"That would only make them bolder, when they saw that nothing came out of it," said Capt. Mazard.
"Put in a ball, then," said Kit.
"That would be as bad as shooting them here alongside."
"It might be fired so as not to be very likely to hit them," said Raed. "Couldn't it, Wade?"
"Yes: might put in a small charge, and skip the ball, ricochet it along the water."
"Let's try it," said Kit.
The howitzer was pushed across to the starboard side.
"Remember that there's a pretty heavy charge in there now," said Wade. "Better send that over their heads!"
The gun was accordingly elevated to near thirty degrees. Raed then touched it off. The Esquimaux, of course, heard the report; but I doubt if they saw or heard any thing of the ball. It doubtless went a thousand feet over their heads; and just then, too, the kayaks and oomiaks came up where they were standing, and a great hubbub was occasioned by their arrival.
"Try 'em again!" exclaimed Donovan.