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I 1%

ill THE WALRUS HUNTERS

A ROMANCE OF

THE REALMS OF ICE

BY R M. BALLANTYNE

AurnoR OF "the hot swamp;" "the buffalo runner ;" "blown to tjits;'

"the coral island;" "the oarret and the garden;" blue lights, ob

hot work in the SOUDAN ;" "the touno fuk traders;" "the

BATTERy AND THE BOILER;" "THE DOO CR090E AND HIS

master;" " post haste ;"" fiohtino THE flames ; "
"THE ufeboat;" "the iron horse;"

ETC. ETC.

WiHh SUuetrntions

LONDON
JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BEENERS STREET

1893

^ III„.-^1.I. „.„„— ..7^

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

LIBRARY

Victoria, B. C.

Avri
ma
loii

mtmummm-"

PREFACE.

That this tale may, in some small degree,
advance the cause of right, and tend to demolish
Avrong, is the height of my ambition. That it
may enable my readers to enjoy an occasional
leisure hour is my earnest hope.

R. M. B.

Harrow, 1893.

CHi

CONTENTS.

PAQE

CHAP. I.— A SUBPRISE, A COMBAT, AND A FEED, ... 1

II.— WAUU8KEEK, 18

III.— PKACE OR WAll— WHICH ? 29

IV.- WAR PREVAILS, 39

v.— A RENCONTRE AND FLIQHT, 61

VI.— A SUBPRISE, A STRUGGLE, AND A CAPTURE, . . 62

VII.— FUGHT AND MISFORTUNE, . . . . . ' 75

VIII.— IN THE HOUR OP NEED, 88

IX.— TRYING MOMENTS AND PERPLEXING DOUDTS, . . 81

X.— A WILD CHASE AND A SAD FAILURE, . . . 104

XI.— ENCAMPED ON THE ISLET 115

XII.— HOME— SWKBT HOME— AND S.MOKE, ETC., . . .127

XIII.— DOINGS IN WARUSKKEK, 142

XIV.— IN THE WILD-WOODS AGAIN, 154

XV.— WILD DOINGS OP THE FUB-TRADKR8 AND RED MEN, 165

XVL— SORROWS AND SINfl, AND A BOLD ADVENTURE, . 179

XVIL— NAZINRED'S JOURNEY OVER THE ARCTIC SEA, . . 192

XVIII. — A SURPRISE AND A CATASTROPHE, .... 205

XIX.— THE FSKIMOS AGAIN, AND A GREAT DISCOVERT AND

RESCUE 219

XX.— STRANGE CONVERSE AND DISCOVERIES, . . .229

vi CONTENTS

CHAI'. XXI. — KICKIIAI.I. AND AN IMPOIITANT MKETINO, ,
XXII.— TKI.1,8 OP HUNTINO KXTUAOUDINAHY, .

XXIII. — A IlEAU-llUNT AND A HAD END, ....

XXIV.— THi; TRADEllS AT WORK,

XXV. —Tim OUTPOST, AND KKKKL'T OK A " FIIDDLK,"

XXVI. — A MYSTKUIOUS JOUUNKY AND A (lUHAT DISCOVIiUY,

XXVII. —INTKllKSTINO, AMUSINO, AND ASTOUNDING DIS-

COVKUIEH

XXVIII.— THE SUIP UE- VISITED AND BE-KXI'LOBED, .
XXIX. — CURIOSITY AND PIIESUMI'TION FOLLOWED BY

CATASTBOI'IIE,

XXX.— A DKCLAUAT'ON, AN INTERRUPTION, AND A GREAT

FIOHT,

XXXI. — AN EXPEDITION AND A DISAPPOINTMENT, .

XXXII.— AN UNEXPECTED MEETING,

XXXIII. — THE LAST,

PAOI

241
262
261
877

289
303

318

845

302
876
887
896

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

NOOTKA AND ADOLAY (p. 143), . . Frontinpiece.
ILLUSTRATED TITLE.

RINKA PROSTRATE ON THE GROUND, to/ace page 65
"SHE BOUNDED TOWAHDS llIM," ... 247
" DRAGGED THE MONSTER OFF THE FALLEN

MAN," .
"TO THE RESCUE,"

• •

268
322

THE WALHUS HUNTERS

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

CHAPTER L

A SUnPBISB, A COMBAT, AND A KEED.

There is a river in America which flows to
the north-westward of Great Bear Lake, and helps
to drain that part of the great wilderness into the
Arctic Sea.

It is an insignificant stream comjiared with
such well-known waterways as the Mackenzie and
the Coppermine; nevertheless it is large enough
to entice the white whale and the seal into its
waters every spring, and it becomes a resting-
place for myriads of wild-fowl while on their
passage to and from the breeding-grounds of the
Far North.

Greygoose River was the name given to it by
the Dogrib Indians who dwelt in its neighbour-
hood, and who were wont, every spring and
autumn, to descend its waters nearly to the sea

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

in quest of game. The Eskimos, who, coming
from the mysterious north, were in the habit of
ascending it a short way during open water in
pursuit of their peculiar prey, named it Whale
River.

The Indians and Eskimos did not often meet
while on these trips. They did not like meeting,
because the result was apt to be disastrous.
Besides, the land was wide and the game plenti-
ful enough for both, so that they were not much
tempted to risk a meeting. Occasionally, how-
ever, meetings and encounters did take place, and
sometimes bitter feuds arose, but the possession
of fire-arms by the Indians — who were supplied
by the fur-traders — rendered the Eskimos wary.
Their headstrong courage, however, induced the
red men to keep as inuch as possible out of their
way. In short, there was a good deal of the
spirit of "let-be for lot-bo" between the two at
the time of which we write.

One morning in the spring-time of the year,
soon after the floods caused by the melting snows
had swept the ice clean out of Greygoose or Whale
River, a sturdy young Eskimo urged his sharp
kayak, or skin-covered canoe, up the stream in
pursuit of a small white whale. But the creature
gave him the slip, so that, after an energetic chase,
ho turned his light vessel towards the left bank
of the stream, intending to land.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Cheeiibuk, for such was his name, was one of
those sedate bemgs whose energies run calm and
deep, Hke a mighty river. His feelings, whatever
they might be, did not usually cause much agita-
tion on the surface. Disappointment did not visibly
depress, nor did success unduly elate him. The
loss of the whale failed to di'.turb the placid look
of grave contentment which sat on his good-
looking countenance.

For it must be noted here that Cheenbuk was
a handsome savage — if, indeed, we are entitled to
style him a savage at all. His features were good,
and strongly marked. His young beard and
moustache were black, though not bushy. His
dark eyes were large and full of tenderness, which
expression, by an ahnost imperceptible raising of
eyeHd and contraction of brow, was easily trans-
muted into a gaze of ferocity or indignation. His
bulky frame was clothed in the seal-skin garb
peculiar to his people; his hair was straight,
voluminous, and unkempt, and his motions gave
indication of great strength combined with agiUty.

And no wonder, for a large part of our young
Eskimo's life had been spent in battling with the
forces of Nature, and the hardships of life as dis-
played in the Arctic regions — to say nothing of
frequent conflicts with the seal, the walrus and the
polar bear.

Running his kayak among the rushes of a small

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

inlet, Cheenbuk stepped out of the hole in its
centre into the stream. The water was ankle-deep,
but the youth suffered no discomfort, for he wore
what may be styled home-made waterproof boots
reaching to above the knees. These had been
invented by his forefathers, no doubt, in the re-
mote ages of antiquity — at all events, long before
india-rubber had been discovered or Macintosh
was born.

Drawing his little craft out of the water, the
young man took some food from its interior, a,nd
was about to begin his truly simple meal by eating
it raw, when a distant sound arrested his hand on
the way to his mouth. He turned his head slightly
on one side and remained for some moments like
a singularly attentive statue.

Presently the voice of a wild-goose was faintly
heard in the far distance. Evidently the young
Eskimo desired a change of fare, for he hid down
the slice of raw seal, on which he had been about
to regale himself, and disengaged a long slender
spear from the bow of his kayak.

It is well known that wild-geese will, with pro-
verbial stupidity, answer to an imitation of their
cry, particularly in spring. Indeed, they will
answer to a very bad imitation of it, insomuch
that the poorest counterfeit will turn them out
of their course and attract them towards the crier.

Availing himself of this weakness, our Eskimo

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLt>

hid himself behind a bush, and was opening his
mouth to give vent to a stentorian goose-call when
ho was checked, and apparently petrified, by a loud
report, which echoed among the neighbouring
cliffs.

The youth know the sound well. He had heard
it only once before, but, once heard, it could never
be forgotten. It was the gun, or, as his people called
it, the fire-spouter, of an Indian. Plunging quietly
into the underwood, he hastened towards the spot
where a little wreath of smoke betrayed the position
of what may be almost styled his hereditary foe.

Cautiously, carefully, and with a catlike motion
that could hardly have been excelled by an Indian
brave, Cheenbuk advanced until he reached the
edge of a partially clear space, in which he beheld
an Indian leisurely engaged in pushing the head
of a large grey goose under his belt. At his side,
loaning against a tree, was the long-barrelled
fowling-piece, which he had just reloaded. It was
one of those common, cheap, flint-lock affairs
which were supplied by the fur-traders in those
days.

The Indian was a tall, powerfully built middle-
aged man, and, from his look and manner, was
evidently unsuspicious of the presence of a foe.
He seemed to be quite alone.

The Eskimo poised his light spear, but hesitated
to launch it. He shrank from killing a defence-

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

less foe. The hesitation betrayed him, for at the
moment the sharp ear of the red man heard, and
his eye discovered him.

The gun flew to the Indian's shoulder, and the
Eskimo launched his spear, but by good fortune
both weapons failed. The well-directed spear was
cleverly dodged, and the gun missed fire.

To re-cock the weapon, take a more deadly aim,
and pull the trigger, was the work of three seconds ;
but again the flint proved faithless. Cheenbuk,
however, divined the meaning of the attempt, and
sprang upon his foe to prevent a repetition of the
action, though he was now practically unarmed, —
for the little stone knife which ho carried in his
bosom was but ill suited for deadly combat.

The Indian clubbed his gun to moot the onset,
but the Eskimo, evading the first blow, caught
hold of the weapon with both hands, and now
began a fierce and prolonged struggle for possession
of the " fire-spouter."

Both hands of each combatant being engaged,
neither could venture to draw his knife, and, as
the men were pretty equally matched, both as to
size and strength, they swayed to and fro with
desperate energy for a considerable time, each
endeavouring to throw the other, while the sweat
poured down their faces and their breathing came
in fitful gasps.

At length there was a pause in the conflict. It

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

the
and

■1

seemed as if they had stopped by mutual consent
to recover breath for a final effort.

As they glared into each other's faces, each felt
surprised to see little or nothing of the evidence
of that deadly hatred which usually characterises
implacable foes. Suddenly Cheenbuk relaxed his
grip of the gun and stepped back a pace. In so
doing he put himself, to some extent at least, at
the mercy of his adversary. With quick percep-
tion the Indian recognised the fact. He drew
himself up and dropped the gun on the ground.

" Why should we fight ? The hunting-grounds
are wide enough!" he said, in the grave sententious
tones peculiar to his race.

" That is just what camo to my thought when I
let go," answered the more matter-of-fact Eskimo.

"Let us part, then, as friends," returned the
red man, " and let us do it in the manner of the
pale-faced traders."

Ho extended his right liand as ho spoke.
Cheenbuk, who had heard a rumour of the white
man's customs — probably from men of his race
who had met with the crews of whalers — ad-
vanced, grasped the extended hand, and shook
it in a way that might have done credit to any
Englishman ! He smiled at the same time with
a slightly humorous expression, but the other
maintained his solemnity. Fun is not a prominent
characteristic of the red man.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" But thero is no need that wo should part
before feeding," said the Eskimo.

" Waugh ! " replied the Indian, by which it is to
be presumed he signified assent.

The reconciled foes being both adepts in the art
of cookery, and — one of them at least — in wood-
craft, it was not long before a largo fire was blaz-
ing under a convenient fir-tree, and the grey goose
soon hissed pleasantly in front of it. Tliey were
a quiet and self-contained couple, however, and
went about their work in profound silence. Not
that they lacked ideas or language — for each, being
naturally a good linguist, had somehow acquired
a smattering of the other's tongue, — but they re-
sembled each other in their disinclination to talk
without having something particular to say,
and in their incliiiution to quietness and so-
briety of demeanour.

Hero, however, the resemblance ceased, for
while the Eskimo was free and easy, ready to
learn and to sympathise, and quick to see and
appreciate a joke, the Indian was sternly con-
servative, much impressed with his own reetitudo
of intention, as well as his capacity for action, and
absolutely devoid of the slightest tinge of humour.
Thus the Eskimo's expression varied somewhat
with the nature of the subjects which chased each
other through his mind, while that of tho red
man never changed from the calm of dignified

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

immobility — except, of course, when, as during the
recent struggle, his life was in danger.

While the goose was roasting, the erstwhile foes
sat doAvn to watch the process. They had not to
watch long, for the fire was strong and neither of
them was particular. Indeed, the Eskimo would
gladly have eaten his portion raw, but waited
patiently, out of deference to what he deemed
his companion's prejudices.

" You are alone ? " said the Eskimo interroga-
tively.

" Yes— alone," returned the Indian.

To such men, this was mental food for at least a
quarter of an hour. By the end of that time one
side of the bird was sufficiently done. The Indian
turned the stick on which it was impaled, drew
his scalping knife, and commenced on the side
that was ready while the other side was being
done. Cheenbuk drew his stone knife, cut a large
slice of the breast, and also fell to work. They ate
vigorously, yet the process was not soon over, for
the goose was large and their appetites were
strong. Of course they had no time or inclination
for conversation during the meaL When it was
finished, the grey goose was reduced to a miserable
skeleton. Then both men sighed the sigh of con-
tentment, wiped their knives on the grass, and
looked gravely at each other.

Cheenbuk seemed as if about to speak, but was

THE WALRUS HUNTEItS

arrested in his intention by the strange and un-
accountable proceedings of his companion, who
now drew forth a gaily decorated bag which hung
at his belt behind him. From this ho extracted a
whitish implement with a little bowl at one end,
and having leisurely filled it with a brown sub-
stance, also drawn from the bag, ho put the other
or small end of the instrument between his teeth.
Then he took up a burning stick and applied it to
the bowl.

The Eskimo had been gazing at him with over-
widening eyes, but at this his mouth also began
to open," and he gave vent to a gentle " ho ! " of
unutterable surprise, for immediately there burst
from the Indian's lips a puff of smoke as if
he had suddenly become a gun, or firo-spouter,
and gone off unexpectedly.

There was profound interest as well as astonish-
ment in the gaze of our Eskimo, for he now
became aware that he was about to Avitness a
remarkable custom of the red men, of which he
had often heard, but which he had never clearly
understood.

"Does it not bum?" he asked in breathless
curiosity.

" No," replied his friend.

"Do you like it? Hi— i!"

The exclamation was induced by the Indian,
who at the moment sent a stream of smoke from

A llOMANCK OP THE ICE-WOULD

[each nostril, shut his eyes as ho did so, opened his
[mouth, and otherwise exhibited symptoms of
[extreme felicity.

" Would you like to try it ? " ho asked after one
or two more whifFs.

Cheenbuk accepted the oifer and the pipe, drew
a voluminous whiff down into his lungs and ex-
ploded in a violent fit of coughing, while the tears
overflowed his eyes.

" Try again," said the Indian gravely.

For some minutes the Eskimo found it difficult
to speak; then he returned the pipe, saying,
" No. My inside is not yet tough like yours. I
will look — and wonder ! "

After being admired — with wonder — for a con-
siderable time, the Indian looked at his companion
earnestly, again offered him the pipe, and said,
"Try again."

The obliging Eskimo tried again, but with the
caution of a child who, having been burnt, dreads
the fire. He drew in a little smoke by means of
the power of inhalation and choked again slightly,
but, being now on his mettle, he resolved not to
bo beaten. The Indian regarded him meanwhile
with grave approval. Then it occurred to Cheen-
buk to apply the power of suction instead of
inhalation. It was successful. He filled his
mouth instead of his lungs, and, in his childlike
delight at the triumph, he opened his mouth to

THE WALUirs IIUNTERH

its full extent, and sent forth a cloud with a gasp
which was the combined expression of a putt'
and a " ho ! " Af;;ain he tried it, and was again
successful. Overjoyed at this, like a child with a
now toy, ho went in for quite a broadside of puffs,
looking round at his friendly foo with a "ho!"
between each, and surrounding his head with an
atmosphere of smoke.

Suddenly he stopped, laid down the pipe, rose
up, and, looking as if ho had forgotten something,
retired into the bush.

Tho Indian took up the discarded pipe, and for
the first time displayed a few wrinkles about tho
comers of his eyes as ho put it between his lips.

Presently Cheenbuk returned, somewhat paler
than before, and sat down in silence with a look,
as if of regret, at the skeleton-gooso.

Without any reference to what had passed, the
Indian turned to his companion and said, " Why
should the men of tho ice fight with the men of
the woods ? "

" Why ? " asked Cheenbuk, after a few moments'
profound meditation, " why should the men of tho
woods attack the men of the ice with their fire-
spouters ? "

This question seemed to puzzle the Indian so
much that he proceeded to fill another pipe before
answering it. Meanwhile the Eskimo, being more
active-minded, continued —

A ROMANCE OV THE ICE-WORLD

" Is it fair for tho mon of tho woods to como to
fight us with fire-spoutors when we have only
spoars ? Moot us with tho samo weapons, and
then wo shall sec which are tho best men."

Tho Indian looked at his companion solemnly
and shook his head.

" Tho strongest warriors and the best fighters,"
ho said, " are not always tho best men. He who
hunts well, keeps his wives supplied with plenty
of food and deer-skin robes, and is kind to his
children, is the best man."

Cheenbuk looked suddenly in the faco of his
sententious companion with earnest surprise in
every feature, for the sentiments which had just
been expressed wore in exact accordance with his
own. Moreover, they were not what he expected
to hear from the lips of a Dogrib,

" I never liked fighting," he said in a low voice,
" though I have always been able to fight. It does
nobody any good, and it always does everybody
much harm, for it loses much blood, and it leaves
many women and children without food-providers
— which is uncomfortable for the men who have
enough of Avomen and children of their own to
hunt for. But," continued the youth wioh em-
phasis, " I always thought that tho men of the
woods loved fighting."

"Some of them do, but I hate it!" said the
Indian with a sudden look of such ferocity that

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

the Eskimo might have been justified in doubting
the truth of the statement.

The flash, however, quickly disappeared, and a
double wreath of smoke issued from his nose as
he remarked quietly, " Fighting lost me ray father,
my two brothers, and my only son."

" Why, then, do you still come against us with
fire-spouters ? " asked Cheenbuk.

" Because my people will have it so," returned
the red man. "I do what I can to stop them,
but I am only one, and there are many against
me."

" I too have tried to stop my people when they
would fight among themselves," returned the
Eskimo in a tone of sympathy ; "but it is easier
to kill a walrus single-handed than to turn an
angry man from his purpose."

The Indian nodded assent, as though a chord
had been struck which vibrated in both bosoms.

"My son," ho said, in a patronising tone, "do
not cease to try. Grey hairs are beginning to
show upon my head ; I have Seen and learned
much, and I have come to know that only ho who
tries, and tries, and tries again to do what he
knows is right will succeed. To him the Great
Manitou will give his blessing,"

" My father," replied the other, falling in readily
with the fictitious relationship, " I will try,"

Havmg thus como to a satisfactory agreement,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

this Arctic Peace Society prepared to adjourn.
Each wiped his knife on the grass and sheathed it
as he rose up. Then they shook hands again
after tiie fashion of the pale-faces, and departed
on their respective ways. The red man returned
to the wigwams of his people, while the young
Eskimo, descending the river in his kayak, con-
tinued to hunt the white whale and pursue the
feathered tribes which swarmed in the creeks,
rivulets, and marshes that bordered the ice-
encumbered waters of the polar seas.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER IL

WARUSKBEK.

Alas for the hopes and efforts of good men!
At the very time that Cheenbuk and the
Indian were expressing their detestation of war,
elsewhere a young Eskimo was doing his best to
bring about that unhappy and ruinous condition
of things.

He was an unusually strong young Arctic
swashbuckler, with consi'lerably more muscle than
brains, a restless spirit, and what may be styled a
homicidal tendency. Ho was also tyrannical, like
many men of that stamp, and belonged to the
same tribe as Cheenbuk.

Walrus Creek was the summer residence of the
tribe of Eskimos to which Cheenbuk belonged.
It was a narrow inlet which ran up into a small
island lying some distance off the northern shores
of America, to discover and coast along which
has been for so many years the aim and ambition
of Arctic explorers. How it came by its name is
not difl&cult to guess. Probably in ages past

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

some adventurous voyagers, whose names and
deeds have not been recorded in history, observing
the numbers of walruses which scrambled out of
the sea to sun themselves on the cliffs of the
said creek, had named it after that animal, and
the natives had adopted the name. Like other
aborigines they had garbled it, however, and
handed it down to posterity as Waniskeck, while
the walruses, perhaps in order to justify the
name, had kept up the custom of their forefathers,
and continued to sun themselves there as in
days of yore. Seals also abounded in the inlet,
and multitudes of aquatic birds swarmed around
its cliffs.

The Eskimo village which had been built there,
unlike the snow-hut villages of winter, was com-
posed chiefly o2 huts made of slabs of stone,
intermingled with moss and clay. It was exceed-
ing dirty, owing to remnants of blubber, shreds of
skins, and bones innumerable which were left
lying about. There might have been about forty
of these huts, at the doors of which — or the open-
ings which served for doors — only women and
children were congregated at the time we intro-
duce them to the reader. All the men, with
the exception of a few ancients, were away
hunting.

In the centre of the village there stood a hut
which was larger and a little cleaner than the

?5HPil«|

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

ol' jrs around it. An oldish man with a grey beard
was seated on a stone bench beside the door. If
tobacco liad been Icnown to the tribe, he would
probably have liccn smoking. In default of that
he was thrown back upon meditation. Apparently
his meditations were not satisfactory, for he
frowned portentously once or twice, and shook
his head.

" You are not j^eased to-day, Mangivik," said a
middle-aged woman who issued from the hut at
the moment and sat down beside the man.

" No, woman, I am not," ho answered shortly.

Mangivik meant no disrespect by addressing
his wife thus. " Woman " was the endearing term
used by him on all occasions when in communica-
tion with her.

" What troubles you ? Are you hungry ?"

"No. I have just picked a wabus rib clean.
It is not that."

He pointed, as he spoke, to a huge bone of the
animal referred to.

" No, it is not that," he repeated.

" Wliat then ? Is it something you may not tell
me ? " asked the woman in a wheedling tone, as
she crossed her logs and toyed with the flap of
her tail.

Lest the civilised reader should be puzzled, we
may here remark that the costume of the husband
and wife whom we have introduced — as, indeed,

4 ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

of most if not ah Eskimo men and women — is
very similar in dclaii as well as material. Man-
givik wore a coat or shirt of sealskin with a hood
to it, and his legs v.erc encased in boots of the
same material, which were long enough to cover
nearly the whole of each leg and meet the skirt of
the coat. The feet of the boots were of tough
walrus-hide, and there was a short peak to the
coat behind. The only difference in the costume
of the woman was that the hood of her coat
was larger, to admit of infants and other things
being carried in it, and the peak behind was pro-
longed into a tail with a broad flap at the end.
This tail varied a little in length according to the
taste of the wearer — like our lad:?s' skirts ; but in
all cases it was long enough to trail on the ground
— perhaps we should say the ice — and, from the
varied manner in which different individuals
caused it to sweep behind them, it was evident
that the tail, not less than the civilised skirt,
served the purpose of enabling the wearers to
display more or less of graceful motion.

" There is nothing that I have to hide from my
woman," said the amiable Eskimo, in reply to her
question. " Only I am troubled about that jump-
about man Gartok."

"Has he been here again?" asked the wife,
with something of a frown on her fat face. " He
is just as you say, a jump-about like the little

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

birds that come to us in the hot tinies, which
don't seem to know what they want."

" He is too big to look like them," returned the
husband. " He 's more like a mad walrus. I met
him on one of the old floes when I was after a
seal, and he frightened it away. But it is not
that that troubles me. There are two things he is
after : he wants to stir up our young men to go
and fight with the Fire-spouters, and he wants
our Nootka for a wife."

" The dirty walrus ! " exclaimed Mrs. Mangivik,
with as much vigour as if she had been civilised,
"he shall never have Nootka. As for fighting
with the Fire-spouters, I only hope that if he
does go to do so, he will get killed and never
come back."

" H'm ! " grunted Mangivik, " if ho does get
killed he 's not likely to come back."

" Who is not likely to come back ?" asked a
young girl, with an affectionate expression in her
pretty brown eyes, issuing from the hut at that
moment and seating herself close to the old man.
The girl's face, on the whole, was unusually pretty
for that of an Eskimo, and would have been still
more so but for the grease with which it was
besmeared — for the damsel had just been having
a little refreshment of white-whale blubber. Her
figure was comparatively slim and graceful, and
would have been obviously so but for the ill-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

fitting coat and clumsy boots with which it was
covered.

" Your mother and I were talking of a bad man,
Nootka," said Mangivik.

" Ay, a very very bad man," exclaimed Mrs. Man<
givik, with a decided nod of her head.

"If he is so very bad," returned Nootka, "it
would be good that he should never come back.
Who is it?"

" Gartok," answered her mother, with the air of
one who has mentioned the most hateful thing in
creation.

Nootka laughed.

" Surely you are not fond of him ! " exclaimed
Mangivik, regarding his daughter with a look of
anxiety.

"You know that I'm not," answered the girl,
playfully hitting her sire on the back with the
flap of her tail.

"Of course not — of course not; you could not
be fond of an ugly walrus like him," said the
father, replying to her pleasantry by fondly
patting her knee.

Just then a young man was seen advancing
from the beach, where he had lett his kayak.

" It is Oolalik," said Mrs. Mangivik, shading her
eyes with her hand from the sun, which, in all the
strength of its meridian splendour, was shining
full on her fat face. " He must have made a good

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

hunt, or he would not have come home before the
others."

As she spoke Nootka arose hastily and re-
entered the hut, from out of which there issued
almost immediately the sounds and the savoury
odours of roasting flesh.

Meanwhile Oolalik came up and gave vent to
a polite grunt, or some such sound, which was
the Eskimo method of expressing a friendly
salutation.

Mangivik and his wife grumped in reply.

