Kolina started back in terror and surprise, while Sakalar fixed his keen eye on the youth with sorrow and curiosity, and almost unequivocally, testified his belief that his favorite pupil in the chase was mad. But Ivan rose and bade the serving-man of the rich Yacouta bring in his boxes, and opened up his store of treasures. There was tea for Kolina; and for Sakalar, rum, brandy, powder, guns, tobacco, knives--all that could tempt a Yakouta. The father and daughter examined them with pleasure for some time, but presently Kolina shook her head. "Ivan," said Sakalar, "all this is to tempt the poor Yakouta to cross the wilderness of ice. It is much riches, but not enough to make Sakalar mad. The mine is guarded by evil beings. But speak, lad, why would you go there?" "Let Kolina give me a pipe and I will tell my story," said Ivan; and filling his glass, the young fur-trader told the story of his love, and his bargain with the prudent widow. "And this cold-hearted woman," exclaimed Kolina with emotion, "has sent you to risk life on the horrible Frozen Sea. A Yakouta girl would have been less selfish. She would have said, 'Stay at home--let me have Ivan: the mammoth teeth may lie forever on the Frozen Sea!'" "But the lad will go, and he will be drowned like a dog," said Sakalar, more slowly, after this ebullition of feminine indignation. "You must go with him, father," continued Kolina, with a compassionate look at Ivan; "and as your child cannot remain alone, Kolina will go too!" "We will start when the horses have had five days' hay," said Sakalar gravely--the animals alluded to being only fed when about to go a journey--"and Kolina shall go too, for Ivan will be two years on his way."