CHAPTER IX. K ALU man's ADVENTLRES, ALUMAH on the floating island, two hundred miles from the American coast. It was almost incredible ! The first thing to be ascertained was whether the poor creature still breathed. Was it possible to restore her to life % Mrs Barnett loosened her clothes, and found that her body was not yet quite cold. Her heart beat very feebly, but it did beat. The blood they had seen came from a slight wound in her hand ; Madge bound it up with her handkerchief, and the bleeding soon ceased. At the same time Mrs Barnett raised the poor girl's head, and managed to pour a few drops of rum between her parted lips. She then bathed her forehead and temples with cold water, and waited. A few minutes passed by, and neither of the watchers were able to utter a word, so anxious were they lest the faint spark of life remaining to the young Esquimaux should be quenched. But at last Kalumah's breast heaved with a faint sigh, her hands moved feebly, and presently she opened her eyes, and recognising her preserver she murmured — " Mrs Barnett ! Mrs Barnett ! " The lady was not a little surprised at hearing her own name. Had Kalumah voluntarily sought the floating island, and did she expect to find her old European friends on it ? If so, how had she come to know it, and how had she managed to reach the island, two hundred miles from the mainland % How could she have guessed that the ice-field was bearing Mrs Barnett and all the occupants of Fort Hope away from the American coast % Really it all seemed quite inexplicable. " She lives — she will recover ! " exclaimed Madge, who felt the vital heat and pulsation returning to the poor bruised body. " Poor child, poor child ! " said Mrs Barnett, much aff^ected ; " she murmured my name when she was at the point of death." But now Kalumah again half opened her eyes, and looked about