" You are soon back," said the former.

"I have left a walrus and two seals on the
rocks over there," answered the youth, sitting
down beside the old man.

"Good," returned the latter. "Come in and
feed."

He rose and entered the hut. The young
man who followed him was not so much a hand-
some as a strapping fellow, with a quiet, sedate
expression, and a manly look that rendered him
attractive to most of his friends. Conversation,
however, was not one of his strong points. He
volunteered no remarks after seating himself
opposite to Nootka, who handed him a walrus
rib which she had just cooked over the oil lamp.
Had Nootka been a civilised girl she might have
been suspected of conveying a suggestion to the
youth, for she was very fond of him, but, being

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

an Eskimo of tho Far North, she knew nothing
about ribs or of Mother Eve. The young man
however required no delicate suggestion, for he
was equally fond of Nootka, and he endeavoured
to show his feelings by a prolonged stare after
he had accepted the food.

One is irresistibly impressed with the homo-
geneity of the human race when one observes
the curious similarities of taste and habit which
obtain alike in savage and civilised man. For
a few moments this youth's feelings were too
much for him. He stared in admiration at the
girl, apparently oblivious of the rib, and sighed
profoundly. Then he suddenly recovered him-
self, appeared to forget the girl, and applied
himself tooth and nail to the rib. Could any-
thing be more natural — even in a European
prince ?

Nootka did not speak — young women seldom
do among savages, at least in the company of
men, — but she looked many and very unutterable
things, which it is impossible, and would not bo
fair, to translate.

"Will the others be back soon?" asked Man-
givik.

Oolalik looked over the rib and nodded. (In
this last, also, there was indication of homo-
geneity.)

" Have they got much meat ? "

THE WALRUS IIUNTEllS

Again tlio young man nodded.

" Good. There is nothing like meat, and plenty
of it."

The old man proceeded to illustrate his belief
in the sentiment by devoting himself to a steak
of satisfying dimensions. His better-half mean-
while took up the conversation.

" Is Gartok with them ? " she asked.

"Yes, he is with them," said the youth, who,
having finished the rib, threw away the bone
and looked across the lamp at Nootka, as if
asking for another. The girl had one ready, and
handed it to him.

Again Oolalik was overcome. He forgot the
food and stared so that Nootka dropped her
eyes, presumably in some confusion; but once
more the force of hunger brought the youth
round and he resumed his meal.

" Has Gartok killed much ? " continued the
inquisitive Mrs. Mangivik.

"I know nothing about Gartok," replied the
young man, a stern look taking the place of his
usually kind expression; "I don't trouble my
head about him when I am hunting."

He fastened his teeth somewhat savagely in
the second rib at this point.

" Do you know," said Mangivik, pausing in his
occupation, "that Gartok has been trying to get
the young men to go to the Whale River, where

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLD

you know there are plenty birds and much wood ?
He wants to fight with the Fire-spouters."

" Yes, I know it. Gartok is always for fighting
and quarrelling. He likes it."

"Don't you think," said the old man sugges-
tively, " that you could give him a chance of
getting what ho likes without going so far from
home?"

"No, I don't choose to fight for the sake of
pleasing every fool who delights to brag and look
fierce."

Mrs. Mangivik laughed at this, and her daughter
giggled, but the old man shook his head as if
ho had hoped better things of the young one.
He said no more, however, and before the con-
versation was resumed the voice of a boy was
heard outside.

"Anteek," murmured Nootka, with a smile of
pleasure.

"The other hunters must have arrived," said
Oolalik, polishing off his last bone, "for Anteek
was with them."

" He always comes first to see me when he has
anything to tell," remarked Mrs. Mangivik, with
a laugh, "and from the noise he makes I think
he has something to tell to-day."

If noise was the true index of Anteek's news
he evidently was brimful, for he advanced shout-
ing at the top of his voice. With that unaccount-

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

ablo ingenuity which characterises soino boys,
all the world over, ho produced every sort of
sound except that which was natural to him,
and caused the surrounding cliffs to echo with
the mooing of the walrus, the roaring of the polar
bear, the shriek of the plover, the bellow of the
musk-ox, and, in short, the varied cries of the
whole Arctic menagerie. But ho stopped short
at the door of the hut and looked at Oolalik
in evident surprise.

" You aro back before me ? " he said.

" That is not strange : I am stronger,"

" Yes, but I started off" long before you."

"So you thought, but you were mistaken, I
saw you creeping away round the point. When
you were out of sight I carried my kayak over the
neck of land, and so got before you,"

" Have you told ? " asked the boy anxiously.

" Never said a word," replied Oolalik,

"Here," said Nootka, holding out a piece of
half-cooked blubber to the boy, "sit down and
tell us all about it. What is the news ? "

"Ha!" exclaimed Anteek, accepting the food
as if he appreciated it, " Well, I 've killed my
first walrus — all alone too ! "

" Clever boy ! how was it ? " said Mrs. Mangivik.

" This was the way. I was out by myself — all
alone, mind — among the cliffs, looking for eggs;
but I had my spear with me, the big one that

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Chccnbuk niado for mo just boforo ho wont off to
the Whalo Kivor. Well, just as I was going to turn
round ono of tlio clitts, 1 caught sight of a walrus
— a big one — monstrous ; Uko that," ho said,
drawing an imaginary circle with both arms,
" fat, brown, huge tusks, and wide awake ! I
knew that because his back was to mo, and ho was
turning his head about, looking at something in
the other direction. I was astonished, for though
they climb up on the clift's a good height to sun
themselves on the warm rocks, I had never seen
ono climb so high as tbat.

"Well, I drew back very quick, and began to
creep round so as to come at him when he didn't
expect me. I soon got close enough, and ran at
him. Ho tried to flop aAvay at first, but when I
was close he turned and looked fierce — terrible
fierce ! My heart jumped, but it did not sink. I
aimed for his heart, but just as I was close at him
my foot struck a stone and I fell. Ho gave a
frightful roar, and I rolled out of his way, and
something twisted the spear out of my hand.
Wlien I jumped up, what do you think ? I found
the spear had gone into ono of his eyes, and that
made the other ono water I suppose, for he was
twisting his head about, but couldn't see me. So
I caught hold of the spear, pulled it out, and
plunged it into his side ; but I had not reached
the heart, for he turned and made for the sea.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

There was a steep place just there, and he tumbled
and rolled down. I lost my foothold and rolled
down too — almost into his flippers, but I caught
hold of a rock. He got hold at the same time
with his tusks tmd held on. Then I jumped up
and gave him the spear again. This time I hit
the Hfe, and soon had him killed. There ! "

On concluding his narrative the excited lad
applied himself to his yet untasted piece of
blubber, and Nootka phed him with que^jtions,
while Oolalik rose and went off to assist his
comrades, whose voices could now be heard as
they shouted to the women and children of the
colony to come and help tljem to carry up the
meat.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

CHAPTER III.

PEACE OR WAR -WHICH?

Soon afterwards the Mangivik family received
another visitor. This was the bellicose Gartok
himself, whoso heart had l)cen touched by the
fair Nootka.

Like his rival, he sat down opposite the maiden,
and stared at her impressively across the cooking-
lamp. This would seem to be the usual mode of
courtship among those children of the ice; but
the girl's mode of receiving the attentions of the
second lover varied considerably. She did not
drop her eyes shyly under his gaze, but stared
him full in the face by way of a slight rebuff.
Neither did she prepare for him a savoury rib, so
that he was obliged to help himself — which he did
with much coolness, for the laws of hospitality in
Eskimo-land admit of such conduct.

After some desultory conversation between
Gartok and his host, the latter asked if it was
true that there was a talk of the tribe paying a
visit to Whale River.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" Yes, it is true," answered the young man. " I
came to see you about that very thing, and to tell
you that there is to be a meeting outside the big
hut to-day. We shall Avant your advice."

" Why do the young men wish to go there ? "
asked Mangivik.

" To get food, and wood for our spear-handles
and sledges, and berries, and to have a good time.
Perhaps also to fight a little with theFire-spouters."

The youth glanced furtively at Mangivik as he
concluded.

" To get food, and wood, and berries is good,"
observed the old man ; " but why fight with the
Fire-spouters ? We cannot conquer them."

" You can ask that at the meeting. It is use-
less to ask it of me."

" Good, I will do so. For my part, I am too oh
to go on long expeditions, either to hunt or figl.^
— but I can give advice. Is Cheenbuk to be at
the meeting ? "

" Did you not know ? Cheenbuk has already
gone to the Whale River. We only propose to
follow him. Ho may not like our business, but
he '11 have to join us when we are there."

Having picked his rib clean, and receiving no
encouragement from Nootka to remain, Gartok
rose and departed.

That afternoon there was a large meeting of the
heads of families in front of what was known as

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

the l)ig Imt. There was no formality about tho
meeting. Unhko the war councils of tiio Indians,
it was a sort of free-and-easy, in which blubber
and other choice kinds of food did duty for tho
red man's pipe. The women too were allowed to
sit around and listen — but not to speak — while
the hunters discussed their plans.

Gartok, being the biggest, most forward, and
presumptuous among them all, was allowed to
speak first — though this was contrary to tho wishes,
and even the custom of tho tribo. Ho did not
make a set speech. Indeed, no one thought of
delivering an oration. It was merely a palaver
on a largo scale.

"Wo want spear-handles," said Gartok, "and
wood for our kayak- fiames, and deer for food,
as well as birds and rabbit-skins for our under-
clothing."

" That is true," remarked one of tho elderly men ;
" we want all these things, and a great many more
things, but wo don't want fighting. There is no
use in that."

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed several voices in ap-
proval

"But we do want fighting," retorted Gartok
firmly ; " we want tho pretty coloured things that
the Fire-spouters sew on their clothes and shoes;
also tho iron things they have for cutting wood;
and we want tho spouters, which will make us

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

more than a match for them in war ; and we can't
get all these things without fighting."

"Do without them, then," observed Mangivik
sharply ; " why should we want things that we
never had and don't need ? Listen to me, young
men — for I see by your looks that some of you
would like a little fighting, — even if we had
the spouting things, wo could not make them
spout."

" That is a lie ! " exclaimed Gartok, with the
simple straightforwardness peculiar to the un-
civilised. " Once I met one of the Fire-spouters
when I was out hunting at the Whale River, Ho
was alone, and friendly, I asked him to show me
his spouter. He did so, but told me to be very
careful, for sometimes it spouted of its own accord.
He showed me the way to make it spout — by
touching a little thing under it. There was a
little bird on a bush close by. ' Point at that,' he
said. I pointed. ' Now,' said he, ' look along the
spouter with one eye.' I put one end of it against
my cheek and tried to look, but by accident I
touched the little thing, and it spouted too soon !
I never saw the little bird again ; but I saw many
stars, though it was broad daylight at the time."

" Ho I hoo ! " exclaimed several of the younger
men, who listened to tbi? narration with intense
eagerness.

"Yes," continued Gartok, who had the gift of

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

what is called " the gab," and was fond of exercising
it, — " yes ; it knocked me flat on my back — "

" Was it alive, then ? " asked Antcek, who
mingled that day with the men as an equal, in
consequence of his having slain a walrus single-
handed.

"No, it was not quite, but it was very nearly
alive. — Well, when I fell the man laughed. You
know his people are not used to laugh. They arc
very grave, but this one laughed till I became
angry, and I would have fought with him, but — "

" Ay," interrupted Anteek, " but you were afraid,
for he had the spouter."

Before Gartok could reply Mangivik broke in.

" Boo ! " he exclaimed contemptuously, " it is of
no use your talking so much. I too have been to
the Whale River, and have seen the fire-spouters,
and I know they are not nearly alive. They are
dead — quite dead. Moreover, they will not spout
at all, and are quite useless, unless they are filled
with a kind of black sand which is supplied by
the white men who sell the spoutcrs. Go to the
Whale River if you will, but don't fight with any
one — that is my advice, and my hair is grey."

" It is white, old man, if you only saw it," mur-
mured Anteek, with native disrespect. He was
too good-natured, however, to let his thoughts bo
heard.

"Come, Oolalik," said Mangivik, "you are a

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Stout and a wise young man, let us hear what you
have got to say."

" I say," cried Oolalik, looking round with the
air of a man who had much in his head, and meant
to let it out, " I say that the man who fights if he
can avoid it is a fool ! Look back and think of
the time gone away. Not many cold times have
passed since our young men became puffed up —
indeed, some of our old men were little better— and
made a raid on the Fire-spouters of the Whale River.
They met; there was a bloody fight; six of our
best youths were killed, and numbers were
wounded by the little things that come out of
the spouters. Then they came home, and what
did they bring? what had they gained? I was
a boy at the time and did not understand it all ;
but I understood some of it. I saw the fighters
returning. Some were looking very big and bold,
as if they had just come from fighting and con-
quering a whole tribe of bears and walruses.
Others came back limping. They went out young
and strong men; they came back too soon old,
helped along by their companions. Two were
carried — they could not walk at all. Look at
them now!"

Oolalik paused and directed attention to what
may be called an object-lesson — two men seated
on his right hand. Both, although in the prime,
of life, looked feeble and prematurely old from

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

wounds received in the fight referred to. One
had been shot in the leg ; the bone was broken,
and that rendered him a cripple for life. The
other had received a bullet in the lungs; and a
constitution which was naturally magnificent had
become permanently shattered.

"What do you tnink?" continued Oolalik.
"Would not these men give much to get back
their old strength and health ? "

He paused again, and the men referred to
nodded emphatically, as if they thought the
question a very appropriate one, while some of
the peacefully disposed in the assembly exclaimed
" ho ! " and " hoo ! " in tones of approval

'Then," continued the speaker, "I passed by
some of our huts and heard sounds of bitter weep-
ing. I went in and found it was the wives and
sisters of the men whose bodies lie on the banks
of the Whale River. There would be reason m
fighting, if we had to defend our huts against the
Fire-spouters. Self-defence is right; and every
one has a good word for the brave men who
defend their homes, their women, and their
children. But the Fire-spouters did not want to
fight, and the men who lost their lives at the fight
I am speaking of threw them away for nothing.
They will never more come home to provide their
families with food and clothes, or to comfort them,
or to play with the children and tell them of fights

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

with the walnis and the bear when the nights are
black and long. Most of those poor women had
sons or man-relations to care for them, but there
was one who had no relation to hunt for her after
her husband was killed — only a little daughter to
take care of her. I speak of old Qleeta, who is — "

" That is a lie ! " cried Gartok, springing up and
looking fierce. " Old Uleeta is, as you all know, my
mother. She had me to hunt for her when father
was killed, and she has me still."

" You ! " exclaimed Oolalik, with a look of scorn,
" what are you ? A hunter ? No, only a fool who
wants to be thought very brave, and would leave
his mother and sister to the care of old men and
boys while he goes away to fight with the Fire-
spouters ! No," he continued, turning away from
the angry young man with cool contempt, "old
Uleeta has no son."

Gartok was so taken aback with this behaviour
of Oolalik, who was recognised as one of the
gentlest and most peacefully disposed of the tribe,
that he stood gaping for a moment in surprise.
Then, observing the half-amused, half-contemp-
tuous looks of the men around him, he suddenly
caught up the unfinished handle of a spear that
leaned against the wall of the hut beside him, and
made a desperate blow with it at the head of
Oolalik.

But that youth had expected some such demon-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

stration, and was prepared for it. Being very agile,
ho made a step swiftly to one side, and the handle
came down on the skull of a walrus which hung
on the wall with a violence that would have sur-
prised its original owner had it been within.

Before the blow could bo repeated Oolalik sprang
towards his assailant.

Eskimos know nothing of a blow " straight from
the shoulder," but they know how to cuft! Oolalik
brought his open hand down on Gartok's cheek
with a pistol-shot crack that tumbled that fire-
eater head over heels on the ground.

The man was too strong, however, to be knocked
insensible in that way. He recovered himself,
sitting-wise, with his mouth agape and his eyes
astonied, Avhile the whole assembly burst into a
hearty fit of laughter. High above the rest was
heard the juvenile voice of the delighted Anteek.

What the fire-eater thought we cannot tell, but
he had the wisdom to accept his punishment in
silence, and listened with apparent interest while
Oolalik concluded his remarks.

The effect of this belligerent episode was to
advance the cause of the peace party considerably
— at least for a time — and when the meeting
broke up, most of the people returned to their
various homes with a firm determination to leave
the poor Fire-spouters alone.

But Gartok, who was still smarting under the

III

THE WALllUS HUNTERS

disf^ace to which he had been subjected at the
hands of Oolalik, managed to rekindle and blow
up the war-spirit, so that, two days later, a strong
party of the more pugnacious among the young men
of the tribe set off" in their kayaks for the Whale
River, taking with them a few of the women in one
of their open boats or oomiaks — chiefly for the
purpose of keeping their garments in repair.

n^'

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOUI.I)

CHAPTER IV.

WAB PREVAILS.

It would seem, at times, as if there were really
some sort of spiritual communication between
people whose physical frames are widely sun-
dered.

For at the very time that the Eskimos, in their
remote home on the ice-encumbered sea, were
informally debating the propriety of making an
unprovoked attack on the Dogrib Indians — whom
they facetiously styled Fire-spouters — the red men
were also holding a very formal and solemn
council of war as to the advisability of making
an assault on those presumptuous Eskimos, or
eaters-of-raw-flesh, who ventured to pay an un-
called-for visit to the Greygoose River — their
ancestral property — every spring.

One of their chiefs, named Nazinred, had just
returned from a visit to the river, and reported
having met and fought with one of the Eskimos.

Immediately on hearing this, the old or head
chief summoned the council of war. The braves

THE WALRUS IIUNTEIIS

fisscinbled in the council tout in solemn dif^nity,
each classiciil'v onveloi)od in his blanket or
leathern robe, and inflated, more or loss, with
his oAvn importance. They sat down silently
round the council fire with as much gravity as
if the fate of nations depended on their delibera-
tions, — and so, on a small scale, it did.

After pap^ing round the pipe — by way of
bri^htcninf ) their intellects — the old chief
hold forth hand and began in a low voice

and deliberate manner : —

" My braves," said he, " those filthy caters-
of-raw-flesh have, as you know, been in the
habit of coming to Greygoose River every spring
and trespassing on the borders of our hunting-
grounds."

He paused and looked round.

" Waugh ! " exclaimed his audience, in order to
satisfy him.

With a dark frown the old chief went on : —

" This is wrong. It is not right. It is altogether
unbearable, and more than the Dogribs can stand.
They won't stand it ! "

" Waugh ! " again said the audience, for the
old man had delivered the last sentence with con-
siderable vehemence, and meant that it should tell.

Being apparently destitute of a flow of ideas at
that time, the speaker had recourse to a not
uncommon device among civilised orators : he

A IU)MANrE OF TIIK ICE-WOKI.F)

cleared his throat, looked preternaturully wise, and
( hiiiij^od the subject.

" When the sun of spring rises over the ice-hills
of the great salt lake," he continued, pointing
towards the Polo, " when it melts the snow, opens
the lakes and rivers, and brings the summer birds
to our land, the braves of the groat Dogrib nation
take their guns, and bows, and canoes, and women,
and trnvol nearly as far as the icy sea, that they
may himt and feed — and — sleep, and— and — enjoy
the land. Nobody dares to stop us. Nobody dares
'» hinder iis. Nobody dares even to look at us !"

He paused again, and this flight of oratory was
received with a very decided " ho ! " of assent, as it
well might be, for during nearly all the year
there was nobody in that uninhabited land to
attempt any of those violent proceedings. Dilat-
ing his eyes and nostrils with a look of super-
lative wisdouj, ho continued : —

" But at last the Eskimos dared to come and
look at our hunting-grounds. Wo were peace-
fully disposed. We warned them not to come
again. They came again notwithstanding. Wo
took our guns and swept them away like leaves
that are swept by the winter winds. Are not
their scalps drying in our lodges ? What wo
did then wo will do again. Has not one of
our chiefs — Nazinrcd — been attacked by one of
them ? No doubt more will follow that one. My

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

counsel is to send out a band of our braves on
the war-path. But first we would like to know
something. As the Eskimo did not take the
scalp of Nazinred, how is it that Nazinred did
not bring home the scalp of the Eskimo ? "

The old chief ceased, amid many " ho's ! " and
" hoo's ! " with the air of one who has propounded
an unanswerable riddle, and all eyes were at
once turned upon Nazinred. Accepting the
challenge at once he stretched forth his hand : —

" My father has spoken," he said, " but his
words are not the words of wisdom. Why should
we fight the Eskimos again, and lose some of our
best young men, as we lost them in the last great
fight? The Eskimos have come near our lands,
but they have not of late hunted on them. They
have only looked and gone away. And even if
they did hunt, what then? The land is wide.
We cannot use it all. We cannot kill all the birds
and deer, and even if we could we cannot eat
them alL Would it not be wise to live at peace
with the Eskimos ? They have many great teeth
of the walrus and skins of the seal. Might not
the white traders, who take our furs and give us
guns and powder, be willing to take these things
too ? Thus we could buy from the one and sell
to the other, and fill our lodges with tobacco,
and guns, and beads, and cloth, and powder and
ball, and other good things.''

ha
foe

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

The Indian stopped at this point to ascertain
the effect of his remarks, but only a few faint
"ho's!" greeted hira. The councillors did not
feel quite sure of their own minds. His remarks
about peace and war were not palatable, and his
suggestions about trade were a novelty. Evidently
Nazinred was born much in advance of his time.

" It is true," he continued, " that I had a struggle
with a young Eskimo; but he was very strong,
and so was I. Before I could kill hira he caught
hold of my gun, but he could not force it from
me, and I could not force it from him. As we
strove we looked into each other's eyes and
Wkj each saw peace and good-will there! So we
ceased to fight. We kindled a fire and sat down
and fed together. As the light slowly increases
while the sun rises, so light came into my mind.
The Dogribs have always talked of the Eskimos
as if they were fools. I found that this young
man was not a fool — that he was wise — wiser than
some of our OAvn braves. His mind was deep
and wide. He did not talk only of food and
sleep and hunting. He spoke of things past and
present and future, and of the Great Spirit,
and the world to come. Also of peace and war ;
and v/o both tgrecd that peace was good and war
hateful. More than that, we found that it was
foolish. Then we parted. He went, I suppose,
to his people on the sea of ice, and I came home.

THE WALRUS HUNTEllS

He told mo that none of his people were with
him — that he was alone. There is therefore no
occasion for the young men to look fierce or go
on the war-path."

Having thus tried to throw oil on the troubled
waters Nazinrcd came to an abrupt pause.

Instantly one of the younger councillors, named
Magadar, sprang to his feet. He was unusually
excitable for an Indian. Indeed, he differed a
good deal from his companions in other respects,
being passionate, impulsive, hasty, and matter-of-
fact ; in his speech-making too he scorned the use
of symbol and metaphor, but went straight to the
point at once in the simplest and most forcible
language at his command.

"Braves," he said, looking at the previous
speaker with a dark frown, "the Dogribs know
nothing of those strange and stupid notions that
have just come out of the lips of Nazinred. He
says that this dirty Eskimo is a deep thinker and
a man who loves peace. How docs he know
that one of that sort may not think so deeply
as to deceive him ? How does he know that
the young man is not a liar — that many of his
warriors may not be in our hunting-grounds even
at this moment, though he says there are none ?
As for his talk about the Great Spirit and the
future, what does he know about either the one
or the other ? Is ho v» iser than the Dogribs ?

V ^

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

Does his attack on Nazinred look like a lover of
peace? His leaving off when he found that
Nazinred was his match seems to me more like
sly wisdom than the hatred of war. My advice is
not to trust those dirty men of the ice, but to take
our guns at once and drive them from the land."

It was quite evident from the way in which
this speech was received that the war party was
in the ascendant, and there is no donbt that
Magadar's advice would have prevailed, and a
war party been organised forthwith, but for the
arrival of a band of successful hunters, who had
been out for some time in quest of food.

For a considerable part of that winter those
Indians had been in a condition of semi-starvation.
They had managed with difficulty to sustain
themselves and families on rabbits, which Avere
scarce that year. With the return of spring and
the wild-fowl, however, things had begun to im-
prove, and the hunting party above referred to
was the first of the season that had returned to
camp heavily laden with geese, ducks, plover, and
other supplies of food, so that the half-famished
people gave themselves up to feasting, and had
no time to think further of war.

Thus many days were passed without any
reference being made to a fight with the Eskimos,
and Nazinred, believing that the fancy to go on
the war-path had passed away, set ofi' on what

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

was to be a long hunting expedition with three
of his comrades who were like-minded with him-
self. Among other plans, this party intended to
visit the establishment of the fur-traders on Great
Bear Lake.

Thus when the belligerent party of Eskimos
arrived at the mouth of Grey goose, or Whale,
River, they found the place, as they had been
accustomed to find it, a complete solitude.

At first they expected to overtake their comrade
Cheenbuk there, but he was not found, having gone
a considerable way inland in pursuit of game.
Being aware of his peaceful proclivities, however,
the Eskimos were not sorry to miss him, and they
set about making an encampment on the shore at
the mouth of the river, intending to leave the
women there while they should be engaged in
hunting and in searching for the Fire-spouters.

Meanwhile these Fire-spouters, having eaten and
slept, and eaten and slept again, to the extent of
their capacities, began to experience a revival of
the war-spirit.

In front of one of the lodges or leather tents, one
morning early, there sat two squaws engaged in
ornamenting moccasins and discussing the news
of their little world.

It was one of those bright genial mornings in
spring pecuUar to Arctic lands, in which Warmth
comes out with a burst victorious, and Cold shrinks

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

away discomfited. Everything looked as if a
great revival of Nature were at hand — as in truth
it was, for the long Arctic winter is always driven
away with a rush by the vigour, if not the violence,
of the brief Arctic spring.

One of the women was young and pretty — ^yes,
we might almost say beautiful. It is quite a mis-
take to suppose that all savages are coarse, rough,
and ugly. Many of them, no doubt — ^perhaps
most of them — are plain enough, but not a few of
the Indian squaws are fairly good-looking, and this
one, as we have said at the risk of being doubted,
was beautiful; at all events she had a fine oval
face, a smooth warm-coloured skin, a neat little
nose, a well-formed mouth, and jet-black hair, with
large lustrous eyes, to say nothing of her teeth,
which, like the teeth of most Indians, were regular
and brilliantly white. Her name was Adolay — that
being the Indian name for Summer.

