Then a native who seemed to be a leader began a long talk to the others.
Judging from his gestures he was telling about the fight at the airship
and the capture of the captives. At times he would be interrupted by
those who wanted to question him.
At length the recital was done. All the Esquimaux, save about half a
dozen, crawled out of the hut. One of those who remained placed an
earthen pot over the flame of the stove, and soon a delicious smell
filled the air. Evidently something good was being cooked.
"It's chicken pot-pie," said Washington. "How I does love chicken!"
Presently one of the natives removed the pot from the stove and set it
in front of the captives. The contents were steaming hot, and seemed to
be some sort of meat stew, made with chunks of flesh, gravy and moss.
"How are we going to eat, without knives, forks or spoons?" asked Andy.
He soon found out. The natives who had remained in the hut drew up to
the pot. They dipped their bare hands in, drew out pieces of meat and
wads of the moss, and ate without ceremony.
"Fingers were made before forks," quoted the professor. "We'll have to
eat as the old cave-dwellers did. Well, I'm hungry enough not to stand
on politeness."
He reached in the vessel and got some meat. It was hot, but he did not
mind that, and ate it with a relish. Andy and Washington followed his
example, and soon the travelers from the _Monarch_ and the Esquimaux
were eating together as if they had been friends all their lives.
When the rude meal had ended, the prisoners felt much better. They were
warm, their hunger was appeased, and, in spite of their many worries
over the loss of the airship and their companions, they were so tired
out that they felt very sleepy. Soon the professor's head nodded over,
shortly Andy was snoring and in a little while Washington too slumbered.
They did not know how long they had slept, but they were suddenly and
rudely awakened by being shaken. Opening their eyes, they saw the hut
was filled with Esquimaux, all clothed in suits of spotless white fur.
"These must all be chiefs," remarked the professor.
With quick motions the natives bound their captives again, with stout
thongs. Then, like so many logs of wood, they were pulled out of the hut
on their backs, a native outside hauling on one end of the skin ropes.
There was no telling what hour it was, for the sun shone as brightly as
it had been doing for days past. Once more the three men were tossed on
sleds, and the dogs, driven by the Esquimaux, hauled them off. But it
was not a far journey this time. In about fifteen minutes the sleds came
to a stop, the prisoners were lifted off, and carried, as they could
see, toward a large opening in a hill of ice and snow.
As soon as they had passed from the sunlight to darkness, the captives
knew they were in a sort of cave. The blackness was intense, but in a
short time there was a faint glow observed ahead, caused by a number of
the stone lamps burning.
At that point were gathered several more of the Esquimaux, all attired
in white furs. There was some excitement when the prisoners were brought
in, and all crowded around to see them.
Then began what seemed a discussion among the natives. They talked loud
and long. Finally from some other part of the cave two tall men, dressed
as the others were, in white, came in. They seemed to be in authority,
for when they had spoken all the others were silent.
While the captives waited in anxiety for what would happen next, the
whole cave was illuminated with a wonderful light. It was rosy red at
first, then changed to a golden hue, then to green, yellow, blue and
purple. The captives could not see where the fire came from, but they
gazed at the light in mingled fear and admiration.
"It is the northern light; the aurora borealis!" exclaimed the
professor. "It is the most beautiful light in the world."
"What makes it?" asked Andy.
"Electricity, magnetism, the sun and the intense cold; no one knows
exactly what produces it," replied Amos Henderson. "It is quite likely
that there is some opening to this cave, and the sun shines in it, or
the lights may be reflected from outside by reason, of the ice, which
acts as a mirror."
"It's pretty," observed Andy, "but all the same I'd rather--"
He got no further for the two giant-sized natives advanced quickly
toward them. One roughly seized Professor Henderson, and, with the help
of his companion, began stripping off his clothes. Andy started forward
to aid the captain, but the other natives held him back. Washington,
too, was restrained by several hands.
In a few minutes the professor was stripped, except for a piece of fur
about his middle. Then a rude litter was brought in. The two big
natives, after pouring some oil over the old man, placed their victim on
the stretcher, and then began a march up the cave. Washington and Andy
were forced to walk directly behind the inventor, and were surrounded by
natives on every side. The poor professor soon became half insensible
from the cold.
"This is terrible!" groaned Andy.
"Dey is goin' to slaughter him!" wailed Washington. "He'll be sacrificed
and burned up! See, de altar ob de sacrifice am just ahead. Oh! I wisht
we wuz all dead!"
"We're likely to be, soon enough," muttered Andy. "But keep up your
courage!"
At that instant the head of the procession was close to the ice altar.
Behind it the mysterious lights played and flickered in streamers of
red, green and gold. Up the steps went the two gigantic men, carrying
the professor. They were about to sacrifice him in a horrible way!
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" screamed a woman's voice. At the sound of it Andy started.
"That was Dirola!" exclaimed the old hunter. "How did she get here?"