The other squaw was her mother. She was
usually styled Isquay — which means woman — by
her husband when he was at home, but, being a
great hunter, he was not often at home. Poor
Isquay might have been good-looking in her youth,
but, alas ! hard work, occasional starvation, and a
rough life, had prematurely dissipated her beauty,
whatever it might have been; yet these condi-
tions could not put to flight the lines and dimples
of lundljness which played about her weatherworn

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

eyes and checks. You see, she had a gentle,
indulgent husband, and that made her happy and
kept her so.

" Magadar is stirring up the young men again to
go on the war-path," said the younger woman,
without looking up from the embroidered moccasin
with which she was engaged.

" Yes, I know it. I heard him as he passed our
tent talking to Alizay. I don't like Alizay ; he is
like gunpowder : the least thing sets him off, and
he flashes up horribly."

" But many of our other braves have no desire
to quarrel with the Eskimos," said Adolay ; "indeed,
some are even fond of them. And some of the
men of the ice are very handsome. Don't you
remember that one, mother, that we met when we
went last spring with some of our men to shoot at
the Greygoose Bivcr ? He was a fine man — big
and strong, and active and kind — almost good
enough to be a Dogrib."

" I remember him well," returned Isquay, "for he
saved my life. Have you forgotten that already ?"

" No, I have not forgotten it," answered the girl,
with a slight smile. " Did I not stand on the river-
bank with my heart choking me when I saw the
ice rushing down with the flood and closing on
your canoe — for I could do nothing to help you,
and none of our men were near ! And did I not see
the brave man of the ice, when he heard my cry,

■^

I i

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULI)

come running like the deer and jump into the river
and swim Hke the otter till he got to you, and then
ho scrambled on a big bit of ice and lifted you and
the canoo out of the water as if ho had the strength
of a moose-deer, after which he guided the ice-lump
to the bank with one of your paddles ! Forget it !
no. I only wish the brave Eskimo was an Indian."

" I think you would be offering to be his squaw
if he was," said the mother with a short laugh.

" Perhaps I would. But he 's only an eater- of-
raw-flesh ! " Adolay sighed as gently as if she had
been a civilised girl ! " But he has gone away to
the great ice lake, so I suppose we shall never see
him agaia"

" Unless," said Isquay, " he comes back this
spring with his people, and onr braves have a fight
with them — then you would be likely to see his
scalp again, if not himself."

Adolay made no reply to this ; neither did she
seem shocked at the suggestion. Indeed, Indian
women are too much accustomed to real shocking
to be much troubled with shocks of the imagination.
Holding out her moccasin at arm's-length, the
better to note the effect of her work, she expressed
regret that her father had gone off with the hunters,
for she felt sure he would have been able to allay
the war-fever among the young braves if he had
remained at home.

" Ay, he would easily have put down Ahzay and

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Magndar; but the old chief can do nothing, ho
is growing too old. The young men don't mind
him now. 13esidcs, ho is warlike as well as thoy."

\Vliile they were conversing thus, tho young mon
referred to had finally decided to go on tho war-
path—to search for tho Eskimo who had fought
with their chief Nazinred, find him and kill him,
and then continue the seal dh for his companions ;
for they had set him down as a liar, believing
that no Eskimo had the courage to visit their
hunting-grounds by himself

To resolve and to act were almost simultaneous
proceedings with those energetic savages. In a
very short time between twenty and thirty of them
left tho village in single file, armed Avith the
deadly gun, besides tomahawks and scali^ing-knives,
and took their way to a neighbouring creek on the
banks of which their canoes were lying.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

CHAPTER V.

A RENCONTRB AND FLIGHT.

Thus it naturally came to pass that the two
bands of" men who had gone to the same place to
meet each other met in the course of time.

There was a good deal of wandering about, how-
ever, before the actual meeting took place, for the
Eskimos had to provide a quantity of food on
landing on the Arctic shore, not only for themselves,
but to supply the four women who had accom-
panied them, and were to be left on the coast to
fish and mend their spare garments and boots,
and await their return.

"We shall not be long of coming back," said
Gartok as he was about to leave his mother, old
Ulecta, who was in the crew of one of the oomiaks.

" I wish I saw you safe back, my son," returned
the woman, with a shako of her head, " but I fear
the Fire-spouters."

" / don't fear them," returned the young man
boastfully, "and it does not matter much what
you fear."

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" He will never come back," said one of the other
women when he was gone. " I know that because
I feel it. There is something inside of me that
always tells me when there is going to be
misfortune."

The woman who thus expressed her forebodings
Avas a mild young creature, so gentle and inoffensive
and yielding that she was known throughout
her tribe by the name of Rinka, a name which
was meant to imply weakness. Her weakness,
however, consisted chiefly in a tendency to prefer
others before herself — in which matter Christians
do not need to be told that she was perhaps the
strongest of all her kin.

As the weather was comparatively warm, the
women contented themselves with a tent or bower
of boughs for their protection. They were not
long in erecting it, being well accustomed to look
after themselves. In less than an hour after their
men had left them they were busy with seal-steaks
over the cooking-lamp, and the place was rendered
somewhat home-like by several fur garments being
spread on the rocks to dry,

"Yes, Gartok will get himself killed at last,"
said old Uleeta, drawing her finger across the
frizzling steak and licking it, for her appetite was
sharp-set and she was impatient. " He was always
a stubborn boy."

" But he is strong, and a good fighter," remarked

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Rinka, as she spread a sealskin boot over her knee
with the intention of patching it. .

" I wish all the other men were as strong as he
is, and ready to fight," said one of the other women,
giving the steak a turn.

It must not bo supposed that, although the
Eskimos are known to their Indian friends — or
foes — as eaters-of-raw-flesh, they always prefer
their food in the raw condition. They are only
indiflforent on the point, when the procuring of
fire is difficult, or the coldness of the weather
renders it advisable to eat the flesh raw, as being
more sustaining.

" I only wish that they would not fight at all,"
said Rinka with a sigh, as she arranged the top-
knot of her hair. " It makes the men too few
and the women too many, and that is not
good."

The fourth woman did not express an opinion
at all. She was one of those curiously, if not
happily, constituted creaturos, who seem to have
no particular opinion on any subject, who listen
to everything with a smile of placid content, who
agree with everybody and object to nothing. They
are a sort of comfort and relief in a world of war-
fare — especially to the obstinate and the positive.
Her name Avas Cowlik.

"There is no reason why we should continue
to roast our seal-meat over a lamp now," observed

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

old Ulccta. " Thcro is plenty of wood horo. Come,
we will gather sticks and make a fire."

The others agreeing to this, three of them rose
and went into the bush, leaving Cowlik to watch
the steaks.

Meanwhile the young men who had followed
the lead of Gartok — fifteen iu number — Avero
cautiously ascending the Greygoose River, each in
his kayak, armed with a throwing-spear, lance, and
bow. One of their number was sent out in
advance as a scout. Raventik was his name.
He was chosen for the duty because of his bold,
reckless nature, sharpness of vision, general intel-
ligence, and his well-known love for excitement
and danger.

"You will always keep well out of sight in
advance of us," sum Gartok to this scout, "and
the first sight ) ou get of the Fire-spoutcrs, shove
I'lace, Ivud, haul up your kayak,
II through the bushes as quietly
you were creeping up to a bear
len come back and tell us what
So — we will land and attack them
and t" row them nil into the river."

" I will do my \ .)t," ans ored Raventik gravely.

" It is not likely,'' addt . lartok, " that you will
find them to-day, for • seldom come doAvn as
far as here, and they d> know we are coming."

The scout made no re] y. Having received his

in to SO'

i4-

tie*

jr a wk

you hn^ u seen

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

orders ho stopped into his kayak and paddled otF
into tho stream, against which ho mado but slow
progi'css, however, for the river happened to bo con-
siderably swollen at tho time. Ho Avas also impeded
at first by his comparative ignorance of river navi-
gation. ]5eing accustomed to tho currentlcss waters
of tho ocean, ho was not prepared by experience to
copo with tho difficulty of rushing currents. Ho
went too far out into the stream at first, and was
nearly upset. Natural intelligence, however, and
tho rcmembranco of talks to which he had listened
between men of his tribe who had already visited
tho place, taught him to keep close in to the banks,
and make as much use of eddies and backwater
as possible. Tho doid)lc-bladed paddle hampered
him somewhat, as its great length, which was no
disadvantage in the open sea, prevented him from
keeping as close to tho banks as ho desired. De-
spite these drawbacks, however, Raventik soon
acquired sufficient skdl, and in a short time a
curve in the river hid him from the flotilla which
followed him.

Now it so happened that tho Indians who were
supposed to bo a considerable distance inland wore
in reality not many miles from the spot where tho
Eskimos had held their final conference, which
ended in Raventik being sent off in advance. It
was natural that, accustomed as they were to all
tho arts of woodcraft, thoy should discover tho

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

presence of the scout long before he discovered
them ; and so in truth it turned out.

The Indians had ten birch-bark canoes, with
three warriors in most of them — all armed, as we
have said, with the dreaded nre-spouters and
tomahawks, ^^tc. — for, as they were out on the
war-path for the express purpose of driving the
dirty Eskimos off their lands, Magadar had
resolved to make sure by starting with a strong
and well-equipped force.

Of course Magadar's canoe led the van; the
others followed in single file, and, ov.iiig to the
nature of their paddles, which were single-bladed,
and could be dipped close to the sides of the
canoes, they were able to creep along much nearer
to the bank than was possible to the kayaks.

At a bend in the river, where a bush-covered
point jutted out into a large pool, Magadar thrust
his canoe in among some reeds and landed to
reconnoitre. Scarcely had he raised h:"s head above
the shrubs when he caught sight of Raventik in
his kayak.

To stoop and retire was the work of a few
seconds. The men in the other canoes, who were
v.^atching him intently, at once disembarked, and,
at a signal from their chief, carried their light barks
into the bushes and hid them there, so that the
Eskimo scout would certainly have passed the
place in half an hour without perceiving any sign

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

of his foes,, but for an incident which enlightened
him.

Accidents will happen even in the. best regu-
lated families, whether these be composed of red
men or white. Just as the last canoe was dis-
appearing behind its leafy screen, one of the
young braves, who was guilty of the unpardonable
oIFence of carrying his gun on full-cock, chanced to
touch the trigger, and the piece exploded Tvlih,
in the circumstances, an appalling report, which,
not satisfied with sounding in the ears of his ex-
asperated comrades like a small cannon, went on
echoing from cliff to cliff, as if in hilarious dis-
regard of secrecy, and to the horror of innumerable
rabbits and wild-fowl, which respectively dived
trembling into holes or took to the wings of
terror.

" Fool ! " exclaimed Magadar, scarce able to re-
frain from tomahawking the brave in his wrath —
" launch the canoes and give chase."

The order was obeyed at once, and the flotilla
dashed out into the stream.

But Raventik was not to be caught so easily as
thoy had expe"tcJ. He had turned on hearing
the report, and swept out into the middle of the
river, so as to get the full benefit of the current.
His kayak, too, with its sharp form, was of better
build and material for making headway than the
light Indian canoes — propelled as it was with the

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

long double-bladed paddle in the strong hands of
one of the stoutest of the Eskimos. He shot down
the stream at a rate which soon began to leave the
Indians behind.

Seeing this, Magadar laid aside his paddle for a
moment, raised his gun to his shoulder, and fired.

Again were the echoes and the denizens of the
woods disturbed, and two other Indians fired, thus
rendering confusion worse confounded. Their aims
were not good, however,and Raventik was interested
and surprised — though not alarmed — by the whiz-
zing sounds that seemed close to his ears, and the
little splashes in the water just ahead of him.
Fortunately a bend in the river here concealed him
for some time from the Indians, and when they
once more came in sicrht of him he was almost out
of range.

In the meantime his conirades, amazed by the
strange sounds that burst on their ears, put
hastily on shore, carried their kayaks into the
bushes, and climbed to the summit of a rising
ground, with the double pui'pose of observing the
surrounding country and of making it a place of
defence if need be.

" Raventik must have found our enemies," said
Gartok to Ondikik, his lieutenant, as ho led his
men up the slope.

" That is certain," returned Ondikik, " and from
the noise they are making, I think the Fire-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

spouters are many. But this is a good place to
fight them."

" Yes, we will wait here," said Gartok.

As ho spoke Raventik wps seen sweeping into
view from behind a point in the middle of the
most rapid part of the river, and plying his long
paddle with the intense energy of one whose life
depends on his exertions. The Eskimos on the
knoll gazed in breathless anxiety. A few minutes
later the canoe of Magadar swept into view.

" The Firc-spouters ! " exclaimed Ondikik.

"Three men in it!" cried Gartok. Then, as
one after another of the canoes came into view,
" Four ! six ! tei: of them, and three men in each ! "

" And all with tire-spouters I " gasped the lieu-
tenant.

" Come," exclaimed Gartok, " it is time for us to

go!"

The Eskimos were by no means cowardly, but
when they saw that the approaching foe was
double their number, and reflected that there
might be more behind them, all armed with guns,
it was no wonder that they bethought themselves
of retreat. To do them full credit, they did not
move until their leader gave the word — then they
sprang down the hillock, and in three minutes
more were out in their kayalcs making for the
mouth of tlic river at their utmost speed.

On seeing this the Indians uttered a wild war-

THE WALRUS HUNTERf?

whoop and fired a volley. But the distance
between them was too great. Only a few of the
balls reached the fugitives, and went skipping over
the water, each wide of its mark.

" Point high," said Magadar to Alizay, who had
just re-charged his gua

The Indian obeyed, fired, and watched for the
result, but no visible result followed.

"That is strange," muttered the chief; "my
brother must have pointed too high — so high
that it has gone into the sun, for I never yet saw
a bullet fired over water without coming down
and making a splash."

" It may have hit a canoe," said Alizay. " I will
try again."

The second shot was, to all appearance, not
more effective than the first.

"Perhaps my brother forgot to put in the
balls."

" Is Alizay a squaw ? " asked the insulted brave
angrily.

Magadar thought it wise to make no answer
to this question, and in a few seconds more the
kayaks doubled round a point that jutted into the
stream and were hid from view.

But the two bullets had not missed their
billots. One — the first fired — had dropped into
Gartok's canoe and buried itself in his left
thigh. With the stoicism of a bold hunter, how-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

ever, he uttered no cry, but continued to wield his
paddle as well as ho could. The other ball had
pierced the back of his lieutenant Ondikik. Ho
also, with the courage of a savage warrior, gave
no sign at first that he was wounded.

At this point, where the Eskimos were for a time
sheltered by the formation of the land, the Grey-
goose River had a double or horse-shoe bend ; and
the Indians, who knew the lie of the land well,
thought it better to put ashore and run quickly
over a neck of land in the hope of heading the
kayaks before they reached the sea. Acting on
this belief they thrust their canoes in among the
reeds,'and, leaping on shore, darted mto the bushes.

The Eskimos, meanwhile, knowing that they
could beat the Indians at paddling, and that the
next bend in the stream would reveal to them a
view of the open sea, kept driving ahead with all
the force of their stout arms. They also knew
that the firing would have alarmed their Avomen
and induced them to embark in their oomiak,
push off to sea, and await them.

And this would have turned out as they had
expected, but for an unforeseen event which
delayed the women in their operations until too
late — at least for one of the party.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER VI.

A SURPRISE, A 8TBUG0LE, AND A CAraURB.

When the Eskimo women, as before related,
made up tlicir minds to discard the cooking-lamp
and indulge in the luxury of a Avood iiye, tliey
sent one of their number into the bush to gather
sticks. The one selected for this duty was llinka,
she being active and willing, besides being
intelligent, which last was a matter of importance
in one totally unaccustomed to traversing the
pathless woods.

The girl obeyed orders at once, and soon had
collected a largo armful of dried branches, with
which she prepared to return to the encampment.
But when she looked up at the small trees by
which she was surrounded, she felt considerably
puzzled as to the direction in which she ouglit to
walk. Of course, remembering that her back
had been toward the sea when she set out,
nothing seemed simpler than to turn round with
her face towards it and proceed. But she had not
done this for many minutes, when it occurred to

-•a.v..} M

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

her that sho must have turned about inoro or
less, several times, during her outward journey.
This brought her to an abrupt halt. Sho looked
up and around several times, and then, feeling
quite sure that the shore must lie in a certain
direction pointed out by Hope, set off in that
direction at a good round pace. As the wood
seemed to get thicker, however, sho concluded that
she was wrong, and changed direction again.
Still the undergrowth became more dense, and
then, suddenly coming to the conclusion that sho
was lost,, sho stood stock-still and dropped her
bundle of sticks in dismay.

For a few moments she was stunned, as if her
position were unbelievable. Then she became
horrified and shouted to her companions, but her
feeble, unassertive voice was unable to travel far,
and drew forth no response. Indeed, sho had
wandered so far into the forest that, even if
possessed of a man's voice, she might have failed
to attract the attention of the women. Then the
sound of distant firing began to salute her cars,
and in an agony of anxiety she ran hither and
thither almost blindly.

But there were other ears besides those of Rinka
which were startled by the guns.

Sitting under a tree — all ignorant of tho pro-
sencG of his brethren or of the warlike Indians —
Cheenbuk was regaling himself on tho carcass of

THE WALUUS HUNTEKS

a fat willow-grouso which he had speared a little
before the firing began.

Our Eskimo was making for the coast where ho
had left his kayak, and had halted for a feed.
The sport in the woods, after its novelty wore off,
had lost interest for one whose natural game, so
to speak, was bears and walruses, and he was on
his way back when this rattle of nusketry arrested
him.

The sudden eruption of it was not more puzzling
to him than its abrupt cessation. Could it be
that some of his tribe had followed him to the
river and fallen in with the men of the woods?
He thought it not unlikely, and that, if so, his
assistance, either as fighter or peacemaker, might
be required.

Bolting the remainder of the Avillow-grouse pre-
cipitately, ho jumped up, grasped his weapons, and
made for the coast, as near as he could guess, in
the direction of the firing.

It happened, at the same time, that one of the
young Indians, who was on his first war-path, and
thirsted for scalps as well as distinction, chanced
to keep a more easterly direction than his fellows,
when they took to the bush, as akeady related.
This man, coming to an open glade whence he
could see the shore, beheld the Eskimo women
launching their oomiak in a state of frantic alarm.
They were also signalling or beckoning eagerly as

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A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

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if to some ono in tho woods. Casting a hurried
glanco to his right, ho observed poor Rinka, who
had just got clear of tho forest, and was running
towards her companions as fast as her short legs
could carry her.

Without a moment's hesitation, he took aim at
her and fired. The poor girl uttered a loud shriek,
threw up her arms, and fell to the ground. It
chanced that Cheenbuk was within a hundred
yards of tho spot at tho moment, but the bushes
prevented his seeing what had occurred. The
report, however, followed by tho woman's shriek,
was a sufficient spur to him. Darting forward at
full speed, ho quickly cleared the underwood and
camo suddenly in view of a sight that caused
every nerve in his body to tingle — Rinka prostrate
on tho ground with blood covering her face and
hands, and tho young Indian standing over her
about to operate with the scalping-knife.

Tho howl of concentrated rage and horror ut-
tered by Cheenbuk instantly checked tho savage,
and made him turn in self-defence. He had run
to finish his horrible work, and secure the usual
trophy of war without taking time to re-load his
gun, and was thus almost unarmed. Grasping his
powder-horn he attempted to rectify this error —
which Avould never have been committed by an
experienced warrior, — but before he could ae-
ration, the well-aimed spear

com

plish

)pcri

TIIE WALRUS HUNTERS

of Chconbuk went whistling through the ftir, and
ontoring his chest came out at his back. Ho fell
dead almost without a groan.

Cheenbuk did not stop to finish the work by
stabbing or scalping, but ho kneeled beside the
wounded girl and gently raised her.

"Rinka," ho said, softly, while ho undid her
jacket and sought for tho wound, " is it bad ? Has
he killed you ? "

"I feel that I am dying. There is something
here." Sho laid her hand upon her side, from a
small wound in which blood was issuing freely.

Tho heart of the man was at onco torn by tender
pity and bitter indignation, when ho thought of
the gentle nature of tho poor creature who had
been thus laid low, and of the savage cruelty of
the Indian who had dono it — feelings which were
not a little complicated by the reflection that tho
war-spirit — that is, tho desiro to kill for mere self-
glorification — among somo of his own people had
probably been the cause of it all.

" It is useless. I am dying," gasped tho girl,
drawing her bloody hand across her forehead.
"But don't leave mo to fall into tho hands of
these men. Take mo home and let mo die beside
my mother."

She was yet speaking when old Ulccta and her
companions camo forward. Seeing that no other
Indian appeared, and that tho one who had shot

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Rinka was dead, thoy had quelled their alarm and
come to see what had occurred. Cheenbuk, after
stanching the flow of blood, availed himself of their
aid to carry the wounded girl to the oouiiak more
comfortably than could have been possible if he
had been obliged to carry her in his own strong
arms.

With much care they placed her in the bottom
of the boat, then the women got in, and Cheenbuk
was about to follow, when the report of a gun was
heard, and a bullet whizzed close past old Uleeta's
head — so close, indeed, that it cut off some of her
grey hair. But the old creature was by no means
frightened.

" Quick, jump in ! " she cried, beginning to push
off with her paddle.

Cheenbuk was on the point of accepting the
invitation, but a thought intervened — and thought
is swifter than the lightning-flash. He knew from
slight, but sufficient, experience that the spouters
could send only one messenger of death at a time,
and that before another could be spouted, some
sort of manipulation which took time was needful.
If the Indian should get the manipulation over
before the oomiak was out of range, any of the
women, as well as himself, might be killed.

" No," he cried, giving the boat a mighty shove
that sent it out to sea like an arrow, "be off! —
paddle ! — for life ! I will stop him ! "

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Old Uleeta did not hesitate. She was ac-
customed to obedience — even when there were
no fire-spouters astern. She bent to her paddle
with Arctic skill and vigour. So did her mates,
and the oomiak darted from the shore while the
Indian who had fired the shot was ritill asfonisinri'
with his ramrod — for, happily, breech-loaders were
as yet unknown.

Cheenbuk was quite alive to his danger. Ho
rushed up the beach towards his foe with a roar
and an expression of countenance that did not
faciUtato loading. Having left his spear in the
body of the first Indian, he was unarmed, but that
did not matter much to one who felt in his chest
and arms the strength of Hercules and Samson
rolled into ons. So close was he to the Indian
when the operation of priming waa reached, that
the man of the woods merely gave the stock of
his gun a slap in the desperate hope that it would
prime itself.

This hope, in the artillery used there at that
time, was not often a vain hope. Indeed, after
prolonged use, the " trade gun " of the " Nor'-
West " got into the habit of priming itself — owing
to the enlarged nature of the touch-hole — also
of expending not a littlo of its force sidev/iso.
The consequence was that the charge ignited
when the trigger was pulled, and the echoes of
the cliffs were onco more awakened ; but happily

A ROMANCE Ot" THE ICE-WORLD

the Eskimo had closed in time. Gnasping the
barrel he turned the muzzle aside, and the ball
that was meant for his heart went skipping out
to sea, to the no small surprise of the women in
the oomiak.

And now, for the second time since he had
landed on those shores, was Cheenbuk engaged
in the hated work of a hand-to-hand conflict with
a foe!

But the conditions were very different, for
Alizay was no match for the powerful Eskimo —
in physique at least, though doubtless ho was not
much, if at all, behind him in courage.

Cheenbuk felt this the moment they joined
issue, and on the instant an irresistible sensation
of mercy overwhelmed him. Holding the gim
with his right hand, and keeping its muzzle Avell
to one side, for he did not feel quite certain as
to its spouting capacities, ho grasped the Indian's
throat with his left. Quick as lightning Alizay,
with his free hand, drew his scalping-knife and
struck at the Eskimo's shoulder, but not less
quick was Cheenbuk in releasing the throat and
catching the Indian's wrist with a grip that
rendered it powerless.

For a minute the Eskimo remained motionless,
considering how best to render his adversary
insensible without killing him.

That minute cost him dear. Five of Alizay's

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

comrades, led by Magadar, came upon the scene,
and, as it happened, Checnbuk's back chanced
to be towards them. They did not dare to fire,
for fear of hitting their conu'ado, but they rushed
unitedly forward with tomahawk and scalping-
knife ready.

" Take him alive," said Magadar.

Cheenbuk heard the voice. He disposed of
poor Alizay by hurlinj him away as if he had
been a child, and was in the act of facing round
when Magadar threw his arms round his body
and held him. To be seized thus from behind
is to most men a serious dithculty, but our
Eskimo made short work of his assailant. He
bent forward with his head to the ground so
violently that the Indian was Hung completely
over him, and fell Hat on his back, in which
position he remained motionless. But it was
impossible for Choenbuk to cope with the other
four Indian's, who flung themselves on hiuv simul-
taneously, and seized him by arms, legs, and throat.

Of course they could have brained or stabbed
him easily, but, remembering their chiefs order
to take the man alive, they sought to (piell him
by sheer force. Stout ar 1 sinewy though the
four braves were, they had their hands full during
a good many minutes^ for the Eskimo's muscles
were tougher and harder than india-rubber; his
sinews resembled Avhip-cord, and his bones bars

A ROM\NCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

of iron. So completely was he overwhelmed by
the men who held him down, that httle or nothing
of liira could be seen, yet ever and anon, as he
struggled, the four men seemed to be heaved
upward by a small earthquake.

Alizay, who had risen, stood looking calmly on,
but rendered no assistance, first, because there
was no room for him to act, and second, because
his left wrist had been almost broken by the
violence of the thro^v that he had received. As
for Magadar, he was only beginning to recover
consciousness, and to wonder where he was !

Suddenly Chcenbuk ceased to strive. He was
a crafty Eskimo, and a thought had occurred to
him. He would sham exhaustion, and, " dien his
foes relaxed their grip, would burst away from
them. Ho knew it was a forlorn hope, for ho
was well aware that, even if he should succeed
in getting away, tho spoutcrs would send mes-
sengers to arrest him before he had run far. But
Checnbuk was just the man for a forlorn hope.
Ho rose to ditticultics and danufcrs as trouts to
flics on a warm day. Tho Indians, however, were
much too experienced warriors to be caught in
that way. They eased off their grip with great
caution. Moreover Magadar, having risen, and
seeing how things were going, took off his bolt
and made a running nooso of it. Ho passed the
loop deftly rouuvl Chcenbuk's legs and drcAV it

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

tight, while the others were still trying vainly to
compress his bull- neck.

The momeni that Cheenbuk felt the noose
tighten on his legs ho knew that it was all over
with him. To run or fight with his legs tied
would bo impossible, so, like a tiue philosopher,
he submitted to the inevitable and gave in. His
captors, however, did not deem it wise or safe to
relax their hold until they h id swathed his body
with deerskin thongs; then they removed the
belt from his logs and assisted him to rise.

It is no^ the custom of Indians to indulge in
much conversation with vanquished foes. They
usually confine their attentions to scowling, tor-
turing, and ultimately to killing and scalping
them. The Dogribs wlio hod captured Cheenbuk
could not speak the Eskiino tcnguc, and being
unaware of his linguistic powers, did not think it
possible to speak to him, but one of tlioir number
stood by him on guard while the oth'^rs dug a
grave and buried the Indian whom he had slain.

We have already made reference to our young
Eskimo's unusually advanced views in regard <;o
several matters that do not often — as far ns we
know — exercise the aboriginal mind. While ho
stood the^o watching the Indians, as they silently
toiled at the grave, his thoughts ran somewhat
in the following groove : —

" Poor man ! Sorry I killed him, but if I had

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

not he would have killed me — and then, perhaps,
some of the women, for they had not got far
away, and I don't know how far the spouter can
send its liUle arrows. I wonder if they are little.
They must be surely, for I've never seen one.
Hoi ! hoi ! what fools men are to kill one another !
How much better to let each other alone ! I have
killed him, poor man! and they will kill me.
What then ? The ice and snow will come and
go all the same. No one will be the better for
it when wo are gone. Some will surely be the
worse. Some wife or mother may have to rub
her eyes for him. No one will care much for
me. But the walrus and the seal-hunt will not
be so big when I am gone. I wonder if the
Maker of all cares for these things ! He must —
else ho would not have made us and put us here !
1 )id ho make us to fight each other ? Surely not.
Even I would not shape my spear to destroy my
kayak — and ho nmst be wiser than me. Yet
ho never speaks or shov\'s himself. If I had a
little child, would I treat it so ? No — I mtist be
wrong, and ho onast bo right. Speech is not
always with the tongue. Now it comes to my
mind that wo speak with the eyes when we look
fierce or pleased. Perb,aps ho whispers to me
inside, sometimes, and 1 have not yet learned to
understand him. '
Chcenbuk had now dropped into ono of his

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

frequent reveries, or trains of thought, in which
he was apt to forget all that was going on around
him, and he did not waken from it until, the
burial being concluded, one of the Indians touched
him on the shoulder and pointed to Magadar,
Avho had shouldered his gun and was entering
the bushes.

Understanding this to be a command to follow,
he stepped out at once. The others fell into lino
behind him, and thus, bound and a captive, our
Eskimo turned his back finally — as he believed —
on what we may style his native homo — the great,
mysterious northern sea.

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLD

CHAPTP]R VII.

FLIOHT AND MISl-OUTUNK.

While the scene we have described was being
enacted, the other Indians, who had crossed the
neck of land for tlie purpose of cutting off the men
in the kjiyaks, failed in the attempt, partly owing
to the distance being greater than their memories
had assigned to it, and partly to the great speed
of the kayaks when propelled by strong men
fleeing for their lives.

All the kayaks were well out of gunshot I'ango
when the shore was reached, except one which
lagged behind. At this one the Indians dis-
charged several volleys, but without effect, and
soon after it also was beyond range.

The little vessel which thus lagged behind
belonged to the unfortunate Gartok, whose leg, it
will be remembered, was wounded by one of the
balls discharged by Alizay. Despite his energy,
and desperate though the situation was, Gartok
could not overcome the depressing influence of
pain and ha;morrhage. He fell gradually behind

The walrus hunteuS

the others, each of whom was too anxious about
his own safety to think much of his comrades.

When the firing ceased snd the flotilla was well
out of range, Gartok laid down his paddle and
bound up his wounded limli with some scraps of
sealskin ; at the same time, hailing the kayak
nearest to him. As soon as it was discovered that
their chief was wounded, all the Eskimos came
clustering round him. Among them was his
lieutenant Ondikik.

" You also arc wounded," said Gartok, observing
the pallor of his face.

" Yes ; I can find no arrow, but there is blood."

"Is it bad?" asked the chief, with an angry
exclamation at their misfortune.

"I cannot tell," replied Ondikik, "but—"

He finished the sentence in the most expressive
manner by fainting dead away, and falling over to
one side so heavily that he would have infal-
libly upset the little craft if his comrades had not
been close at hand to prevent that catastrophe.

" Hail the oomiak!" cried Gartok, in a voice that,
for him, felt singularly feeble. " Put him into it, and
let two of the women change with two of the men."

In a few minutes th: Avomen's large open boat
was alongside, and poor Ondikik was, with some
difficulty, transferred to it. Two men then gave
up their kayaks to two of the Avomen, and took
their places in the oomiak. While this Avas being

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLD

done some of the people j^ave a shout of alarm, for
it was observed that Gartok himself had quietly
fallen back in a state of insensibility.

The men, therefore, lifted him also out of his
kayak and laid hiui beside his lieutenant.

This accomplished, the little fleet paddled out to
sea, and they soon lost sight of the Arctic shore.
They did not again pause until they reached a
group of small islets, on one of which they en-
camped for the night.

Fortunately the weather at this time was calm
and warm, so that those hardy inhabitants of the
icy north required no better lodging or bed than
the cold ground, with the star-spangled sky for
curtains. With lamps flaring, seal steaks and wild-
fowl simmering, and hot oil flowing, they quickly
made themselves comfortable — with the exception,
of course, of the warlike Cartok and the hot-headed
Ondikik. These two, being fellow-suft'erers, were
laid beside each other, in order, perhaps, to facili-
tate mutual condolence. To do them justice, they
did not grumble much at their fate, but enter-
tained each other with a running commentary on
the events of the da}'.

" And that is strange news that my old mother
tells me," resumed Gartok, after a short pause in
the conversation. " Cheenbuk nuist have given the
Fire-spouters sore heads from the way he gripped
them."

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" I wish I had been thcro," growled Ondikik.

" I 'in glad I was not there," returned Gartok. " I
could not have saved him from so many, and it
would not have been pleasant to go into slavery —
if not to torture and death. Poor Cheenbuk ! ho
was over against war — yet war has been forced on
him. I fear we shall nover see him again. Hoi !
my leg is bad. I can't understand how tho Firc-
spoutors could hit it without tho little thing going
through my back first."

" I wish all tho Fire-spoutors woro deep in tho
insido of a whale's belly," growled Ondikik, whoso
wound was beginning to render him feverish and
rusty. " Arrows and spears can be pulled out, but
when the littlo spouter things go in wo don't know
where they go to. They disappear and leave an
ugly hole behind them."

At this point Kaventik, on whom the command
had devolved, came forward with a choice pieca of
juicy walrus blubber on a flat stone for a plato.

" Our chiefs Avill eat," ho said, " it will do them
good — make their hearts strong and ease tho
wounds."

"No," said Gartok decisively, "none for mo."

" Take it av/ay ! " cried tho other sharply.

" No ? " exclaimed Raventik in surprise. You
see, ho had never in his life been w(;unded or ill,
and could not understand tho possibility of re-
fusing food, except when too full of it. Being a

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

sympathetic soul, howovor, ho pressed it on tho
invalids, but received replies so very discouraging
that ho was induced to forbear.

Old Uleeta turned out to bo a more intelligent, if
not more kindly, nurse. After she had eaten her
supper and succeeded in bolting the last bite
that had refused to go down when she could oat
no more, sho camo forward with a bladder full of
water, and somo rabbit skins, for tho purpose of
dressing tho wounds.

" Gently, mother," said Gartok with a suppressed
groan, " you lay hold of me as if I were a seal."

"You aro quite as self-willed, my son," replied
tho old woman. " If you had not gone out to
fight you would not have come back with a hole
in your leg."

" If I had not come into the world I should not
have been hero to trouble you, mother."

" There 's truth in that, my son," returned the
woman, as if the idea were new to her.

At this Ondikik groaned — whether at the con-
temptibly obvious character of the idea, or at
ideas in general, or in consequence of pain, wo
cannot tell.

" You said, mother, that Cheenbuk gave them a
good deal of trouble ? "

" Ay, lie gave them sore hearts and sore bodies,"

" They deserved it ! what right had they to come
with their fire-spoutcrs to attack iis ? "

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L1?

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" What right had you to go without your fire-
spouters to attack them ? " demanded old Uleeta,
somewhat maliciously.

Gartok, who was destitute neither of intelligence
nor of humour, laughed, but the laugh slid into a
most emphatic " hoi ! " as his mother gave the leg
a wrench.

"Softly, mother, softly! Treat me as you did
when I was so big," he exclaimed, indicating about
one foot six between his hands.

The old woman chuckled, or rather "hee!
hee'd ! " a little and continued : —

" Yes, Chccnbuk fought like a bear. We could
not see him, for they were all on top of him at
once, but hi ! how he made them heave ! I wonder
they did not use their knives."

"They felt sure they had him," said her son,
" they wanted to drive him to their huts and kill
him slowly to amuse their women."

This was such a horrible idea that the old
woman became unusually grave.

" These Fire-spouters are worse than white
bears," she said, "for these never torture other
beasts, though they often kill them."

"True, mother. Now I wish you would go
away and leave my leg alone. Ondikik there
needs your help. Go to him and hurt him as
much as you please. I won't grumble."

'You wore always a thankless boy — over since

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

you could speak," replied the dame, reproach-
fully.

" Did you ever hear of any one being thankless
before he could speak ? — hoi ! mother, you 've tied
it too tight. Slack it a little."

After comjilying with her son's request, old
Uleeta went to Ondikik, to whom, however, she
could render but little service, owing to the
nature of his Avound. Then she paid a visit to
Rinka, whose injuries, however, proved to be more
alarming than severe ; after which she joined the
rest of the tribe at supper.

While the Eskimos were thus proceeding to
their home among the islands of the Arctic sea,
the captors of Cheenbuk were paddling up stream
to the lands of the Dogrib Indians.

At first the stout Eskimo meditated an attempt
to escape. Indeed he made one vigorous crtbrt
when they were leading him through the bush
with his hands tied behind him. Just as they
came to the place where the canoes were lying,
the thought of home, and of his probable fate as a
prisoner, pressed so heavily on him that he sud-
denly became furious, tripped up the man beside
him with his foot, kicked over the one behind him
with his heel, ran his head like a battering-ram
into the back of the man in front of him, and
then strove to burst his bonds with a succession
of mighty wriggles, but, not being quite equal to

■■H

THE WALRUS IIUNTEHS

Sainson, ho failed, and on sceincc that two savaj^es
stood over him with drawn scalping-knivcs, wh'lo
Magadar put the nuizzlc of a gun to his head, ho
deemed it wise to give m and uttered the exclama-
tion "hoi!" with the air of one who feels that
his game is played out. He marched forward
after that in submissive silence.

On reaching the canoes, however, a fresh burst
of indignation assailed him, and for a moment ho
meditated sending his foot through the bottoni of
the frail craft which was to carry him into exile,
but on second thoughts he decided to delay the
performance of that violent measure till they were
well out in the middle of the current, when there
would be the chance of drowning some of his foes
as well as himself By the time the desired position
was reached, however, his spirit had calmed down
a little and his philosophic mind — to say nothing
of his heart — had begun to suggest the uselessncss
of gratifying his feelings by a revenge which he
probably could not enjoy much while in the process
of drowning, and, doubtless, could not enjoy at all
after he was drowned.

Thus it camo to pass that our hero restrained
his passions, and, in process of time, found himself
a prisoner in one of the lodges of the Dogrib
Indians.

at
sui
th^
tuJ

call

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

CHAPTER VIII

IN THE HOUR OF NEED

On reaching the Indian village CheenLuk was
firmly bound to a tree a little way outside the
camp, and left there to his meditations, while his
captors went to the old chief's tent to hold a
council.

Meanwhile the women and children went to
look at the captive. Among them were Adolay
and her mother. The moment the former set
eyes on Cheenbuk she recognised him as the
youth who had rescued her mother from drown-
ing the previous year.

"Mother," she whispered, drawing her parent
aside, " that is him ! Don't you remember him ? "

" I think it is," returned Isquay, gazing steadily
at the Eskimo, who looked at the crowd which
surrounded him with a gaze of supreme contempt,
though he did not by any means feel contemp-
tuous.

"Come, mother," said Adolay, with sudden
earnestness, "he has not recognised us in the

THE WALRUS HUNTEllS

crowd. I must go and find out what the braves
are palavering."

As she spoke she drew her mother towards
their own lodge, and there left her while she
hurried on to the council tent. In the shelter
of some bushes she crept as near to it as possible.

There was no difficulty in making out what was
said, for the warriors made no secret of their in-
tentions, and spoke in loud tones.

" He shall die," was the remark of Alizay just
as the girl came within hearing, "he has killed
one of our braves."

" Ay, and he shall die by torture," said Magadar,
who was a relation of the man that had been
slain.

" Ho ! ho ! " exclaimed most of the warriors in
tones of approval, but there were a few among
them who were silent. They leaned to mercy's
side.

" Better to spare his life and make a slave of
him," said one of these, " we can keep him always
tied like a bad dog till we need him ; then we can
loose his legs and make him drag our sledges."

" The brave who has spoken is young," said the
old chief. " He does not know much about men.
Will not the Eskimo watch for his chance, get
free from his bonds, kill some of us when we are
off our guard, and, perhaps, escape ? "

"That is so. He must be killed," remarked

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Magadar, with a glance of scorn at the merciful
youth, " and the sooner the bettor."

" Let us do it at once," said one of the blood-
thirsty.

On hearing this the heart of Adolay boat
anxiously, and for a few moments she was un-
decided whether to run to the tree to which the
Eskimo was bound and set him free by cutting
his bonds, or enter the council-tent, toll the story
of his having saved her mother's life, and plead
that the youth's might bo spared. Both courses,
she knew, were about equally desperate. If she
were to follow the first, all the children would see
her do it, and give the alarm, in which case the
Eskimo would bo pursued and certainly recap-
tured, for a fugitive in a strange country would
have no chance with men well acquainted with
every nook and corner of their native land. Be-
sides which, she knew not what terrible punish-
ment might be inflicted on herself for making
such an attempt. On the other hand, for a
woman to violate the sanctity of a council-tent
was so unprecedented that she felt sure it would
be sternly resented, and, therefore, useless.

Fortunately she was saved the necessity of
acting on either alternative by the arguments of
the next speaker, who was ono of the blood-thirsty
braves.

"Let us not be in haste like women and

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

children," ho said ; " if wo leave liim bound to the
tree all night he wUl have time to think of the
fate that is coming, and wg shall have good sun-
light in the morning, which wiU enable even the
oldest squaw to see well."

After some palaver it was agreed that the exe-
cution of Clieenbuk should be postponed to the
following day, and that a sentinel should be posted
beside him during the night to make sure that ho
did not manage to undo his fastenings and escape.

On hearing this decision arrived at, Adolay crept
back into the bush and hastened to her mother's
tent.

"They have fixed to kill him, mother," she
exclaimed, anxiously, on entering.

"I expected that, and I'm sorry," returned
Isquay, " but we cannot help it. What can women
do ? The men will not mind what I say. If
only Nazinred was here they would listen to hivi,
but "

" Yes, they always listen to father," interrupted
the girl, with an anxious frown on her pretty
brows, " but as father is not here you must do what
you can for the man."

" You are very fond of him ! " said the squaw
with a keen look at her daughter.

" Yes, I am very fond of him," replied Adolay
with an air of unblushing candour, " and I think,
mother, that you should be fond of him too."

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

"So I am, girl, so I am, but what can I
do?"

"You can go and toll tlio story to the old
chief. Ho is not hard, like some of the young
men. Perhaps ho may help us."

Isquay shook her head, but nevertheless agreed
to try her influence with the old man, and went
out for that purpose.

Meanwhile Adolay, who had not herself much
faith in her mother's advocacy of the poor Eskimo's
cause, resolved upon a separate course of action.
Throwinsr a blanket over her head and shoulders,
she started for the place where Cheenbuk stood,
scornfully regarding the little boys who surrounded
and insulted him by flourishing knives and hat-
chets close to his defenceless nose. They did not,
however, dare to touch him, as the time had not
yet arrived for actual torture.

Running forward, Adolay, who was a favourite
with the young people, drove them back.

"Keep clear of him," she cried with a fierce
glare in her eyes — which was wonderfully realistic,
considering that it was a mere piece of acting—
" I want to speak to him — to terrify him — to fill
him with horror ! "

This was quite to the taste of the wretched little
creatures, Avho fell back in a semi-circle and waited
for more.

" Can you understand my speech ? " she dc-

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

mantled as she turned on Chcenbuk with flashing
eyes.

The Eskimo thought he had never seen such
magnificent eyes before, and wished much that
they Avould look on hiin more kindly.

" Yes," he replied, " I understand a little."

" Listen, then," cried Adolay in a loud tone, and
with looks more furious than before. " You are to
die to-morrow."

"I expected it would bo to-night," replied
Chcenbuk calmly.

" And you are to be tortured to death ! "

At this the boys set up a howl of delight.

At the same time the girl advanced a step
nearer the captive, and said in a low voice
hurriedly : —

" I will save you. Co ready to act — to-night."

The softened look and altered tone opened the
eyes of the captive. Although the blanket partially
concealed Adolay's face, Chcenbuk at once recog-
nised the girl whose mother he had saved the
previous spring.

" I am awake ! " ho said quietly, but with a
glance of bright intelligence.

" Yes, you are doomed to die," continued Adolay,
when the boys' howling had subsided, " and if you
are to be tortured, wo will all come to see how
brave you are."

As she said this she went close up to the

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

captivG, as if to make her words more emphatic,
and shook her Uttle fist in his face. Then — in a
low voice — " You see the chff behind me, with the
dead tree below it ? "

"Yes."

"Run for that tree when you arc free — and
wait."

Turning round, as though her rage was satisfied
for the time being, Adolay left the spot with a
dark frown on her face.

"Leave him now, boys," she said in passing.
" Give him time to think about to-morrow."

Whether it was the effect of this advice, or the
fact that the shades of evening were falling, and a
feeding-time was at hand, wo cannot say, but in a
short time Checnbuk was left to his meditations.
He was, however, quite within sight of several of
the lodges. As the daylight gradually faded a
young brave left his tent, and, shouldering his
gun, went to the place where the captive was
bound. Examining the bonds to make sure that
they were secure, the youth carefully renewed the
priming of his weapon, shouldered it, and began
to pace to and fro. His mode of proceeding was
to walk up to the captive, take a look at him, turn
round, and walk about thirty or forty yards away
from him, and so on to and fro without halt or
variation for upwards of two hours. During all
that time ho uttered no word to the Eskimo.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Checnbuk, on his part, took no notice whatever
of his guard, but stood perfectly still and looked
with calm, lofty indift'orenco over his head — which
ho was well able to do, being a considerably taller
man.

As the night advanced the darkness deepened,
and the poor captive began to entertain serious
misgivings as to his prospects. Would the girl
try to carry out the plan, whatever it was ? Yes,
ho had not the slightest doubt on that head,
because, somehow, she had inspired liim with a
confidence that ho had never felt in woman before.
But would she be able to carry out her plan?
That was quite another question. Then, the dark-
ness had become so intense that ho could barely
sec the outline of the cliflt' towards which he was
to run, and could not see the dead tree at all.
Moreover, it occurred to him that it would be
impossible even to walk, much less to run, over
unknown and perhaps rough ground in darkness
so great that he could hardly see the trees around
him ; and could only make out the whites of tho
sentinel's eyes when he came close up.

It was therefore with a feeling of relief that he
at length observed a faint glow of light in the sky,
which indicated the rising of tho moon.

Soon afterwards a dark figure was seen approach-
ing. It was Alizay, the blood-thirsty brave, who
had come to relieve guard.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

CHAPTER IX

TRYINQ MOMENTS AND PEnPLEXINQ DOUBTS

The first thing that the now sentinel did was
carefully to examine the cords that bound the
captive to the tree, and tie one or two additional
knots to make him more secure. Then he turned
to the other Indian, and asked sharply : —

" Has he been quiet ? "

" Quiet as the tree to which he is bound."

" Has he uttered speech ? "

" No."

"Good. You may go. I will watch him till morn-
ing : after that he will need no more watching."

Alizay looked sharply at the Eskimo while he
uttered these words, perhaps to ascertain whether
he understood their drift, but Cheenbuk's visage
was immovable, and his eyes were fixed, as if in
meditation, on the moon, which just then was
beginning to rise over the cliffs and shed a
softened light over the Indian village.

The new sentinel shouldered his gun and began
his vigil, while the other left them.

THE WAT.RUS HUNTERS

But Other ears had listened to the concluding
words of Alizay.

The tree to which the Eskimo was bound stood
close to the edge of the bush, or underwood. In
front of it was an open space, up and down which
the sentinel marched. Had the Indian dreamed
of a traitor in the camp he would not have deemed
the captive's position as secure as it should be, but
the idea of any one in the village favouring a con-
temptible eater-of-raw-flesh never once entered his
imagination.

Nevertheless, Adolay was in the bush behind
the tree, and noc only heard his words, but saw
his movements. Watching her opportunity when
the sentinel had just turned and was marching
away from the tree, she cut, with a scalping knife,
the cord that bound Cheenbuk's right arm and
placed the knife in his hand. Almost at the same
moment she slipped back into the bush.

Cheenbuk made no attempt, however, to free
himself. The sentinel's beat was too short to
permit of his doing so without being observed.
Ho therefore remained perfectly motionless in his
former attitude.

It was a trying moment Avhen the Indian
approached to within a couple of feet and looked
him straight in the face, as was his wont at each
turn. But Cheenbuk was gifted with nerves of
steel. His contemplation of the moon was so

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

absorbing, that a civilised observer iniglit have
mistaken him for an astronomer or a lunatic,
Alizay suspected nothing. He turned round, and
the Eskimo allowed him to take about five paces
before he moved. Then, with the speed of light-
ning, he ran the sharp blade down his side, severing
all his bonds at one sweep.

Next moment he was froe, but he instantly
resumed his former position and attitude until his
guard was within a yard of him. Then he sprang
upon him, dropped the knife and seized him by
the throat with both hands, so tightly that he was
quite incapable of uttering a cry,

Alizay made a vigorous struggle for life, but he
had no chance with the burly Eskimo, who quickly
decided the fight by giving his adversary a blow
with his fist that laid him insensible on the
ground.

Springing over his prostrate form he ran
straight for the cliff that Adolay had pointed out
to him, leaping over fallen trees, and across what
looked like young chasms, in a state of reckless
uncertainty as to whether ho would plunge into
ponds or land at the bottom of precipices. With
a feeling of absolute confidence that the girl with
the lustrous eyes would not have told him to run
where the feat was impossible, he held on until he
reached the bottom of the cliff and stood beside
the dead tree unhurt, though considerably winded.

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

There he resolved to wait according to orders.
To most ordinary men, waiting, when they are filled
with anxiety, is much more trying than energetic
action. But CheenbuTc was not an ordinary man,
therefore he waited like a hero.

Meanwhile Adolay, having seen the Eskimo fairly
in grips with the sentinel, ran swiftly back towards
the village, intending, before going to Cheenbuk
at the cliff, to let her mother know what she hiwl
done, and what she still purposed to do — namely
to embark with the Eskimo in a birch-bark canoe,
guide him across the small lake that lay near the
village, and show him the rivulet that would lead
him into the Greygoose River. But she had not
gone far, when, on turning a bush, she almost ran
into the arms of a young Indian girl named
Idazoo, an event which upset all her plans and
perplexed her not a little — all the more that this
girl was jealous of her, believing that she was
trying to steal from her the affections of Alizay,
whom she regarded as her own young man !

"Why run you so fast?" asked the girl, as
Adolay stood panting before her. " Have you seen
a bad spirit ? "

" Yes, I have seen a bad spirit," answered Adolay
(thinking of Alizay), " I have seen two bad spirits,"
she added (thinking of Idazoo). " But I cannot
stop to tell you. I have to — to — go to see — some-
thing very strange to-night."

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Now it must be told that Id.azoo was gifted with
a very largo bump of curiosity, and a still larger
one, perhaps, of suspicion. The bravo Alizay, she
knew, was to mount guard over the Eskimo
captive that night, and she had a suspicion that
Adolay had taken advantage of that fact to pay
the captive — not the Indian, oh dear no ! — a visit.
Unable to rest quietly in her tent under the
powerful influence of this idea, she resolved to
take a walk herself — a sort of moonlight ramble as
it were — in that direction. As we have seen, she
met her friend, not imexpcctedly, on the way.

" I will go with you," she said, " to see this
strange thing, whatever it be. There may be
danger ; two are better than one, and, you know,
I am not easily frightened."

Poor Adolay was dismayed by this proposition,
and hurried forward, but Idazoo kept pace with
her. Suddenly she made up her mind, and,
changing her direction, made for the cliff at a
rapid run, closely followed by her jealous friend,
who was resolved to see the mystery out.

She purposely led her companion round in such
a way that they came suddenly upon the waiting
Eskimo, whose speaking visage betrayed his sur-
prise at seeing two girls instead of one.

On beholding Cheenbuk standing there unbound,
Idazoo stopped short, drew back, and gazed at
him in alarm as well as surprise.

"OPWllBHUWM

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"You have now seen the strange sight I spoke of,
but you must not tell it in the lodges," said Adolay.

Without answering her, Idazoo turned to fly,
but Adolay grasped her by the wrist and held her
tight — at the same time motioning with her hand
to Cheenbuk.

The Eskimo was prompt as well as intelligent.
He did not wait for explanations or allow surprise
to delay him. With a bound he was beside the
girls, had grasped Idazoo, and looked to Adolay
for further instructions.

"Hold her till I tie up her hands," she said,
drawing a stout line of deerskin from a pocket in
the breast of her dress.

With this she proceeded to bind her inquisitive
friend's wrists. Perceiving that she was to be
made a captive, the girl opened her mouth and
began a shriek, which, had it been allowed full
play, would no doubt have reached her friends in
the village, but Cheenbuk had observed the inten-
tion, and before the first note had struggled into
being, he clapped his hand on her mouth and
quenched it. Idazoo wore round her neck a
brightly coloured cotton kerchief, such as the fur-
traders of those days furnished for barter with the
Indians. Cheenbuk quietly plucked this off her
neck and tied it firmly round her face and mouth
so as to effectually gag her. This done they
fastened her to the stem of the dead tree.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Tho whole operation was performed without
unnecessary rudeness, and with great celerity.

"Now, Idazoo," said Adolay, when they had
finished, "you have done me great injury this night.
I am sorry to treat you in this way, but I cannot
help it. You would come with rae, you know. If
I could trust you even now, I would take the
cloth off your mouth, but I dare not, you might
yell, and everybody knows you were never good at
keeping your promises. But it does not matter
much. The handkerchief is not too tight to pre-
vent the air getting up your nose— and it will give
your tongue a rest, which it needs. Besides, the
night is not cold, and as our braves pass here
every morning when starting off to hunt, you will
soon be set free."

The Eskimo showed all his brilliant teeth from
ear to ear while this little speech was being made.
Then he accompanied Adolay through the bush
until they reached the shores of a small lake,
beside which a birch-bark canoe was lying, partly
in the water. At an earlier part of that evening
the girl had placed the canoe there, and put into
it weapons and provisions suitable for a consider-
able voyage.

" You have got this ready for me ? " said
Cheenbuk.

"Yes, You saved my mother's life once, and
I will save yours," replied the girl, pointing

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

to the bow of" the canoe as if ordering him to
embark.

"Are you going with me?" asked the youth,
with a look of hopeful surprise and a very slight
flutter of the heart.

" You do not know the lake. I will guide you
to the place where the little river runs out of it,
and then, by following that, you will get into
Greygoose Kiver, which I think you know."

The Eskimo's heart ceased to flutter, and the
hope died out of his expressive eyes as he said,
still hesitating, " But — but — I am very heavy and
you are very light. A canoe does not go well
with its head deep in the water. Don't you think
that I should sit behind and steer ? "

" And where would you steer to ? " asked Ado-
lay, with a somewhat pert smile. " Besides, look
there," she added, pointing to the stem of the
little craft, " do Eskimos not use their eyes ? "

Cheenbuk used his eyes as directed, and saw
that a heavy stone had been placed in the stern
so as to counteract the difference of weight. With
an air of humility, therefore, he stepped into his
allotted place, took up a paddle and sat down.
Adolay pushed the craft into deeper water, stepped
hghtly in, and, giving a vigorous shove, sent it
skimming out on the lake. Then the two dipped
their paddles with a will, and shot over the water
like an arrow,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

Profound silence was maintained until the other
end of the lake was reached, when the moon came
out from a bank of clouds and enabled the girl
to find the reedy source of the little river without
diflSculty.

" We will land here and lift the canoe past the
reeds," she said, steering the little craft to the
side of a grassy bank.

Walking along this bank, and guiding the canoe
with their hands, they soon came to an open space
in the forest, whence they could see the rivulet
winding like a thread of silver through the land
in front of them.

"This is the place where we must part," said
Adolay with a sudden determination of manner
which surprised and puzzled the Eskimo. " You
have now no further need for me. You have
only to go straight on with the running of the
water. There are only two falls on the way, but
you will hear the noise before you come to them,
and you have only to lift the canoe a short way
through the bush to the still water below the
falls. Our braves often do that ; you will find it
quite easy."

" I know something of that," returned Cheenbuk ;
" we have no falls in our great salt lake, but we
have plenty big lumps of ice, and when these
are like to crush together we have to jump out
of our kayaks and lift them out of the water — ho !

100

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

and we do it quick too, sometimes, or wo get
squeezed flat. But if I go on with the canoe how
will you get home ? You cannot swim back."

" I can walk round the lake. Arc the Eskimo
girls not able to walk, that you ask such a ques-
tion ? " said the girl, raising her dark eyes with
something of an amused look to the face of her
companion, who was looking anxiously down at her.

"Oh yes, they can walk well. Ay, and run
too Avhen needful. But — but — I 'm sorry that we
must part. Must ! — why must ? "

The youth said this in a meditative tone, for
it had occurred to him for a moment that the
girl was now in his power ; that ho could compel
her to get into the bow of the canoe, and might
steer her to his home at Waruskeek if he chose,
whether she would or no. But Cheenbuk's soul
was chivalrous. He was far in advance of his
kindred and his times. He scorned himself for
having even thought of such a thing for a moment ;
and it Avas with an air of profound humility that
he continued — " Must — of course you must. One
of the young braves would have a sore heart if
you did not retura"

" No one that I know of," she replied quickly.
" I care not for the braves ; but my mother would
have a sore heart if I did not return. Yet I fear
to go back, for that Idazoo will tell, and perhaps
they will kill me for helping you to escape."

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

LIBRARY

Victoria, B. C.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

101

" Then you must not go back," said the Eskimo
stoutly, "Como with me and I will take good
care of you."

" No, I cannot," returned the girl thoughtfully ;
" I cannot forsake my mother and father in such
a way without even a word at parting.

" What is your name ? " asked the youth
promptly. " Mine is Chcenbuk."

" They call mo Adolay ; that, in our language,
means the summer-time."

"Well, Adolay, I don't know what my name,
Checnbuk, means — perhaps it means winter-time.
Anyhow, listen to me. If there is any chance of
you being killed you must n'lt go back, I will
take you to my mother's igloe and you will live
with her."

" Have you, too, got a mother ? " asked Adolay
with interest.

" Ho ! yes ; and a father too — and they 're both
fat and heavy and kind. When they come to
know that you have been so kind to me, they will
receive you with joy."

"No," said Adolay, shaking her small head
decidedly, " I ivill not go. They may kill me if
they like, but I will never forsake my mother."

" Are you determined ? "

" Yes — for sure."

" Then so am I," said Cheenbuk, taking hold of
the canoe and turning the bow up-stream. " Get

102

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

in, Adolay, and we will return to the lodges of
your people and die together."

Chcenbuk had a way of saying and doing
things that convinced his hearers that ho was
thoroughly in earnest. The Indian girl felt this,
and regretted much that she had said anything
at all about her danger. She now tried to counter-
act the evil.

" What do you mean ? " she said, anxiously.

" I mean that I am not afraid to go back and
die with you."

" But it is not certain," she replied, " that they
will kill me. If my father was at home they
would not dare to do it, and perhaps they will
be afraid of his revenge when he comes back.
But for you there is no chance at all. They will
be sure to kill you with slow tortures."

" I care not. If I go back they will not be so
likely to kill you. But listen to me, Adolay.
I have a thought. If you come with me to my
home in Waruskeck I will take you safe to my
father's igloe, and you shall live with my mother
and sister. I will not ask you to be my squaw,
but you will stay with them till we collect a
strong band of young men, when we will go to
visit your people and take you with us. If they
are friendly — w^ell, and we can traffic together.
If they receive us ill there will be a fight — that
is all. I do not like fighting — but whatever

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

103

happens I promise that you shall be restored to
your father and mother. Now, will you go ? "

Adolay looked up earnestly into the grave
countenance of the young man. There could
be no doubt of his thorough sincerity — she felt
that — still, she hesitated. It was a bold step to
take — even for an Indian heroine !

At that critical moment there broke upon their
ears a distant sound that caused them both to
start and look round anxiously. It was faint, and
so far away that at first they could make nothing
of it. A few seconds later it was repeated louder
than before. Then a look of intelligence broke
over Adolay's countenance.

*' I know ! " she exclaimed, " Idazoo is shrieking !
We should have put the cloth over her nose ! She
has got her mouth free and — "

Another sharp yell rendered it needless for her
to complete the sentence.

"Come," she said, laying hands on the canoe.
" Turn it round. We will go ! "

A few minutes more and the pair were flying
down the swift current of the little river as fast
as they could dip their paddles in the stream.

104

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER X.

A WILD CBA8E AND A SAD FAILUnR.

It does not necessarily require the influences
of civilised life to make an honourable, upright
man, any more than it needs the influences of
savage life to make a thorough scoundrel. Of
course the tendency of civilisation is to elevate,
of savagery to debase, nevertheless it is certain
that as we occasionally see blackguards in the
highest ranks, so we sometimes find men and
women with exalted conceptions of right and
wrong in the lowest circles of life.

The truth would seem to be that the Spirit of
God is not confined to ranks or conditions of men —
a fact that appears to be confirmed by the Scrip-
ture statement that "in every nation ho that
foareth God and worketh righteousness is accept-
able to Him."

Cheenbuk's mind must assuredly have been
influenced by a good spirit when, after descending
the little river at the utmost speed possible — so
as to render recapture for a time at least impro-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

105

bablo — ho directed his companion to run tlio
canoo on the bank in an eddy formed by a flat
rock, and then, against his own most earnest
desires, advised Adolay to return to her people,

"While wo were paddling down-stream," ho
said, " I havo been thinking much, and I cannot
boliovo that your people would be so hard as to
kill you for only helping a poor Eskimo to escape.
Now, I havo changed my mind. I havo often
found that it is better to think more than once
before actmg, if you have time to do so. What
I think now is, that wo should hide the canoe
hero, and return to your village on foot together.
When we get there — or when we meet them
chasing us — you will go on, and I will hide to
see how they receive you, and if they receive you
kindly — as I feel sure they will do — I will return
here to this spot, take the canoe, and go to my
home alone. I cannot bear to take you from your
father and mother. I think the Great Spirit, who
is the father of all, would bo angry with me. But
I will not force you to return if you are afraid."

" I am afraid," returned Adolay, quickly. " You
do not know how angry the men will be: and
you don't know how sharp their eyes are. If you
Avcro to return with me they would see you long
before you could see them, and would give you no
chance to hide."

" Then there is nothing to be done but to go on,"

106

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

said Cheenbuk, with a sigh which he loyally strove
to vent as a sign of regret, but which insisted on
issuing forth as a distinct sound of satisfaction !

"You have promised to take me safe to your
mother's igloe, and to bring me back to my own
home," said Adolay, with a look of confidence.
" I will go on and trust you."

Without another word the Eskimo pushed off
the head of the canoe, which was caught by
the current and swept down stream. Ere long
they reached the Greygoose River, and, paddling
into the centre of the current, were soon careermg
towards the sea at a pace which they thought
rendered their being overtaken almost impossible.
To make quite sure, however, they continued the
voyage far into the night, and did not land for
a very brief rest until the grey dawn had begun
to appear ovei the eastern tree-tops.

Being both somewhat fatigued by that time
they scarcely uttered a word as they encamped,
but went about the work as if half asleep. Cheen-
buk lifted the canoe out of the water and laid
it on the bank, bottom up, in which position it
formed a rough and ready tent for his companion,
who, meanwhile, carried up the provisions. Seated
on the grass beside it they ate a little dried veni-
son, which required no cooking — uttering only a
monosyUable now and then with half-closed eyes,
and sometimes with an imbecile smile, which

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

107

terminated occasionally in an irresistible nod. The
feebleness of the light, too, as well as the quietness
of the hour, contributed not a little to this state
of semi-consciousness.

The frugal supper having been washed down
with a draught of water, from Nature's own cup —
the joined hands — Adolay lay down under the
canoe. Cheenbuk retired to a neighbouring spruce-
fir and stretched himself under its branches. Need
we add that sleep closed their eyelids instantly ?

But the Eskimo was much too experienced a
hunter and warrior to allow the drowsy god to
enchain him long. Like a dead log he lay for
little more than two hours, then he awoke with
a start and stretched himself.

" Hoi ! " he exclaimed sharply, looking towards
the canoo, which was distant from his lair about
five or six yards.

The exclamation had scarcely passed his lips
when Adolay sprang up, and next moment went
blinking, yawning, and stumbling down the bank
with the provisions under one arm, the paddles
and weapons under the other. Cheenbuk liftet'
the canoe and followed her. In a few minutes
they were once more out in the middle of the
strong current, paddling with might and main.

Now, it was well that they had used such dili-
gence in their flight, for the pursuers were closer
behind them than they had supposed.

108

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

When the unfortunate Alizay was felled by the
Eskimo, as we have described, he lay for a con-
siderable time in a state of insensibility, but he
was by no means killed — not even seriously dam-
aged — for Cheonbuk's intense dislike to take life had
not only induced him to drop the knife with which
the Indian girl had supplied him to cut his cords,
but inclined him to use his ponderous fist with
moderation, so that Alizay, on recovering, found
himself none the worse, except for a severe head-
ache and an unnaturally large bridge to his nose.

Gathering himself up, and gradually swelling
with rage as he reflected on the treatment to which
he had been subjected, ho ran at full speed to
alarm the camp and begin a search. But where
were they to search? — that was the question.
There were four points to the compass — though
they knew nothing about the compass — and the
fugitive might have gone off in the direction of any
of these, or between them, and it was too dark a
night to permit of his trail being followed by
sight, for, although the moon might aid them in
the open, it would bo quite useless in the darkness
of the woods.

A hurried council was held, and a good deal of
distracting advice given while the young braves
were arming themselves. To add to their per-
plexities, a lad rushed suddenly into the council
tent with glaring eyes, saying that the girl

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

109

Idazoo had disappeared from the village. This
Bews greatly increased the fury of Alizay, but he
had scarcely realised the truth when another lad,
with, if possible, still more glaring eyes and a
gaping mouth, rushed in to tell that the girl
Adolay was also missing. This blew up the
agitation to a frenzy of excitement — not usual
among the Red men of the north — because the
necessity for proinpt action was great, whQe the
unpossibility of doing anything definite was
greater.

It was just at this point, when the clamour
was at its height, that a sound was heard which
instantly produced dead silence, while every man
and boy became as if petrified, with eyes enlarged
and ears cocked to listen.

Again the sound was heard — a distant yell
undoubtedly, coming from the direction of the
clilf.

All the self-possession and promptitude of the
Indians returned in a moment. In a second the
braves glided out of the council-tent and dis-
appeared, each making a straight lino for the
sound, while the women and children left behind
listened with profound attention and expectation.

There was no lack of guiding sounds now, for
the moment Idazoo managed to clear her mouth of
the gag she began and continued a series of shrieks
and yells which were intensified in vigour by the

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

fact that she graduc, ..y becamo hysterical as well
as wrathful.

The first to reach the spot was Alizay. On
beholding him the girl stopped, and, after two
or three exasperated echoes had finished their
remarks, a profound silence reigned.

Lovers among the Dogribs are not yet very
gallant. Civilisation may do something for them,
as to this, in time.

" You can make a noise ! * said the youth,
stepping up to her.

"I have reason to do so," replied the maiden,
somewhat abashed.

" Did Adolay go with him ? " asked Alizay as
several of the other braves ran up.

" Yes."

" Willingly ? "

"Yes — she helped to tie me and showed him
the way."

"Wheredid they go?"

" In the direction of the lake."

Instantly the whole band turned and ran off in
the direction mentioned — Alizay being last, as he
paused just long enough to cut the bonds of Idazoo,
but left her to disentangle herself as she best could.

On reaching the shores of the lake the footsteps
of the fugitives showed clear in the moonlight, and
the marks of launching the canoe were visible, so
that there was no further doubt as to what should

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

111

be done. The Indians knew well that there was
only one outlet from the lake. Their canoes
were close by, and their guns and tomahawks in
their hands. Nothing therefore required to be
done but to embark and give chase. For this
purpoF,e two canoes were deemed sufficient, with
three men in each.

Magadar took charge of the leading canoe.
Alizay steered the other, and the rest of the braves
returned to the village to gloat over the news that
Idazoo had to tell, to feast on the produce of the
previous day's hunt, and to clear — or obfuscate —
their intellects, more or less, with their tobacco-
pipes.

As the six pursuers were very wrathful, and
pretty strong, they caused their canoes to skim
over the lake like swallows, and reached the head
of the little river not very long after the fugitives
had left it. A stern chase, however, is proverbially
a long one, and as they overhauled the chase only
inch by inch, there seemed little chance of over-
taking it that night. The leaders, however, being
men of great endurance, resolved to carry on
without rest as long as possible. This they did
until about dawn — the same hour at which the
fugitives had succumbed — and both parties put
ashore at last for a rest, neither being aware of the
fact that their separate camping-grounds were not
more than three miles apar'j !

112

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Well was it then for Adolay that her stout pro-
tector was a light sleeper, as well as a man of iron
frame, and that he had aroused her fully an hour
and a half sooner than the time at which the
Indians left their camp to resume the chase. It
was well, also, that Cheenbuk required but a short
rest to recruit his strength and enable him to
resume the paddle with his full vigour. The joy,
also, consequent upon the discovery that he loved
the Indian girl, and that she had made up her
mind, without any persuasion on his part, to run
away with him, lent additional power to his strong
back. Perhaps, also, a sympathetic feeling in the
breast of the maiden added to the strength of her
well-formed and by no means feeble arm, so that
many miles were soon added to the three which
intervened between the chasers and the chased.
To the horror of Adolay she found when she and
Cheenbuk reached the mouth of the river, that the
sea was extensively blocked by masses of ice, which
extended out as far as the eye could reach.

Although thus encumbered, however, the sea
was by no means choked up with it, and to the
gaze of the young Eskimo the ice presented no
insurmountable obstacle, for his experienced eye
could trace leads and lanes of open water as far
as the first group of distant islets, which lay like
scarce perceptible specks on the horizon.

But to the inexperienced eye of the girl the

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

113

sea
the
I no
eye
far
Uke

the

scene was one of hopeless confusion, and it filled
her with sudden alarm and despair, though she
possessed more than the usual share of the Dogrib
women's courage. Observing her alarm, Cheenbuk
gave her a look of encouragement, but avoided
telling her not to be afraid, for his admiration of
her was too profound to admit of his thinking
that she could really be frightened, whatever her
looks might indicate.

" The ice is our friend to-day," he said, with a
cheery smile, as they stood together on the sea-
shore beside their canoe, surveying the magnificent
scene of snowy field, fantastic hummock, massive
berg, and glittering pinnacle that lay spread out
before them.

Adolay felt, but did not express surprise, for she
was filled with a most commendable trust in the
truth and wisdom as well as the courage of the
man to whose care she had committed herself.

" If you say the ice is our friend, it must be so,"
she remarked quietly, " but to the Indian girl it
seems as if the ice was our foe, for she can see no
escape, and my people will be sure to follow us."

" Let them follow," returned Cheenbuk, with a
quiet laugh, as he re-arranged the lading of the
canoe before continuing the voyage. " They won't
follow beyond this place ! "

Lifting out the big stone, which had formed a
counterpoise to his weight, he flung it on the beach.

114

THE WALRUS IIUNTEUS

" Wo will change places now, Adolay," he said,
" you have guided our canoe when on the inland
waters; it is now my turn to steer, for I under-
stand the sea of ice. Get in, we will start,"

When Magadar and his comrades arrived at the
mouth of the Greygoose River and beheld the
aspect of the sea, a cry of mingled surprise and
disappointment escaped them, but when they had
landed and discovered the canoe of the fugitives
far away like a speck among the ice-floes, the cry
was transmuted into a hoAvl of rage.

" Quick ! embark ! Let us after them ! " shouted
Magadar.

" Death to them both ! " yelled Alizay.

For a few minutes the Indians followed the lanes
of open water, till their turnings began to appear
somewhat complicated ; then the warlike spirit
became a little subdued. Presently one of the
Indians discovered — or thought he discovered —
that the lead of water was narrowing, and that
the ice was closing in.

Promptly both canoes were put about, and the
shore was regained with amazing speed.

After that the Dogribs paddled quietly up the
Greygoose River, and meekly returned to their
woodland home.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

115

CHAPTER XI.

ENCAMPED ON THE ISLET.

It was with feelings of profound thankfulness
and relief that Adolay landed on the first of the
islets, and surveyed the chaotic though beautiful
floes from which they had escaped.

And in truth Cheenbuk had required all his
skill and experience more than once to avoid the
dangers by which they had been beset, for, although
the weather was perfectly calm and the ice nearly
motionless, they had frequently to pass through
channels so narrow that the slightest current
might have caused a nip and obliged them to take
hurried refuge on the floes, while, at other times,
when compelled to pass rather close to the small
bergs, lumps dropped into the water perilously
near to them from the overhanging ice-cUtis.

"There has been some danger," remarked the
girl, turning to her protector.

"All is well when it ends well," replied the
Eskimo, nearly, but unconsciously, quoting Shake-
speare. " But the danger was not very great, for

116

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

if the ice had closed in wo could have jumped on
it, and carried the canoe to the nearest open
water."

"But what if a lump had dropped into the
canoe and sunk it ? " asked Adolay.

" We should have had to scramble on the floes
and wait there till — till we died together."

He said this with some degree of solemnity, for
it was an uncomfortable reflection.

"I would prefer — " she stopped suddenly, for
in the haste of the moment she was going to have
said — "that we should live together rather than
die together " — but maiden modesty, not unfamiliar
even among savages, restrained her, and Cheenbuk,
who was not observant in the matter of imperfect
speech, took no notice of the abrupt pause.

The evening av s far advanced, for it had taken
them the whole day to reach the islet, owing to
the windings of the lanes of water and the fre-
quency with which they had to turn back in con-
sequence of having run into what may be termed
blind alleys. It was resolved, therefore, that they
should rest there for the night.

As there was no fear, by that time, of their
being pursued by Indians, Cheenbuk resolved that
they should have a good warm supper to recruit
their somewhat exhausted energies. Of course
Adolay was only too glad to fall in with this
arrangement, and said that she would go along

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

1:7

the shore and collect small masses of drift-wood
for the fire, while her companion lifted up the
canoe and made the encampment.

" You will not find much drift-wood, I think,"
said Cheenbuk, as she was about to set oft", " for
the currents don't set upon thU island much.
The long point of the bigger island over there
turns the currents ofi' from this one, but perhaps
you may find a little."

. Adolay found this to be true, for she wandered
several miles along shore — indeed, went nearly
round the islet, which was a low rocky one, almost
devoid of verdure — before she had collected a
good bundle of dry sticks.

Meanwhile the Eskimo set to work with char-
acteristic enthusiasm to arrange the camp. Choos-
ing a spot where a low wall of rock sheltered him
from the north, he laid a few stones in a heap
to mark the place for the fire. Then he carried
up the canoe, and laid it down bottom up, so as to
face the fire. Underneath it he made a snug nest
of twigs and leaves for Adolay to rest in. Then,
on the opposite side of the fire, he made another
lair — a sort of open-air nest — for himself, after
which he collected a good many of the small dead
twigs among the scrub, which he piled up in
readiness around a large piece of drift timber
he had the good fortune to discover not far from
the spot where they landed.

118

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

This done, ho stood back a few paces and aduured
his handiwork, his head on one side with quite
the air of a connoisseur.

Presently ho began to wish that Adolay would
return, and then sat down to make fire by the
slow and laborious Eskimo process of rubbing two
pieces of stick rapidly together until the friction
should ignite them. He was still absorbed in the
work when the Indian girl returned with a
bundle of wood which she threw down beside
the rest.

"You have had better luck than I expected,"
said Cheenbuk. " See, I have made you a nest to
sWjk, in," he added, pointing to the canoe.

" It is very nice," she observed, with an appre-
ciative smile. " What are you doing ? "

" Making fire," he answered, resuming his work
and continuing it with such vigour that beads of
perspiration stood on his brow.

Without speaking, the girl went to the canoo
and opened a bundle wrapped in deerskin which
formed part of its lading. She drew therefrom a
firebag, richly ornamented Avith beads, such as
Indian chiefs and braves are wont to carry under
their belts. It contained the pipe, tinder-box,
flint, steel, and tobacco Avhich are usually supplied
by the fur-traders to the Red men.

Cheenbuk was so interested in the proceedings
of his companion that he ceased to carry on his

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

119

own work, thereby allowing the sticks to cool and
losing his labour.

"You need not work so hard," said Adolay,
taking a flint, steel, and pieco of tinder from the
bag and, beginning to strike a light, to the great
interest of the Eskimo. " Wo manage to get fire
dififerontly and more easily,"

In a few seconds a spark caught on the tinder,
which began to smoke, and the girl, wrapping it
in a bundle of dry grass, whirled it round at arm's-
length until the draught caused it to burst into
flame. Thrusting the burning mass into the
heart of the twigs, which had been previously pre-
pared, she glanced up at her protector with a look
that said plainly, " Watch, now, the result."

But Checnbuk required no encouragement to
do so. He had been watching all the time with
mouth, as, well as eyes, wide open, and a loud
" hoi ! hoi ! ho ! " burst from him as the flame
leaped up, sicftusing the canoe and wall of rock
and the near objects with a ruddy glow which
paled everything else to a cold grey by contrast.

" I 've seen that once before," exclaimed Cheen-
buk with delight, taking up the fircbag tenderly,
" and have often wished that I had these things for
making fire."

"Well, you may have them now. They be-
longed to my father. All our men carry bags
with these things in them."

120

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" And I Ve seen this too — once," continued the
youth, smiling, as he pulled out a tobacco-pipe.
Then he bent his head suddenly, put liis nose to the
bag, and made a face expressive of supreme disgust.

" Ho ! and I 've seen this too. I have tasted it,
and after tasting it I was very miserable — so miser-
able that I hope never to be as miserable again!"

As he spoke he looked at Adolay with that
extreme solemnity which was one of the charac-
teristics of his face.

The girl returned the look, but did not smile.
She did not speak, but waited for more.

" The man who showed me these things was a
good man," continued Cheenbuk. " 1 do nc' know
his name, but I liked him much. Yet I think he
was not wise to fill his mouth with smoke and
his inside with sickness."

" Was he sick ? " asked Adclpv.

" No — he was not, but — I was.

While he was speaking he drew a long piece of
Canada twist tobacco out of the bag, and looked at
it sagaciously for some time, nodding his head as
if he knew all about it.

" Yes, that is the thing he put in the pipe, and,
after making a small fire over it, drew the smoke
into himself. At first I thought he would die or
catch fire and burst — but he — he didn't, and he
seemed to like it."

"All our men like it," said Adolay; "they

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

121

smoke every day — sometimes all day. And some
of our women like it too."

" Do 2/ow like it ? " asked the Eskimo, quickly,

" No, I don't like it."

" Good — that is well. Now, we will cook some
of your dried meat for supper."

By that time the fire was blazing cheerily. As
the shades of night deepened, the circle of light
grew more and more ruddy until it seemed like a
warm cosy chamber in the heart of a cold grey
setting. A couple of small stakes were thrust into
the ground in such a way that the two pieces of
venison impaled on them were presented to the
heart of the fire. Soon a frizzling sound was
heard ; then odours of a kind dear to the hearts
of hungry souls — to say nothing of their noses —
began to arise, and the couple thus curiously
thrown together sat down side by side to enjoy
themselves, and supply the somewhat clamorous
demands of Nature.

They said little while feeding, but when the
venison ste;iks had wellnigh disappeared, a word
or two began to pass to and fro. At last Cheenbuk
arose, and, taking a small cup of birch-bark, which,
with a skin of water, formed part of the supplies
provided by Adolay, he filled it to the brim, and
the two concluded their supper with the cheering
fluid.

" Ah ! " sighed the girl, when she had disposed

122

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

of her share, " the white traders bring us a black
stuff which we mix Avith water hot, and find it
very good to drink."

" Yes ? What is it ? " asked Cheenbuk, applying
his lips a second time with infinite zest to the
water.

" I know not what it is. The white men call it
tee," said Adolay, dwelling with affectionate em-
phasis on the ce's.

" Ho ! I should like to taste that teee," said the
youth, with exaggerated emphasis on the ee'a
"Is it better than water?"

" I 'm not sure of that," answered the girl, with
a gaze of uncertainty at the fire, " but we Hke it
better than water — the women do; the men are
fonder of fire-water, when they can get it, but the
white traders seldom give us any, and they never
give us much We women are very glad of that,
for the fire-water makes our men mad and wish to
fight. Teee, when we take too much of it — which
we always do — only makes us sick."

"Strange," said Cheenbuk, with a look of
profundity worthy of Solomon, " that your people
should be so fond of smokes and drinks that make
them sick and mad when they have so much of
the sparkling water that makes us comfortable ! "

Adolay made no reply to this, for her mind was
not by nature philosophically disposed, though
she was intelligent enout-h to admire the sagacity

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

123

of a remark that seemed to her fraught with
illimitable significance.

"Have you any more strange things in your
bundle ? " asked the Eskimo, whose curiosity was
awakened by what had already been extracted from
it. " Have you some of the teee, or the fire-water,
or any more of the thing that smokes — what you
call it?"

" Tubuko — no, I have no more of that than you
saw in the firebag. The white men sometimes
call it bukey, and I have no fire-water or tee.
Sometimes we put a nice sweet stuff into the tee
which the white men call shoogir. The Indian
girls are very fond of shoogir. They like it best
without being mixed with water ard tee. But
we have that in our own land. We make it from
the juice of a tree."

The interest with which Cheenbuk gazed into
the girl's face while she spoke, was doubtless due
very much to the prettiness thereof, but it is only
just to add that the number and nature of the
absolutely new subjects which Avere thus opened
up to him had something to do with it. His
imperfect knowledge of her language, however,
had a bamboozling effect.

" Here is a thing which I think you will be glad
to see," continued the girl, as she extracted a small
hatchet from the bundle.

"Yes indeed; that is a very good thing," said

124

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

the youth, handling the implement with almost
affectionate tenderness. "I had one once — and
that, too, is a fine thing," he added, as she drew
a scalping-knife from her bundle.

" You may have them both," she said ; " I knew
you Avould need them on the journey."

Cheenbuk was too much lost in admiration of
the gifts — which to him were so splendid — that
he failed to find words to express his gratitude,
but, seizing a piece of firewood and resting it on
another piece, he set to work with the hatchet,
and sent the chips flying in all directions for some
time, to the amusement and no small surprise of
his companion. Then he laid down the axe, and,
taking up the scalping-knife, began to whittle
sticks with renewed energy. Suddenly he paused
and looked at Adolay with ineffable delight.

" They are good ? " she remarked with a cheer-
ful nod.

" Good, good, very good ! We have nothing
nearly so good. All our things are made of bone
or stone."

"Now," returned the girl, with a blink of her
lustrous eyes, and a yawn of her pretty mouth,
which Nature had not yet taught her to conceal
with her little hand, "now, I ani sleepy. I Avill
lie do^vn."

Cheenbuk replied with a smile, and pointed to
the canoe with his nose.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

125

Adolay took the hint, crept into the nest which
the gallant youth had prepared for her, curled
herself up like a hedgehog, and was sound asleep
in five minutes.

The Eskimo, meanwhile, resumed his labours
with the scalping-knife, and whittled on far into
the night — whittled until he had reduced every
stick within reach of his hand to a mass of
shavings — a beaming childlike glow of satisfaction
resting on his handsome face all the while, until
the embers of the fire began to sink low, and only
an occasional flicker of flame shot up to enlighten
the increasing darkness. Then he laid the two
"mplements down and covered them carefully with
a piece of deerskin, while his countenance resumed
its wonted gravity of expression.

Drawing up his knees until his chin rested on
them, and clasping his hands round them, he sat
for a long time brooding there and gazing into the
dying embers of the fire ; then he rose, stretched
himself, and sauntered down to the shore.

The night, although dark for the Arctic regions
at that time of the year, was not by any means
obscure. On the contrary, it might have passed
for a very fair moonlight night in more southern
climes, and the flush of the coming day in the
eastern sky was beginning to warm the tops of the
higher among the ice-masses, thereby rendering
the rest of the scene more coldly grey. The calm

126

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

which had favoured the escape of our fugitives
still prevailed, and the open spaces had gradually
widened until the floes had assumed the form of
ghostly white islets floating in a blue-black sea, in
which the fantastic cliffs, lumps, and pinnacles
were sharply reflected as in a mirror.

There was a solemnity and profound quietude
about the scene and the hour which harmonised
well with the sedate spirit of the young Eskimo,
as he stood there for a long time contemplating
the wonders and the beauties of the world around
and about him.

We know not what passes through the minds
of untutored men in such circumstances, but who
shall dare to say that the Spirit of their Creator
may not be holding intercourse with them at such
times ?

Turning his back at length upon the sea,
Cheenbuk returned to the camp, lay down on the
couch which he had made for himself on the op-
posite side of the fire from the canoe, and, in a few
moments more, was in the health- and strength-
restoring regions of Oblivion.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

127

CHAPTER Xn.

HOME— SWEET HOME— AND SMOKE, ETC.

The favouring calm continued until Cheenbuk
with his companion arrived at Warnskeek.

It was about mid-day when theu' canoe turned
round the headland and entered the inlet near the
head of which lay the Eskimo village.

The boy Anteck happened to be standing on
the shore at the time, beside the young girl Nootka.
They were looking out to sea, and observed the
canoe the moment it turned the point of rocks.

" Hoi — oi ! " yelled Anteek with an emphasis
that caused the inhabitants of the whole village
to leap out of every hut with the celerity of
squirrels, and rush to the shore. Here those
who had first arrived were eagerly commenting
on the approaching visitors.

" A kayak of the Fire-spouters ! " cried Anteek,
with a look of intense glee, for nothing was so
dear to the soul of that volatile youth, as that
which suggested danger, except, perhaps, that
which involved fun.

128

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" The kayak is indeed that of a Fire-spouter,'
said old Mangivik, shaking his grey head, " but I
don't think any Fire-spouter among them would be
such a fool as to run his head into our very jaws."

" I 'm not ready to agree with you, old man,"
began Gartok.

" No ; you 're never ready to agree with any
one ! " growled Mangivik parenthetically.

" For the Fire-spouters," continued Gartok, dis-
regarding the growl, " are afraid of nothing. Why
should they be when they can spout wounds and
death so easily ? "

Poor Gartok spoke feelingly, for his wounded
leg had reduced his vigour considerably, and he
was yet only able to limp about with the aid of a
stick, while his lieutenant Ondikik was reduced
to skin and bone by the injury to his back.

Suddenly Mangivik became rather excited.

"Woman," he said earnestly to his wife, who
stood beside him, "do you see who steers the
kayak ? Look, your eyes are better than mine."

" No. I do not."

" Look again !" cried Anteek, pushing forward
at that moment. " He is not a Fire-spouter. He
is one of us ! But the one in front is a Fire-
spouter woman. Look at the man ! Don't you
know him ? "

There was an intensity of suppressed fervour in
the manner of the boy, and an unwonted ghtter in

A IIOMANOE OF THE lOE- WORLD

129

his eyes, which impressed every one who noticed
him.

" Yes, he is one of us," said Mangivik, shading
his eyes with one hand, " and he has stolen a Fire-
spouting girl with her kayak !"

There was a look of pride in the face of the old
man as he spoke, but it was as nothing to the
shout of triumph — the shriek of ecstasy — that
burst from Anteok as he uttered the word —

" Cheenbuk !"

Just then a strong clear voice came rolling over
the water to the shore, and a roar of joy burst
from the whole assemblage, for there was no mis-
taking the voice of their comrade and best hunter.
The hearts of Nootka and her mother beat with no
ordinary flutter as they heard the familiar shout,
and as for Anteek, he went into a paroxysm of
delight, which he sought to relieve by bounding
and yelling till the canoe touched the shore.
Then, by a powerful effort, he subdued himself, and
turned his energies into a prolonged look of
unutterable amazement at AdoLiy.

Of course the eyes of the entire population were
turned in the same direction — for Eskimos do not
count it rude to stare — so that the poor girl felt
somewhat abashed, and shrank a little behind her
stout protector.

Observing the action, Cheenbuk took hold of
her arm gently and led her towards his mother.

130

THE WALUUS HUNTERS

" This is my mother, Adolay," he said ; "she will
take care of you."

" Your wife ?" asked Mrs. Mangivik, with an
anxious look.

"No, not ray wife," replied the youth, with a
laugh. "Take her to our hut, you and Nootka,
while I go and speak with the men. — She saved
my life, father," he added, turning to Mangivik,
" be good to her."

On hearing this, Nootka and her mother took
the girl affectionately by both hands and led her
away.

Cheenbuk meanwhile went up to the big hut,
just outside of which was held a meeting of nearly
the whole population, to receive an account of his
adventures from the man whom they had long ago
given up as lost.

" My friends," he began, surveying the expectant
assembly with a grave straightforward look, " when
I went by myself to the Whale River, my intention
was to hunt around and find out if there were many
birds and beasts on lands near to it, and if many
men lived or uinted there, for it came into my
mind that this little island of Waruskeek is not
the best place in the world to live in, for our tribe
is continually increasing. I thought that if there
were Fire-spouters there already, we must be con-
tent with the lands we have got, for it is not right
to take what belongs to other men."

A Ur»f ANOE OF THE ICE-WOUT.D

131

Cliccnbuk paused hero and looked round,
because he knew that he was treading on some-
what new and delicate ground in thus asserting a
principle of right ; and ho was not mistaken, for,
while the most of his audience remained silent,
several of thorn expressed dissent.

" Besides," he continued, " it is not wise to
attack men with fire-spouters, which send into
their enemies heavy little things like that which
was lately picked out of Gartok's log ; the same
as still seems to be sticking in Ondikik's back."

" Ho ! ho ! " exclaimed a number of the men,
as if that truth commended itself to their under-
standings.

" Well, when I got to the^ river, I found plenty
of white whales at the mouth of it, and great
plenty of birds of all kinds, and of deer — a land
good for man to dwell in, with many trees that
would make sledge-runners, and much dead
wood for our fires, and no one living there, nor
signs of anybody. Then I thought to myself.
Why should wo live ahvays among the floes and
bergs ? The few Fire-spouters whom we have seen
and heard of have better food, better homes, better
tools of every kind. Why should not we have the
same ? "

Here the wise Cheenbuk drew from the breast
of liis sealskin coat the axe and scalping-knifc
which Adolay had given him, and held them up.

132

THE WAT.UUS HUNTERS

This was a politic move, for it won over almost the
entire audience to the young I^untor's views, while
looks of ardent admiration were bestowed on the
coveted implements.

" When men find it not easy to get food,"
resumed Cheenbuk, in the tone and with the air
of a man who has much to say and means to say
it, " they change to some p'^ce where hunting is
better. When fish becor larce, they do not
remain still, but go to pL^ hero the fishing is
better. They always seek for something that
is better and better. Is this not true ? Is this
not wise ? "

" Ho ! ho !" exclaimed the assembly, assenting.

" Why, then, should not we go to a land where
there is much that is far better than we find here,
and live as the Fire-spouters live ? Did the
Great Maker of all things intend that we should
remain content with these treeless islands among
the ice, when there are lands not very far away
where we may find much of all kinds of things
that are far better ? If it is wise to change our
hunting Jlnd fishing grounds close at hand, surely
it may be wise to change to those that are far away
— especially when we know that they are better, and
likely to make us more comfortable and happy."

This suggestion was such a tremendous innova-
tion on ordinary Eskimo ideas, such a radical
conception of change and upheaval of age-long

A IIOMANCK OK TIIK ICK-\V()I!I,I)

l.'W

liabits, that the assembly j^'azcd in awc-stnick and
silent wonder at the bold young man, much as the
members of Parliament of the last century might
have gazed if any reckless M. P. had dared to
propose universal suflrago or vote by ballot, or
to suggest that measures should henceforth be
framed in accordance with the Golden Rule.

"After I had travelled a short v.ay inland,"
continued Cheenl aik, " 1 met a Fire-spouter. He
was all .lone. No one was with him. He pointed
his spoii r at me, and it clicked but would not
spout — 1 1 -n't know why. I threw my spear. It
went straight — as you know it always does — but
the man was quick ; he put his head to one side
and escaped. Again he pointed his spouter at me,
but again it only clicked. Then I rushed upon
him and caught hold of it before it could spout.
We wrestled — but ho was a very strong man, and
I could not overcome him — and he could not
overcome me. Our breath came short. The sweat
poured down our faces and our eyes glared ; but
when we looked steadily into each other's eyes we
saw that wo were both men of peace. We let our
bodies go soft, and dropped the spouter on the
ground.

" ' Why should we fight ? ' said he.

" ' That was just in my thought,' said I.

" So we stood up, and he took hold of my hand in
the way that the white traders do, and squeezed it.

134

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

I will show you how. — Give me jour hand, Aiiteek
— no, the other one."

The boy extended his hand, and Cheenbuk,
grasping it, gave it a squeeze that caused the little
fellow to yell and throw the assembly into convul-
sions of laughter, for Eskimos, unlike the sedate
Indians, dearly love a practical joke.

From this point Cheenbuk related the rest of his
interview with the Indian, and was particularly
graphic in his description of the pipe, which he
exhibited lo them, though he refrained from any
reference to its effect upon himself. Then he
discoursed of his subsequent exploration of the
mainland, and finally came to the point where he
met and rescued Rinka. — "13ut tell me, before I
speak more, is Rinka dead ?"

" No, she is getting well."

"That is good," he continued, in a tone of
satisfaction. " Old Uleeta, I doubt not, told you
of the fight I had with the Fire-spouters ? "

" She did," cried Anteek, with delight, " and how
you gave them sore hearts ! "

"H'm! they gave me a sore heart too; but I
don't care now ! And they would have roasted me
alive, but one of their girls had pity on me, helped
me to escape, and came away with me. Adolay is
her name — the girl you saw to-day."

" Ho ! ho ! hoi — oi ? " broke forth the chorus of
satisfaction.

A ROMANCK OF THE ICE-WOULD

135

"Yes, but for her," continued Chconbuk," I
should have been under the ground and my hair
would have been fluttering on the dress of a Fire-
spouter chief by this time. Now, I have promised
this girl that I will get a large party of our young
men to go back with her to Whale River and give
her back to her father and mother."

At this there were strong murmurs of dissent,
and a man whom we have not yet introduced to
the reader lifted up his voice.

This man's name was Aglootook. Ho was the
modicine-man of the tribe — a sort of magician ; a
sharp, clever, unscrupulous, presumptuous, and
rather tine locking-fellow, who held the people in
some degree of subjection through their super-
stitious fears, though there were some of the men
among them who would not give in to his authority.
As Eskimos have no regular chiefs, this man tried
to occupy the position of one. He had just
returned from a hunting expedition the day before,
and was jealous of the interest aroused by Chcen-
buk's arrival. Moreover, Cheenbuk was one of the
few men of the tribe whom he disliked, and rather
feared.

" What folly is this that I hear ? " said Aglootook,
as he frowned on the assembly. " Are we to get
up a war-party and put ourselves to all this trouble
for a woman — and a Fire-spouter woman ! "

"It is not a war-party that I want," said

136

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Cheenbuk quietly. " It is a peace-party, and such
a strong one that there will bo no fear of war. I
will conduct it, and, as I know the way, will go by
myself unarmed to the village of the men of the
woods, tell them that I have brought back their
girl, and that a largo party of my people arc
waiting at the mouth of. the river with plenty of
skins and walrus teeth and other things to trade
with them."

" liut does any one think they will believe that ?"
said Aglootook with something of scorn in his
looks and tone. " Will the Fire-spouters not accept
the girl and roast Cheenbuk, and then meet us
with their spouters and kill many of us, even
though wo should beat them at last ? "

"It is my opinion there is something in that,"
remarked Mangivik.

" Besides," continued the magician, " what folly
is it to talk of changing our customs, which have
never been changed since the First Man created
fish and animals ! Are we not satisfied with whales
and walruses, bears and seals, deer and birds ? Is
not our snow igloo as comfortable as the Fire-
spouters' skin tent ? What do we care for their
ornaments or other things ? Wliat does Cheenbuk
know about the Great Maker of all things ? Has
he seen him ? Has ho talked with him ? If there
is such a Maker, did he not place us here, and
surround us with all the things that we need, and

A ROMANCE OF 'I'MK TCK-WOIU.D

137

intend us to remain hero ? Why should we go
and look for better things? If ho had thought
that woods and lakes and rivers had been good for
us, would he not have made these things here for
us, so that we should have no need to go far away
to seek for them — "

"Ay, and if Aglootook is right," interrupted
Cheenbuk in a calm but firm voice, " why should
we go far away to seek the bear, the walrus, and
the seal? Why does Aglootook go hunting at
all ? It the Great Maker thought these things
good for us, would ho not have made them to walk
up to our igloes and ask to be killed and eaten ?
Why should they even do that ? why not walk
straight down our throats and save all trouble ?
Is it not rather quite plain that man was made
with wants and wishes and the power to satisfy
them, and so advance from good to better ? Does
not Aglootook prove by his own conduct that
he thinks so ? He might make life easy by sitting
near his hut and killing for food the little birds
that come about our dwellings, but ho goes on long
hard journeys, and takes much trouble, for he
knows that slices of fat seal and walrus- ribs are
better than httle birds ! "

There was a general laugh at the expense of the
magician, for his mental powers were inferior to
those of Cheenbuk, and he felt himself unable
to see through the entanglement of his logic.

138

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" Boh ! " he ejaculated, with a sweep of his lonpf
arm, as if to clear away such ridiculous arguments.
" What stuff is this that I hear ? Surely Cheenbuk
has been smitten with the folly of the Fire-spoutors.
His words are like a lamp with a very bad wick :
it makes too much smoke, and confuses every-
thing near it,"

" Aglootook is right," said Cheenbuk, who
resolved to end the dispute at this point, " many
words arc like the smoke of a bad lamp: they
confuse, especially when they are not well under-
stood, but the Fire-sjjouters confuse themselves
with real smoke as well as with words. See, here
is one of their things ; the white traders call it a
paip, or piop."

As he spoke he opened the firebag which Adolay
had given him and took out of it the clay pipe,
tobacco, and materials for producing fire. The
medicine-man was instantly forgotten, and the
mouths as well as the eyes of the whole assembly
opened in unspeakable wonder as Cheenbuk
wont through the complex processes of filling and
lighting the pipe. First he cut up some of the
Canada twist, which, he explained, was the tubuk
of the white men. Then having filled the pipe, he
proceeded to strike a light with flint and steel.
In this ho was not very successful at first, not yet
having had much practice. He chipped his
knuckles a good deal, and more than once knocked

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOllLD

139

the flint and tinder out of his fingers. But his
audience was not critical. They regarded this as
part of the performance. When, however, he at
last struck a succession of sparks, he also struck
an equal number of short, sharp expressions of
astonishment out of his friends, and when the
tinder caught there Avas a suppressed grunt of
surprise and pleasure ; but when he put the fire
into the pipe and began to smoke, there burst forth
a prolonged shout of laughter. To see a man
smoking like a bad lamp was a joke that seemed
to tickle those unsophisticated children of the ice
immensely.

"Is it good?" asked one. "Do you like it?"
cried another. "Let me try it !" begged a third.

Mindful of past experiences, Cheenbuk did not
indulge in many whiffs.

"No, no," he said, taking the pipe from his
lips with solemn gravity. "Not every one who
wishes it shall have a taste of this to-day. Only
a great man of our tribe shall try it. Some one
who has done great things above his fellows."

Ho looked pointedly at Aglootook as he spoke,
Avith solemnity on his face but mischief in his
heart.

Oolalik, however, with the reverse of mischief
in his heart, mterfered unwittingly with his
designs. Ho seized hold of Anteek, who chanced
to be near him, and thrust him forward.

140

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"Hero," said ho, "is one of the great ones of
our tribe, at least he will be one if he lives long,
for he has killed a walrus all by himself — on
land too !"'

The boy, although pretty full of what is
known among the civilised as "check," was
almost overwhelmed by this public recognition
of his prowess, and was about to retire with a
half-shy exiiression, when the audience received
the proposal with a burst of applause.

" Yes, yes," they cried ; " he is a bravo boy : let
him try it."

Seeing that they were set upon it, Cheenbuk
handed the pipe to the boy, and bade him draw
the smoke in and puff it out, taking care not to
swallow it.

But Anteek did swallow some at first and
choked a little, to the great amusement of the
assembly. His pride carried him through, how-
ever; he tried again, and was successful. Then
his " cheek " came back and he went on, puffing
out far larger volumes than his instructor had
done.

" You had better stop," said Cheenbuk, reaching
out his hand to take the pipe; but the boy
dodged him with a laugh and went on worse
than ever. Seeing this, Cheenbuk smiled signifi-
cantly and waited. He had not to wait long.
Suddenly the face of Anteek became unusually

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

141

pale. Placing the pipe hurriedly in the hands
of a man near him, he bolted out of the hut and
disappeared.

He was not seen again during the remainder
of that conference !

142

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XIII.

DOINOS IN WARU8KEEK.

While Chcenbuk was thus entrancing the
souls of his friends near the big hut, his mother
and sister were exercising hospitaUty to the
Indian girl in their private residence. It was
rather a dark and smoky residence, with only
one hole in the roof, about eight inches square,
to let in light. If truth must be told, it was also
somewhat dirty, for, besides having only one
large room in which living, cooking, receiving
company, and sleeping were carried on, the dogs
of the family were permitted to repose there —
when they were good ! Anything approaching
to badness ensured their summary and violent
ejection.

Branching from this family room was a little
recess, screened off by skin curtains, which formed
Nootka's private apartment or boudoir. It Avas
singularly unlike the boudoirs of other lands !
Black smoke, instead of whitewash, coloured the
walls and ceiling. No glass hung on the wall

A IIOMANCE OF THE ICE-WORI,D

143

to reflect the visage of the Arctic beauty, but
there were several pegs, from one of which hung
Nootka's sealskin bad- weather jacket, the tadpole-
tail of which reached to the ground, while from
another depended a pair of her long waterproof
boots. One half of the floor being raised about
eight inches, constituted the Eskimo maiden's
couch — also her chair and sofa. There was no
table, but the skull of a walrus did service as a
stooL

To this apartment Nootka introduced her
)'oung Indian friend, leaving her mother in the
outer hall, and the two maidens at once began,
as might have been expected, an earnest and
confidential conversation. In their eagerness
they had not reflected that each knew not one
word of the other's language, but of course the
first sentences opened their eyes to the melan-
choly fact.

They had, indeed, been opened already to some
extent, but not so impressively as now when they
longed for a good talk.

"Come here," said Nootka — of course in
Eskimo — as she dragged rather than led her
new friend into the boudoir ; " I want you to
tell me all about your saving my brother's life."

" I don't understand a word you say," replied
Adolay — of course in Dogrib-Indian — with a look
of great perplexity in her wide-open eyes.

144

THE WALUUS HUNTKRS

" Oh ! I 'm stupid and sorry. I forgot. You
don't speak our language."

" Wliat funny sounds ! It seems like nonsense,"
remarked Adolay — more to herself than to her
friend,

" So curious ! " soliloquised Nootka ; " what one
might expect from a seal if it tried to speak.
Say that over again. I like to hear it."

The perplexity on the face of tho Indian
maid deepened, and she shook her liead, while
tho look of fun in that of the Eskimo maiden
increased, and she smiled knowingly.

Here at last they had hit on common ground
— tapped a universal spring of human communi-
cation. Adolay at once beamed an answering
smile, and displayed all her brilliant teeth in
doing so. This drew a soft laugh of pleasure
from Nootka and an intelligent nod.

Nods and smiles, however, pleasant in their
way though they be, form a very imperfect
means of intercourse betAveon souls which wish
to unite, and the perplexed expression was
begirming again to steal over both their youthful
countenances, when something in the nature of
a happy thought seemed to strike the Indian
girl, for a gleam as of sunlight fltushed from her
eyes and teeth, as she suddenly beat with her
little fist three times on her own bosom, exclaim-
ing, " Adolay ! Adolay ! Adolay ! " with much

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOIM-D

145

cniiiliiisis. Then, pokinj,' her Hiigci* against hur
friend's breast, she added — "You ? you i"

Hero again was "a toucli of nature" which
made these two damsels " kin." Although the
"You? you?" was not intelligible to the Eskimo,
the gaze of inquiry was a familiar tongue. With
a smile of delight she nodded, struck her own
bosom with her fist, and said " Nootka ! Nootka ! "
Then, tapping her friend, she said — " Addi-lay ? "
The Indian, nodding assent, tapped her in return
and exclaimed " Nooot-ko ? "

After this little sparring match they both burst
into a fit of hearty laughter, which roused the
curiosity of Mrs. Mangivik in the outer hall.

" What is the joke ? " shouted the old lady,
who was hospitably preparing a feast of steaks
and ribs for her guest.

" Oh, mother, she is so funny ! — Come, Addi-lay,
let her hear your fun," said the girl, taking her
guest's hand and leading her back to the hall.
" Her name is Addi-lay. I know, for she told me
herself Wo quite understand each other already,
— Speak to mother, Addi-lay. Tell her some-
thing."

"I don't know what you want me to do,
Nooot-ko," returned the Indian girl, with a bright
look, " but I know that whatever you are saying
must be kind, for you 've got such a nice face."

By way of emphasising her opinion she took

146

THE WALIIUH HUNTKUS

the faco between her hiiuds uiul laid her own
against it.

Wo have never been quite sure as to what
Adolay did on this occasion — whether she rubbed
noses or chins or touched lips. All that wo are
sure of is that the operation was ccpiivalcnt to a
kiss, and that it was reciprocated heartily.

" Didn't I tell you, mother, that she was funny ?
I'll explain to you wiiat she said when we are
alone ; but Addi-lay is hungry now, and so am 1.
Let us feed, mother."

Without more ado the trio sat down beside the
cooking lamp and began to do justice to the
savoury viands, the odour of which was .so enticing
that it was too much for the dogs of the family.
These had to be expelled by means of old bones.
Mrs. Mangivik being an expert iiwv with such
artillery, the hall was soon cloi^y J.

After the meal, convo 'um was reaunied, and
conducted witi si. or ease, owing to

the chief B' )«♦ ae Indian girl's

costume, w aborate, for, being

a chief s ler, her t ess was in many respects

beautiful — esj^ocially ohoso portions of it, such as
the leggings and the head-dress ^/hich ore pro-
fusely ornamented »vith coloured bead.s n porcu-
pme-quill work. The examination ot various
parts occupied a considerable time. mode of

ascertaining names had been aheady :iCovered,

A ROMANCE Oh' THE iCE-WOULD

147

and looks of admiration require no translation, so
that the three women were deeply ent^uged in a
most interesting talk when Cheenbuk and his
father entered the hut after the conference.

"Ribs, ribs and shoes! Quick, woman," cried
Manf,'ivik cheerily as ho sat down. " Cheenbuk has
been talking and I have been hstening till wo are
both quite hungry. — That is a pretty girl you have
brought homo with you, my son," said tho old man,
with a staro of approval. " Almost as pretty as
some of our own girls."

" Much prettier, I think," returned tho youth, as
he quietly selected a rib of walrus that seemed
suitable to his capacity.

"Tell your mother how you got hold of her,"
said Mangivik, whoso teeth were next moment
fastened in a steak.

Cheenbuk mado no reply. Eskimo manners
did not require an answer in tho circumstances.
But when he had taken the edge off his appetite —
and it took a good deal of dental grinding to do
that — he looked across at Adolay Avith a genial
expression and began to give his mother and
sister a second, and much more graphic, edition
of tho speech which he had just delivered to
tho men.

Of course tho narration served to strengthen the
bonds of friendship which had already been formed
between the Mangivik family and the Indian girl,

148

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

who had been thus unexpectedly added to their
circle.

That evening Nootka bogged her brother to give
her a lesson in the Dogrib language. On the same
evening, during a moonlight ramble, Adolay asked
him to give her a little instruction in the Eskimo
tongue, and, just before he retire! for the night,
his mother asked him if he intended to take the
Indian girl as one of his wives,

" You know, mother," was Cheenbuk s reply, " I
have always differed from my friends about wives.
I think that one wife is enough for one man;
sometimes too much for him ! 1 also thhik that if
it is fair for a man to choose a woman, it is also
fair for ;,he woman to choose the man. I would
gladly take Adolay for a wife, for she is good as
well as prett}', but I do not know that she would
take me for a husband."

" Have you not asked her, then ? " persisted
Mrs. Man^-ivik.

" No. I have been till now her protector. I can
wait. If she wants to return to her people I have
promised to take her to them."

"But surely my son is not bound to keep a
promise given to one of our fire-spouting enemies ?"

"That may seem right to you, mother, but it
seem.? wrong to me. I do not understand why I
disagree with you, and with most of my people,
but there is something inside of mo which, I think,

VS-E

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

149

is not me. It tells me not to do many things that
I want to do, and sometimes bids mo go forward
when I wish to draw back. What it is I cannot
tell, but I must not disobey it, I will not dis-
obey it."

With this answer the old lady had to be content,
for she could extract nothing more from her son
after that but a smile.

As for old Mangivilc, he asked and said nothing,
but ho thought much.

A few days after Chcenbuk's arrival, it was
arranged by the heads of the village that there
should be a general scattering of ihe tribe for a
great hunt after seals and wild-fowl, as provisions
were not so plentiful as might have been desired.
An expedition of this kind was always hailed with
great glee by Anteek, whoso youth and very
excitable disposition were not easily satisfied with
the prosaic details of village life.

Previous to setting out, however, an event
occurred which was wellnigh attended with
disastrous consequences.

It had been arranged that Chconbuk and his
friends Oolalik and Anteek should keep together
in their kayaks, accompanied by an oomiak to
carry the game. This woman's boat was to be
manned, so to speak, by yoimg Uleeta, Cowlik,
and two other girls. Adolay had been ottered a
place in it, but she preferred going in her o-vn

150

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

bark canoe, with the management of which she
was familiar. Perhaps a touch of national pride
had something to do with this preference of the
Indian craft. Nootka, who had made several
trials of the canoe, Avas judged sufficiently expert
to wield the bow paddle.

While preparations were being made, Adolay
and Nootka went to the bay where the canoe was
lying — a short distance from the village, on the
other side of a high clitf that sheltered the bay
from any breeze that might blow in from the sea.
The light craft was turned bottom up on the beach,
and the two girls carried it down to the water's
edge. Laimching it, Nootka got in first, and
Adolay was preparing to follow when a boyish
shout arrested her, and she saw Anteek come
skimming round the point in his kayak, wielding
his double-bladed paddle with great dexterity and
power. In a few seconds the kayak was alongside
the canoe and the boy stepped out upon the shore.

" Let me try to steer your canoe," he said, point-
ing eagerly to the place where the Indian girl was
about to scat herself.

Although Adolay did not understand the words,
she had no difficulty with the boy's expressive
pantomime. She nodded assent cheerfully.
Anteek took the paddle, stepped into her place,
find the girl pushed them off into deep water.

Delighted with the novelty of their position the

A RO\f ANCE OF THE ICE-WORI-D

151

two paddled away with groat vigour, and wore soon
a considerable distance from the shore. Then it
occurred to Ado! ay that she would have some fun
on her own account, and perhaps give her new friends
a surprise. With this intent she floated the kayak
and pushed it alongside of a flat stone in the water
from which she could step into it. But she found
that stepping into a small round hole in the centre
of a covered craft was not the same as stepping
into her own canoe, and even when, with great care,
she succeeded, she found that her garments ren-
dered oho process of sitting do^vn rather difficult —
not a matter of wonder when we consider that the
kayak is meant only for men.

However, she succeeded at last, and grasping
the paddle pushed off' to sea. But the long paddle
with its blade at each end perplexed her greatly,
and she had not quite overcome the awkwardness
and begun to feel somewhat at ease when .she
chanced to touch on a ledge of rock that croj)pcd
up at that place near to the surface. Fortunately
the rock was quite smooth, else it would have
ripped up the skin with which the vessel was
covered, but the shock and the paddle together
were too much for the inexperienced girl. She
lost her balance, and next moment was in the water
with the canoe bottom up, and she incapable of
extricating hcnself from the hole into which she
had squeezed.

152

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

It happened that Anteck and Nootka had
observed what Adolay was about, and were watch-
ing her with interest, so that before the kayak
had turned fairly over their paddles dipped with
a flash in the water and they rushed to the rescue.
And not a moment too soon, for the poor girl's
power of endurance was almost exhausted when
her friends turned the kayak violently up. This
was well, and Adolay drew a long gasping breath ;
but now the inexperience of the rescuers came
into play, for, being ignorant of the cranky nature
of a birch-bark canoe, they acted without the
necessary caution, the canoe overturned and they
all found themselves in the water. This time
Adolay managed to wriggle out of her position,
but being imable to swim she could only cling
helplessly to the kayak. Nootka, equally helpless,
clung to the canoe. Fortunately Anteek could
swim like a fish, and bravely set to work to push
l)oth crafts towards the shore. But they were a
long way out; the weight of the two girls made
them difficult to push, and, being separate, they
had a tendency to diverge in diUcrcnt directions.

After a few vigorous efforts, the boy, perceiving
the difficulty and the extreme danger of their
position, at once set up a scries of yells that awoke
sympathetic echoes in the neighbourhood; but
he did not for a moment relax his eflbrts to push
his charge towards the shore.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

153

Startled by the sudden outburst of alarming
cries, several men ran along shore in the direction
whence they came. Foremost among these was
the powerful and active Oolalik. On turning the
point and seeing Avhat had occurred he plunged
into the sea and swam like a dolphin to the
rescue. Great was the size of his eyes, and intense
the swelling of his heart, when he saw that Nootka
was one of the swimmers.

"Take care of Addi-lay and the kayak," he
remarked to Anteek as he drew near, " I will look
after Nootka and the canoe."

What Nootka felt on hearing these words we
cannot tell, but any one might have seen that,
despite her impleasant position, there was a pleased
expression on her wet face.

A very few minutes more sufficed to bring them
all safe to land, and no one was a whit the worse,
but as the girls required a complete change of
garments, it was finally decided that the lumting
ex})cdition should bo postponed until the following
day.

154

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XIV.

IN THK WILD- WOODS AGAIN.

While these events were taking place among
the isl.ands of the Arctic sea, the Indian chief
Nazinred was slowly pushing his canoe southward
in the direction of Great Bear Lake. He was ac-
companied, as we have said, by three like-minded
comrades, one of whom was named Mozwa — or
Moose-dccr — from some fancied resemblance in
him to that uncouth animal.

But Mozwa, although uncouth, was by no means
ungenial. On the contrary, he was a hearty good-
natured fellow, who always tried to make the best
of things, and never gave Avay to despondency,
however gloomy or desperate might be the nature
of his circumstances. Moreover, he was a big
strong man, full of courage, in the prime of life,
and modest withal, so that he was usually rather
inclined to take than to give advice — to be led,
rather than to load.

For hours together these men dipped their
paddles over the side in concert, without uttering
a single word, or giving more than a slight ex-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

155

clamation when anything worthy of notice attracted
their attention. The interchange of thought
during the labours of the day did not seem to
strike them as necessary. The mere being in
company of each other was a sufficient bond of
symimtliy, until an encampment was reached each
evening, supper disposed of, and the tobacco-pipes
in full blast. Then, at last, their native reserve
gave way, and they ventured to indulge a little —
sometimes a good deal — in the feast of reason and
the flow of soul.

Yet the nature of their voyage was such that
white men might have deemed verbal intercourse
an occasional necessity, as their route lay through
much rugged and wild scenery, where the streams
up which they had to force their way were in
some places obstructed by rapids and shallows,
and a mistake on their part might have brought
sudden disaster and ruin. For their canoe was
deeply laden with the furs which they had
secured during the labours of the past winter,
and on the sale of which to the fur-traders
depended much of their and their families' felicity
or misery during the winter which was to come.
But the steersman and bow-man understood their
work so well, and were so absolutely in accord,
that the slightest action with the paddle on the
part of either was understood and sympathetically
Tnet by the other.

156

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

This unity of action is much :noro important
than the navigators of lakes and oceans may
suppose. In those almost currentless waters a
steersman in any craft is usually self-sufficient,
but among turbulent rapids, where rocks and
shoals lie in all directions, and the deep-water
track is tortuous, Avith, it may bo, abrupt turnings
here and there, a bow-man is absolutely essential,
and sometimes, indccl, may become the more
important steersman of the two.

One evening, long after the period when they
left their native encampment, the friends paddled
their little vessel into the backwater at the foot
of a long rapid which roared in foaming white
billows right ahead of them, oflFcring what seemed
an effectual barrier to their further progress — at
least by water — and as the sides of the gorge
through which the river rushed were almost per-
pendicular, without margin and with impenetrable
bush everywhere, advance by land seemed equally
blocked.

Looking backward, Mozwa gave his friend an
interrogative glance. Nazinred replied with an
affirmative nod, and, all four dipping their paddles
vigorously at the same moment, they shot out into
the stream. Almost before the canoe was caught
by the current it swung quickly into another eddy,
which carried it up a few yards close under the
frowning cliffs. Here again the Indians paused,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

157

and gazed earnestly at the Ibaining torrent
ahead, which, to an unpractised eye, might have
seemed a raging flood, to enter which would ensure
destruction.

And indeed the two guides seemed to entertain
some such thoughts, for they continued to gaze
for a considerable time in silent inaction. Then
the bow-man threw back another glance; the
steersman rei^lied with another nod, and again
the canoe shot out into the stream.

This time the struggle was more severe. A
short distance above the point where they entered
it, a largo rock reared its black head in mid-stream.
Below it there was the usual long stretch of back-
water. To reach the tail of this stretch was the
object of the men, but the mtervening rush was
so powerful that it swept them do^vn like a cork,
so that they almost missed it despite their utmost
efforts.

" Almost," however, is a hopeful phrase. They
were not quite beyond the influence of the eddy
when they reached the end of the tail. A super-
human effort might yet save them from being
swept back to the point far below that from which
they had started. Mozwa was just the man to
make such an effort. Nazinred and the others
were pre-eminently the men to back him up.

" Ho ! " cried Mozwa.

" Hoi ! " shouted Nazinred, as they bent their

158

TUE WALRUS HUNTERS

backs and cracked tlioir sinews, and made the big
veins stand up on their necks and foreheads,

A tew seconds more and the canoo was floating
under the shelter of the black-headed rock, and
the Indians rested while they surveyed the battle-
ground yet before them.

The next reach carried them right across the
river to a place where a long bend produced a
considerable sweep of eddying water, up which
they paddled easily. Above this, one or two short
bursts into the tails caused by nearly sunken
rocks brought them to a point full half-way up
the rapid. But noAv greater caution was needed,
because anything like a miss would send them
downward, and might hurl them with destructive
force against the rocks and ledges which they had
already passed. A birch-bark canoo is an ex-,
ceedingly tender craft, which is not only certain
of destruction if it strikes a rock, but is pretty
sure of being swamped if it even grazes one.

With the utmost care, therefore, and consum-
mate skill, they succeeded in pushing up
the rapid, inch by inch, without mishap, until
they reached the last shoot, when their skill or
good fortune, or whatever it was, failed them, for
they missed the last eddy, were swept downwards
a few yards, and just touched a rock. It was
a very slight touch. A boatman would have
smiled at it ; nevertheless it drew from the Indians

A UOMANCK OF THE ICE-WOULD

159

"ho's!" iind "hoi's!" such as they had not given
vent to since the voyage began. At the same
time they rushed the canoe, with all their strength,
for the nearest point ul" land.

They were scarcely a minute in reaching it, yet
in that brief space of tinio their craft had almost
sunk, a large piece of the bark having been torn
from its side.

The instant they touched land the two leaders
stepped quickly out, and, while they held the
craft close to the bank, their comrades threw out
the bundles of fur as fast as possil)lo. Then the
canoe was turned over to empty it, and carried up
the bank.

"That is good luck," said Mozwa quietly, as
they stood looking at the large hole in the canoe.

"I have seen better luck," remarked Nazinred,
with something that might almost have been
mistaken for a smile on his grave countenance.

Mozwa did not explain. Nazinred knew that
the luck referred to was the fact that before the
accident occurred they had surmounted all the
difficulties of the rapid, and that the place on
which they stood was convenient for camping on,
as well as for opening out and drying the furs on
the following day. And Mozwa kncAv that Naz-
mred knew all that.

While the latter kindled a fire, arranged the
camp, and prepared supper under a spreading tree,

160

THE WALRUS HUN'rEllS

the former mended the canoe. The process was
simple, and soon eomi)leLod. I'rom a roll of birch
bark, always carried in canoes for snch emergencies,
Mo>5wa cut oil' a piece a little lar<,'er than the hole
it was designed to patch. With this ho covered
the injured place, and sewed it to tho canoe, using
an awl as a needle and tho split roots of a trco as
thread. Thereafter ho plastered tho seams over
with gum to make them water-tight, and the
whole job was finished by the time tho other men
had got supper ready.

Indians are in the habit of eating supper in
what may bo styled a business-like manner — they
" mean business," to use a familiar phrase, when
they sit down to that meal. Indeed, most savages
do; it is only civilised dyspeptics who don't.
When the seriousness of tho business began to
wear of!', tho idea of mental effort and lingual
connnumication occurred to the friends. Hitherto
their eyes alone had spoken, and these expressive
orbs had testified, as plainly as could tho tongue,
to tho intense gratification they derived from
the possession of good appetites and plenty of
food

" I thinl-.," said Mozwa, wiping his mouth with
that fturiiUar handkerchief — the back of his
hand— "that there will be trouble in the camp
before long, for when you are away that beast
Magadar has too much power. He will try

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

161

to nmko our young uion go with hiui to fight the
Eskimos ! "

It must not bo supposed that the Indian applied
tho word " beast" to Magadar in that oLjectionablo
and slangy way in which it is used among our-
selves. Indians happily havo no slang. They are
not civilised enough for that. Mozwa merely
meant to express his opinion that AFagadar's
nature was more allied to that of tho lower than
of tho higher animals.

" Yes, and Alizay will encourage him," returned
Nazinrcd, with a frown. " The man is well
named."

This remark about tho name had reference to
the word Alizay, which means gunpowder, and
which had been given to the Indian in his boyhood
because of his fiery and quarrelsome disposition.

" The geeso and tho ducks are in plenty just
now," continued Nazinred; "I hope that ho and
Magadar will bo more taken up with filling their
mouths than fighting till I return — and then I
can hinder them."

"H'm!" responded Mozwa. Ho might have
said more, but was busy lighting his pipe at the
moment. Nazinred made no further remark at
tho time, for he was in tho full enjoyment of the
first voluminous exhalation of the weed.

After a few minutes the chief resumed —

" Our old chief is full of the right spirit. He is

162

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

losing power with the young men, but I think he
can still guide them. I will hope so, and wo will
retu: n as soon as we can."

Poor Nazinred ! If ho had known that his only
and beloved daughter, even while he spoiio, was
on her way to the mysterious icy sea in company
with one of the despised Eskimos — driven away
by the violence of the fire-eaters of the camp — he
would not have smoked or spoken so calmly.
But, fortunately for his own peace of mind, he did
not know — he did not dream of the possibility of
such a catastrophe; and even if he had known
and returned homo at full tipccd, he would have
been too late to prevent the evil.

For a long time these Indian!> lay side by side
on their outspread blankets, with their feet to the
fire, gazing through the branches at the stars, and
puffing away in profound silence, but probably
d<.ep thought. At least a sudden exclamation by
Mozwa warrants that conclusion.

" You tiunk," ho said, " that our old chief has
the right spirit. How do you know what is the
right spirit? Alizay and Magadar, and many of
our braves — especially the young ones — think that
a fiery spirit, that flares tip like powder, and is
always ready to light, is the right one. You and
our old chief think that gentleness and forbear-
ance and unwillingness to fight till you cannot
help it is the right spirit. How do you know

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

163

which is right? You and the war-lovers cannot
both bo rij,^ht ! "

There was an expression of great perplexity on
the Indian's face as he uttered the last sentence.

" My son," replied Nazinred, who, although not
much older than his companion, assumed the
parental role in virtue of his chieftainship, " how
do you know that you are alive ? "

This was such an unexpected answer that
Mozwa gazed fixedly upwards for a few minutes
without making any reply.

" I know it," he said at length, " because I — I —
know it. I — I fed it."

" How do you know," continued the chief, with
perplexing pertinacity, "that the sun is not the
moon ? "

Again Mozwa became astronomically meditative.

" Because I see it and feel it," he replied. " The
sun is brighter and warmer. It cheers mo more
than the moon, and gives jne more light, and
warms me. It Avarms the bushes and flowers too,
and makes them grow, and it draws the beasts out
of their holes. Even a rabbit knows the difference
between the sun and the moon."

"My son," returned Nazinred, "I have not lived
A'cry long yet, but I have lived long enough to
see, and feel, and know that the kind spirit is the
righ*^. spirit, because it warms the heart, and opens
the eyes, and gives light, and it is the only spirit

164

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

that can make friends of foes. Is it not better to
live at peace and in goodwill with all men than
to live as enemies ? "

" Ho ! " responded Mozwa, by way of assent,

"Then the peaceful spirit is the right one,"
rejoined the chief, with a long-drawn sigh that
indicated a tendency to close the discussion.

As Mozwa felt himself to be in a somewhat con-
fused mental condition, he echoed the sigh, laid
down his pipe, drew his blanket round him, and,
without the formality of " Good-night," resigned
himself to repose.

Nazinred, after taking' a look at the weather,
pondering, perchance, on the probabilities of the
morrow, and throwing a fresh log on the fire, also
wrapped his blanket round him and lost himself
in slumber.

A ROMANCE OP THE lCE-nORLt>

165

CHAPTER XV.

WILD DOINGS OF THK FUR-TRADKRS AND RED MEN.

In course of time, after many a hard struggle
with rushing rapids and not a few narrow escapes
from dangerous rocks, the Indian voyagers swept
out at last upon the broad bosom of Great Bear
Lake.

This mighty inland sea of fresh water — about
two himdred miles in diameter, and big enough to
engulf the greater part of Scotland — was, at the
time wo write of, and still is, far beyond the out-
most verge of civilisation, in the remotest iolitudes
of the Great Lone Land.

Here the fur-traders had established a small
trading post close to the shores of the lake. It
was in charge of a Scotchman — we had almost
said of course ; for it would seem as if these hardy
dwellers in the north of our island have a special
gift for penetrating into and inhabiting the wildest
and most unlikely parts of the world. His name
was MacSweenio, and ho had a few Orkneymen
and half-castes to keep him company while vege-

tating there.

166

The walrtjs hunters

It was a sort of event, a mild excitement, a pink-
ifnot a red-letter day, when our Indians arrived
at that lonely outpost, and RIacSweenie, who was
in the prime of life and the depths of ennui, gave
the strangers a hearty and warm reception.

Nazinred had been there before, and was able
somewhat to subdue his feelings of admiration
and not-quite-cxhausted surprise at all the wonder-
ful thin^'js he saw ; but to the others it was com-
parativel}' new, and Mozwa had never been a^ a
trading-post in his life. Being a sympathetic
man, he found it difficult to retain at all times
that solemnity of manner and look which he
knew was expected of him. The chief, who was
also sjma pathetic, experienced deep pleasure in
watching his companion's face, and observing the
efforts he made to appear indifferent, knowing, as
he did, from former experience, that he must in
reality be full of surprise and curiosity.

And, truly, in the store of the fur- traders there
was a disj^lay of wealth which, to unaccustomed
Indian eyes, must have seemed almost fabulous.
For were there not in thip enchanted castle bales
of bright blue cloth, and bright scarlet cl(ith, and
various other kinds of cloth sufficient to clothe
the entire Dogrib nation ? Were there not guns
enough — cheap flint-lock, blue-barrelled ones —
to make all the Eskimos in the polar regions look
blue with envy, if not with fear ? Were there not

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

167

bright beads and brass rings, and other baubles, and
coloured silk thread, enough to make the hearts of
all the Dogrib squaws to dance with joy ? Were
there not axes, aiid tomahawks, and scalping-knivcs
enough to make the lingers of the braves to itch
for war ? Were there not hooks and lines enough to
capture all the fish in Great Bear Lake, and " nests "
of copper kettles enough to boil them all at one
tremendous culinary operation? And was there
not gunpowder enough to blow the fort and all
its contents into unrecognisable atoms ?

Yes, there was enough in that store fully to
account for the look (»!' awe-stricken wonder which
overspread the visage of Mozwa, and for the re-
strained tendency to laughter which taxed the
solenjn Nazinred considerably.

" "V ou are fery welcome,"' said MacSwcenie, as
he ushered tlic chief and Mozwa into the store the
day after their arrival. " We hev not seen one o'
your people for i any a day ; an' it 's thinking I
wa; 3 that you would be forgettin' us altogether.
Tell them that, Tonal'. "

Tonal' (or Donald) Mowat was MacSwoenie's
intfirpreter and factotum. He was a man of middle
age and middle height, but by no mc-ns middle
ca})acity. Having left his native hoaie in Orkney
while yet a youth, he had spent the greater part
of his life in the "Nor'-W'.rft," and had proved
himself to bo one of those quick learners anl

168

THE WALRUS HUNTEUS

generally handy follows, who, because of their
aptitude to pick up many trades, aro too com-
monly supposed to be masters of none. Mowat,
besides being a first-rate blacksmith, had picked
up the Indian language, after a fashion, from the
Crees, and French of a kind from the Canadian
half-castes, and even a smattering of Gaelic from
the few Scotch Highlanders in the service. He
could use the axe as well as forge it, and, in short,
could turn his hand to almost anything. Among
other things, he could play splendidly on the
violin — an instrument which he styled a fiddle,
and which MacSwccnie called a "fuddle." His
repertoire was neither extensive nor select. If you
had asked for something of Beethoven or Mozart
he would have opened his eyes, perhaps also his
mouth. But at a strathspey or the Reel o' Tulloch
he was almost equal to Neil Gow himself — so ad-
mirable were his tune and time. In a lonesome
land, Avhere anuisements are few and the nights
long, the power to " fuddle " counts for nuich.

Besides being MacSweenic's interpreter, Donald
was also his storekeeper.

" Give them both a quid, Tonal', to begin with,"
said MacS weenie. " It iss always politic to keep
Indians in good humour."

Donald cut oft" two long pieces of Canada twist
and handed it to them. He cut them from a
roll, which was large enough, in the estimation of

A UOMANCE OK THE ICE-WOULt)

169

Mozwa, to liist a reasonable smoker to the crack of
(loom. Tlicy received the gift with an expression
of approval. It would have been beneath their
dignity to have allowed elation or gratitude to
appear in their manner.

"Solemn humbugs!" thought the trader, — "ye
know that you 're as pleased as Punch," but he
was careful to conceal his thoughts. "Now, then,
let us hcv a look at the furs."

It took the trader and his assistant some time to
examine the furs and put a price on them. The
Indians had no resource but to accept their dictum
on the point, for there Avere no rival markets there.
Moreover, the value being fixed according to a
regular and well-understood tariff, and the trader
being the servant of a Company with a fixed
salary, there was no temptation to unfair action
on his part. When the valuation was completed
a number of goose-quills were handed to the
Indians — each quill representing a sum of about
two shillings — whereby each man had a fair
notion of the extent of his fortune.

" What iss ic voi; will bo wanting now ? " said
the trader, addressing himself to Nazinrod with
the air of a man whoso powers of production are
illimitable.

But the chief did not reply for some time. It
was not every day that he went shopping, and he
was not to be hurried. His own personal wants

170

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

had to bo considered with relation to the pile of
quill-wealth at his elbow, and, what was of far
greater importance and difficulty to a kind man,
the wants of his squaw and Adolay had also to
be thought of. Mozwa, having loft a squaw, two
little daughters, and a very small son, had still
greater dif^cultics to contend with. But they
both faced them like men.

" Pasgissegan," said both men, at length, simul-
taneously.

" I thought so," observed the trader, with a smile,
as he selected two trade-guns — the fire-spouters of
the Eskimo — and handed them across the counter.

The Indians received the weapons with almost
tender care ; examined them carefully ; took long
and steady aim at the windows several times;
snapped the flints to make sure that the steels
were good, and, generally, inspected every detail
connected with them. Being satisfied, they rested
them against the wall, the trader withdrew tho
price of the guns from the two little piles, threw
the quills into an empty box under the counter,
and looked — if he did not say, " What next ? "

Powder, shot, and ball came next, and then
the means of hunting and self-defence having
been secured, beads and scarlet cloth for the
women claimed their attention. It was an
interesting sight to see these tall, dark-skinned
sons of the forest handling the cloth and fingering

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

171

the various articles with all the gravity and de-
liberation of experts, with now and then a low-
toned comment, or a quiet question as to the price.

" You '11 want that," suggested Mowat, as he
threw a small thick blanket — quite a miniature
blanket — towards Mozwa, "your small boy will
want it,"

" Ho ! " exclaimed the Indian, with a look of
surprise in spite of himself, " how do you know ? "

"I didn't know. I only guessed; but your
question shows me I 'in right. Any more ? "

" Yes, two more, but bigger."

" Of course bigger, for it 's not likely they were
all born at the same time," returned Mowat, with
a grin.

"What iss this man wantin', Tonal'? I can't
make him out at all," asked MacSwcjnic.

It was found that Nazinrcd had been pointing
with eager pertinacity at something lying on one
of the shelves which had caught his eye, but the
name of which he did not know.

" Oh ! I see," added the trader, " it iss a cocktail
feather you want."

" Yes, for my daughter," exclaimed the Indian
as he received the feather and regarded it with
some uncertainty — as well he might, for the
feather in question was a thing of brilliant scarlet
made up of many feathers, — rigid and over a foot
in height.

172

The waluos huntf.hs

" It 's not a good plaything for a child," remarked
Mowat.

" My daughter is not a child — she is a woman."

"Wow, man," said MacSwccnio, " tell him that
feather i.s not for a woman. It iss for a man."

The Indian, however, needed no explanation.
That which had captivated him at a distance lost
its attraction on closer examination. He rejected
it with quiet indillercnco, and turned his eyes to
something not less attractive, but more useful — a
a web of brilliant light-blue cloth. He was very
fond of Adolay,. rmd had made up his mind to
take back to her a gift which she would be
certain to like. Indeed, to make sure of this, ho
determined to take to her a variety of presents,
so that among tlicm all she would bo sure to find
something to her taste.

In this way the Indians spent several days at
the " fort " of the traders on Great Bear Lake, and
then prepared to return homo with a canoe-load
of goods instead of furs.

Before leaving, however, they had a specimen of
one of the ways in which fur-traders in those
lonely regions of the far north enjoy themselves.
The whole establishment consisted of the ofilcer
in charge— MacS weenie —his interpreter Donald
Mowat, and seven men — two of whom wore French
Canadians, two half-castes, and three Orkneymen.
There were also three women, two being wives of

A HOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

173

the men from Orkney, and one the wife of one of
the half-castes.

The greater part of the day previous to that on
which they were to set out on the return voyage,
Nazinred and Mozwa spent in testing the quality
of their new guns in company with MacS weenie,
who took his faithful Donald Mowat with him,
partly to assist in carrying the game, and partly
for interpreting purposes. And a superb testing-
ground it was, for the swampy spots and mud flats
were alive with wild-fowl of all kinds, from the lively
sandpiper to the great Canada grey goose, while
the air was vocal with their whistling wings and
trumpet cries, so that, whether they walked among
the shrubs and sedges, or sat in ambush on the
rocky points, ample opportunity was afforded to
test the weapons as well as the skill of the owners.

The beginning of the day, however, was not
quite satisfactory. They had scarcely proceeded
more than a few hundred yards from the fort
when a flock of ducks was observed flying low and
straight towards them.

"Down, man, quick!" exclaimed MacS weenie,
crouching behind a large bush. " You will get a
goot ciiance, and the gun will kill if ye point
straight, for the trade-guns are fery goot, the most
of — wow ! "

The sudden end of his remark was caused by
Nazinred tiring, and thereafter rising with the

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174

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

shattered fragments of the gun in his hand, and
a Httle blood trickling from one of his fingers,
while an expression of stern perplexity overspread
his visage.

"Well, now, that iss most extraordinary," said
the trader, examining the weapon. "I hev not
seen such a thing for years. To be sure, they are
cheap and made of cast-iron, but they seldom
burst like that, an' they usually shoot straight,
whatever ! — Tell him, Tonal', that he need not
concern himself, for I will give him another."

On this being translated, Nazinred seemed
content, and began to examine his hurt, which by
good fortune was a slight one.

" It might have been worse," remarked Mowat
gravely ; " I 've seen many a man in this country
with a short allowance of finger-joints from the
same cause."

" What you observe is fery true, Tonal'," said
the trader, with a serious air, "it might have
been worse. There was a bit of the barrel Avent
past my head that fery nearly put me on a short
allowance of life. But come with nio to the store
an' we will choose a better one."

Half an hour sufficed to select another fowling-
piece, which stood all the tests to which it was
subjected, and as evening was about to close in
the whole party returned well laden with game,
and thorouglily pleased with the weapons.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

175

Meanwhile the men of the estabhshment had
been variously employed, cutting and hauling
firewood, attending the nets, etc., while the women
had been busy making moccasins and mending
garments. The cook — an Orkney man — had
made extensive preparations for a feast, but this
was a secret between him and MacSweenie; the
latter being fond of occasionally giving his people
a surprise-treat.

It was not indeed easy to surprise them at
that time with unusually good food, for the land
was swarming with spring life, and they daily
enjoyed the fiit of it. 13ut there were some little
delicacies which were not to bo had every day in
the Avilderness of the far north. Among them
was a round object about the shape, size, and
consistency of a large cannon ball, which was
tied up in a cloth and seemed to require an
hnmenso amount of boiling. The smell of this
was delicious, and, when ultimately turned out
of its cloth it presented a Avhitoy -brown mottled
appearance which was highly suggestive.

The cook also had a peculiar talent for making
cakes, which no Nor'- Wester could imitate, but
which any Nor'- Wester in the land could eat.
There were other trifles which it would take too
long to menti<-)n, and large pots of tea which it
would not take very long to drink. That was all
the drink they had, happily, for strong young

176

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

people with high spirits do not require strong
spirits to keep their spirits up !

After the feast, the tables and chairs were
cleared away from the central, or reception, hall
of the fort, and preparations were made for spend-
ing a harmonious evening ; for, you see, stout
people, in the prime of life, who have not
damaged themselves with strong drink, find it
difficult to exhaust their energies by means of an
ordinary day's work.

" Now, Tonal'," said MacSweenie, " get out your
fuddle an' strike up."

"The ladies have not finished their tea yet,
sir," replied the interpreter.

"Nefer mind that. Just let them hear the
strains of Lord Macdonald's Keel, an' you '11 make
them chump whether they will or no."

Thus encouraged, Mowat began, and sure enough
there was something so inspiriting in the tuneful
tones, the vigorously indicated time, and the
lively air, that the excited Highlander gave a
whoop that throw Indian war-cries quite into
the shade, seized one of the " ladies " by an arm
and unceremoniously led her to the middle of
the floor. The cook, who was used to his master's
ways, led out one of the other ladies in a similar
free-and-easy manner, and soon two couples
were thundering on the boards in all the glorious
abandon of a Scotch reel.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

177

They danced nothing but Scotch reels, for the
good reason that none of them could dance any-
thing else. Indeed, none of them, except Mac-
S weenie, could dance even these in correct
fashion; but the reel, like the Scotch character,
is adaptable. It lends itself to circumstances,
if we may say so, and admits of the absolutely
ignorant being pushed, trundled, shoved or kicked
through at least a semblance of it, which to the
operators is almost as good as the reality.

Nazinrcd and Mozwa had never seen anything
of the kind before, or heard the strains of a
"fuddle." It may well be imagined, therefore,
what was the condition of their minds. Native
reticence stood them in good stead for a consider-
able time, though, in spite of it, their eyes opened
to an extent that was unusual; but as the fun
became faster and more furious, their grave
features relaxed, their mouths expanded, their
teeth began to show, and they looked at each
other with the intent, probably, of saying "We
never even dreamed of such things." But that
look ^vrought a transformation, for when each
beheld the other's grin of unwonted levity he
burst into a short laugh, then, becoming ashamed
of themselves, they suddenly resumed their ex-
pressions of owlish gravity, froLi which they
could not again be driven until a late period of
the evening.

178

THE WALRUS IIUNTEIIS

Frequent slices of the mottled cannon ball,
however, and unlimited mugs of highly-sugared
tea, had the effect of thawing them down a little,
but nothing could induce them to dance.

Next morning they were up by daybreak and
ready to start for the farther north.

"Now mind," said MacSweenio, through his
interpreter, " don't you be fechtin' wi' the
Eskimos. Dance wi' them if ye will, but don't
fecht. Better try an' trade wi' them. An' be
sure ye bring some more o' your people wi' you
the next time you come here. We'll be gled
to see you. The more the merrier."

How Donald Mowat translated these words we
cannot tell. Perhaps he added to them a few
sentiments of his own. However that may be,
it is certain that the Indians bade their enter-
tainers farewell with feelings of hearty good-will,
and, leaving the lonely outpost behind them,
set off on the return journey to their wilderness
home.

■

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

179

CHAPTER XVI.

SORROWS AND SINS, AND A BOLD ADVENTURE,

It was autumn before Nazinred and Mozwa
drew near to their village. They took things
leisurely on the return voyage, for, as Indians
have little else to do besides hunt, trap, fish, eat,
and sleep, they have no particular inducement to
hurry their movements.

It is true that, being affectionate men, they
were naturally anxious to rejoin their families, but
being also steady-going, with considerable powers
of self-denial, they were good men-of-businese,
from a savage point of view, and gave leisurely
attention to the duties in hand.

On arriving at the outskirts of their village,
they were surprised to see that one or two children
who were playing among the bushes, and who
could not have failed to see them, slunk away
as if to avoid a meeting. Whatever anxiety the
men might have felt, their bronzed and stern
countenances betrayed no sign whatever. Land-
ing near the old chief's hut they drew up their

180

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

canoe and Nazinrcd and Mozwa went to announce
their arrival. It was contrary to Indian etiquette
to betray excitement, or to ask hasty questions.
They sakitcd the old man, handed him a plug of
tobacco, and sat down to smoke, and it was not
till some time had elapsed that Nazinred calmly
asked if Isquay was well.

" Isaquay is well," replied the old chief, and a
barely perceptible sigh of relief escaped Nazin-
red.

Then Mozwa asked about his wife and received
a satisfactory answer. Still, it was obvious to both
men, from the old chief's manner, that there was
something wrong.

" Adolay "... said the old man, and stopped.

" Dead ? " asked Nazinred, Avith a look of alarm
that he did not attempt to conceal.

" No, not dead — but gone away," he replied, and
then related in detail the circumstances of the
girl's disappearance. It nuist have been a terrible
blow to the poor father, all the more that he was
ignorant at the time of the girl's motive for
forsaking her home. But no vestige of feeling
did he betray, save a slight contraction of his
brows and a nervous play of his fingers about the
handle of his scalping-knife. When the recital
was ended he made no reply, but, rising slowly,
left the hut and wont to his own home.

We will not follow him thither : there are

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

181

some home-comings which are better left unde-
scribed.

But next day Nazinrcd relaunched his canoe,
and, with a small quantity of provisions and a
large supply of ammunition, set off alone for the
shores of the Arctic Sea. What he told his wife
is not known, but he gave no explanation what-
ever to any of his comrades as to his intentions.

Arrived at the coast, however, his further advance
was rendered impossible by a sharp frost which
created the first thin crust that was ultimately
destined to turn the sea into thick ice. As even
the thinnest coat of ice would be certain destruc-
tion to birch bark, the canoe, he was well aware,
was now useless. He therefore returned home, and
quietly engaged in the ordinary hunting and fish-
ing occupation of his tribe, but from that date ho
sank into a state of silent despair, from which
his most intimate companions failed to rouse him.
Not that ho gave expression to his feelings by
word or look. It was long-continued silence and
want of interest in anything that told of the
sorrow that crushed him. It is probable that the
fact of Adolay being capable of forsaking her
parents in such a way tended to increase the grief
occasioned by her loss. But he spoke of his
feelings to no one — not even to his wife.

Mozwa, who was very fond of his friend, and
pitied him sincerely, made no attempt to comfort

182

THE WALRUS HUNTEUS

him, for he knew the nature of the man too well
to think that by any words he could assuage his
sorrow.

All the fine things that Nazinred had brought
home, and with which ho had hoped to rejoice
the hearts of his wife and child, were utterly
neglected. He let Isquay do what she pleased
with them. The only thing that seemed to com-
fort him was the tobacco, for that, he found, when
smoked to excess, blunted the edge of his feelings.
He therefore gave himself up to the unlimited use
of this sedative, and would no doubt have become,
like many others, a willing slave to the pipe, but
for the fortunate circumstance that the supply of
tobacco was limited. As the autumn advanced,
the diminishing quantity warned him to restrain
himself. He eked it out by mixing with it a kind
of leaf much used by Indians for this purpose,
but which, by itself, was not considered worth
smoking. Even with this aid, however, he was
compelled to curtail the indulgence; then the
weed failed altogether, and he was finally induced
to engage in philosophical meditations as to the
folly of creating a needless desire which could not
be gratified. The unsatisfied craving, coupled
Avith the injury to his health, added considerably
to the grief with which he was already oppressed.
He had a powerful constitution, however. The
enforced abstinence soon began to tell in his

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

183

favour, and he actually had the courage, not to
say Avisdom, to refuse occasional pipes offered
him by Mozwa when he chanced to visit his
friend.

As that friend had not the loss of an only child
to mourn, but, on the contrary, was called upon to
rejoice in the addition of a new baby, the fine
things that he had brought home were the cause
of great satisfaction to his family. But alas!
Mozwa, although almost perfect, for a savage, had
one fault — one besetting sin and moral disease — '
he gambled !

We almost hear the exclamation of surprise, if
not doubt, Avith which our reader receives this
information. Yes; North American Indians are
gamblers ; many of them are confirmed gamblers.
They do not indeed affect anything so intellectual
as chess or so skilful as billiards, but they have a
game to the full as intellectual and scientific as
that rouge et noir of Monaco with which highly
cultivated people contrive to rob each other by
mutual consent, and without being ashamed!
Their game is not unknown to the juveniles of
our own land. It goes by the name " odd-or-
even."

The manner of conducting the game varies a
little here and there in its details, but its principle
is the same everywhere : " I want your possessions,
and get them 1 will, by hook or crook ! I couldn't

184

THE WALRUS I1UNTER3

think of robbing you — no ; tlicro might bo jail
or penal survitiulo on the back of that ; and I won't
accept your gifts — good gracious, no ! that would
involve the loss of self-respect. No, no. Let us
humbug each other. I will rob you if I can, and
you will rob me if you can, and wo '11 nmtually
agree to throw dust in each other's eyes and call it
'play' ! Nothing, surely, could be fairer than that !"

Of course poor Mozwa did not reason thus. Ho
was not cultured enough for that. In fact, ho did
not reason at all about the matter, as far as we
know, but there can be no cpiestion that the poor
fellow was smitten with the disease of covetous-
ness, and instead of seeking for a euro, like a manly
savage, ho adopted the too civilised plan of en-
couraging and excusing it.

Aware of his propensities, Mrs. Mozwa was
much too knowing to allow the goods and trinkets
destined for herself and family to remain in his
power. She at onco appropriated them, and
secreted such of them as sho did not require for
present use. But there were articles which she
could not well treat in that way with any shadow
of excuse: for instance, the gun, powder and
shot, bows and arrows, tobacco and pipes, hatchets
and scalping-knives, blankets and masculine gar-
ments, which were in daily use. These were
frequently lost and re-won before winter had
fairly begun, but Mozwa was too fond of the ex-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

185

citomont of gambling to imiko desperate ventures
all at once. Ho liked to spin it out.

One night ho had what is styled a " run of bad
luck." Being in something of a reckless mood, ho
went to visit a young friend who was as fond of
gambling as himself, and took most of his worldly
possessions with him. Tho friend, with a number
of companions, was seated beside tho wigwam firo,
and quite ready to begin.

Taking a button, or somo such object, in his
hand, and putting both hands behind his back,
tho friend began to bob his head and shoulders
up and down in an idiotic fashion, at the same
time chanting in a sing-song monotone, " Ho yo,
yo ho, hi ya yoho ! " for a consitterablo length of
time, while Mo/wa staked his blanket, a fine thick
green one, purchased at Great Bear Lake. We
forgot tho friend's stake, but it was probably
supposed to bo an equivalent.

Suddenly tho yo-ho'ing ceased, both hands,
tightly closed, were brought to tho front, and the
whole party gazed at Mozwa with intense expecta-
tion. Ho was not long in making up his mind.
Ho pointed to tho left hand. It wios opened, and
found to bo empty ! Tho blanket was lost. Back
went tho hands again, and tho "yo-ho'ing" was
continued. Tho now gun was tho next stake. It
also was lost ; and thus the game was carried on
far into tho night, with smaller stakes, until Mozwa

186

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

had lost almost all that he had brought with him
— gun, blanket, pipes, tobacco, flint and stcol, firo-
bag, and even his coat, so that he walked home a
half-naked and nearly ruined man !

But ruin in the wilderness of North America
is not usually so thorough as it often is in civilised
lands, owing partly to the happy circumstance
that strong drink does not come into play and
complete the moral destruction, as well as the
physical, which gambling had begun. The char-
acter therefore, although deteriorated, is not socially
lost. The nature of property, also, and the means
of acquiring it, render recovery more easy.

When Mozwa returned home minus his new
blanket and the beautiful deerskin coat which his
wife had made and richly ornamented for him with
her own brown hands while he was away, he found
his old coat and his old blanket ready for him.
The old gun, too, was available still, so that he
was not altogether disabled from attending to the
duties of the chase, and in a short time afterwards,
" luck " being in his favour, he had won back some
of his lost posscsriions. But ho was too often in
that fluctuating state of alternating excitement and
depression which is the invariable accompaniment,
in a greater or less degree, of the gambler's sin,
whether carried on in the depths of the Arctic
wilderness, the well-named " hells " of London, or
the gilded salons of Monaco.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

187

" You are a fool," said Nazinrcd one day to his
friend — for even among savages there are plain-
spoken familiar friends gifted with common sense
enough to recognise folly, and spiritual honesty to
point it out and warn against it.

" Why does my brother say so ? " asked Mozwa,
who was not in the least offended by the observa-
tion.

" Because you gain nothing by all your gaining
except trouble and ex( itement, and sometimes
you gain loss. Here you are, now, obliged to take
to your old gun, whoso flint will hardly strike
fire more than four times out of ten; you are
obliged to wrap yourself in the old blanket full
of holes ; and you come to me to borrow powder
and ball."

"That is true," replied Mozwa, with a look of
self-condemnation. "But," he added, with a sort
of brightly apologetic glance, "sometimes I win,
and then I am well off, and it is Magadar who is
the fool."

" Does it make you less of a fool because Maga-
dar is one also ? Are you comforted to-day, in
your poverty, by the thought that you were well
ott" yesterday ? "

Mozwa's bright 'glance faded slowly. He was
no match for his friend in argument, and, pos-
sessing an honest spirit, the look of self-condem-
nation began to creep again over his visage, but,

188

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

being of a sanguine temperament and hopeful
nature, the bright glance returned suddenly.

"Wisdom falls from the lips of my brother," he
said. "I^vas well off yesterday and I am badly
off to-day, but I may be well off again to-morrow
— if I have good luck."

" Yes, and if Magadar has bad luck ? " returned
his friend. "You cannot both have good luck.
Whatever one gains the other must lose — and so
it goes on. Should wise men act thus ? "

Mozwa was silent. His friend had never before
spoken to him in this way. Indeed, no member of
the tribe had ever before given utterance to such
curious opinions. He knew not what to reply,
and Nazinred relapsed into the moody silence
which had characterised him more or less since
he became aware of his daughter's departure.

The short autumn of those Hyperborean regions
having passed away, the land was speedily locked
in a garment of ice and snow, and the long stern
winter began.

It was not long before all the lakes and rivers
set fast. At i rst only the lakes solidified, then the
more sluggish streams, while the rapids showed
out inky black by contrast. Gradually the liquid
margins of these were encroached on by the irre-
sistible frost, until they were fairly bridged over,
and their existence was only recalled to memory
by hollow rumblings below the ice. At last the

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

189

intensity of the cold overcame the salt sea itself;
the floes, hummocks, and bergs became imited
into one universal mass, and every sign of liquid
disappeared from the polar regions.

It was when this condition of things had arrived
that the heart-crushed Nazinrcd proceeded to carry
out a plan over which he had been brooding ever
since his return from Great Bear Lake. His in-
quiries had led him to believe that the Eskimo who
had carried oft' his child belonged to the tribe which
had recently been pursued by his compatriots, and
that they probably dwelt among the islands, some
of which were seen, and others known to exist, off
the Arctic coast opposite the mouth of the Grey-
goose River. Moreover, a faint hope, that he
would have found it difficult to define, was
aroused by the fact that the kidnapper of his
child had formerly been the rescuer of his wife.

As we have seen, his first attempt to go off in
his canoe in search of Adolay was frustrated by
young ice forming on the sea, and for a consider-
able tune afterwards the Arctic Sea was impass-
able to any kind of craft. Now that the sea had
set fast, however, his difticulty was removed, and
he resolved to undertake the journey on foot.

Well he knew that no man of his tribe, not even
Mozwa, would agree to accompany him on such a
wild-goose chase. He therefore not only refrained
from making to any of them the proposal, but

190

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

avoided any allusion to his intentions. Knowing
also that Isquay was gifted with such an intense
desire for sympathy that she could not resist com-
municating whatever she knew to a few of her
dearest friends — in tli strictest confidence — ho
did not mention the matter to her until all his
preparations were completed. Then he told her.

Like a good submissive squaw, she made no
objection, though the expression of her face
showed that she felt much anxiety.

"Who goes with you ?" she asked.

" No one."

"Is it wise to go alone?" she ventured to sug-
gest.

"It may not bo wise, but no one would go
with me, I know, and I am determined to find
Adolay !"

" How will you travel ?"

" With a sledge and four dogs. That will enable
me to carry food enough for a long journey. I
wiU take my gun, of course."

" But what will you do for fire ?" objected Isquay ;
" there are no woods on the ice."

" I will do without it."

The poor woman was so amazed at this reply
that she gave up further questioning.

" You have plenty strong moccasins ready, have
you not?" asked Nazinred, "and pemmican, and
dried meat?"

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

191

" Yes, plenty, And your snow-shoes are mended,
and very strong."

" That is well. I will take them, but I do not
expect to use them much, for the snow on the
Great Salt Lake is not soft like the snow in the
woods."

It was afternoon when this conversation was
held, and very dark, for the sun had by that time
ceased to rise much above the horizon, even at
noon. Late in the night, however, there was bril-
liant light both from the stars and the aurora.
Taklrg advantage of this, Nazinrcd loft his lodge
and hastened to the outskirts of the village, where
a little boy awaited him with the sledge and team
of dogs all ready for a start.

Without saying a word the Indian put on his
snow-shoes and took hold of the tail-line of the
sledge, which was heavily laden, and well packed.
With a slight crack of the whip he set the team in
motion.

"Tell the old chief," he said to the boy at
parting, " that I go to seek for my daughter among
the people of the Frozen Lake. When I find her
I will return."

Pi!

192

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XVII.

HAZINRED'S JOUBNBY OVEU THE ARCTIC SEA.

While our Indian travelled through the woods
he and his dogs were on familiar ground. He en-
camped at night in the way to which he had been
accustomed all his life. That is to say, ho selected
a spot under a spreading fir-tree, dug away the
snow until he got to the ground, which he covered
with a carpet of pine branches. At one end of
this encampment— or hole in the snow of ten feet
or so in diameter — he made a huge fire of dead
logs. At the other end he spread his blanket, un-
packed his sledge, fed his dogs with some willow-
grouse provided for the purpose, warmed up his
pemmican and dried meat, melted some snow for
drink, and spent the night in comparative comfort.
And it is wonderful, reader, how cosy such an
encampment in the snow is, when food is plentiful
and health strong.

But Avhen our Indian quitted the shore, and
began his daring journey on the Arctic Sea, he was
surrounded by new and unfamiliar conditions. No

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

193

trees were to be had for firewood, no branches
for bedding, no overhanging pines for shelter.
Ho had gone there, however, prepared for the
change.

The sea near the shore had been set fast when
in a comparatively smooth condition, so that, the
first day's march over, it was easy. As he had
expected, the surface of the snow had been drifted
quite hard, so that he could dispense with snow-
shoes altogether, and the four dogs found the
sledge so light that they felt disposed now and
then to run away with it ; but Nazinred checked
this propensity by holding on to the tail-line,
thus acting as a drag. Ere long the shore was left
out of sight behind, and the first of the islets — a
small group — also passed and left behind.

When night was well advanced the Indian found
himself on the ice of the open sea with nothing
but hummocks and bergs to shelter him. Being
acquainted, by hearsay at least, with some of the
methods of the Eskimos, he avoided the bergs,
for there was the danger of masses falling from
their sides and from overhanging ice-cliffs, and
selected a small hummock — a heap of masses
that had been thrown or crushed up earlier in the
winter, covered with snow, and formed into a solid
mound. The light air that blew over the frozen
plain was scarcely worth taking into account,
nevertheless the Indian chose the lee side of the

194

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

hummock and then began to try his "prentice
hand " at the erection of a snow hut.

Nazinred had indeed some doubts as to the
value of such a cold habitation without fire, but he
knew that Eskimos sometimes used such, and
what they could do he could dare. Besides, love
is strong as death — and he meant to find Adolay
or die !

His hut, as might have been expected, was not
such as an Eskimo architect would have praised,
but it was passable for a first attempt. He knew
that the northern masons built their winter
dwellings in the form of a dome, therefore he
essayed the same form ; but it fell in more than
once before the keystone of the arch was fixed.

" Never mind," thought Nazinred ; " they have
done it — I can do it."

Nothing is impossible to men of this stamp.
He persevered, and succeeded after a couple of
hours in producing a sort of misshapen bee-hive
about six feet in diameter, and four feet high.
The slabs of snow of which it was composed were
compact and solid, though easily cut with his
scalping-knife, and formed bricks that could resist
the influence of the fiercest gale. At one side of
the hut he cut a hole for a doorway, and reserved
the piece cut out for a door. It was just big
enough to let his broad shoulders pass through,
and when he got inside and lay down at full

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

195

length to test it, ho gave a shght" humph!" of
satisfaction. Not that the chamber was cheerful
— far from it, for it was intensely dark, — but our
Indian was a practical man. He did not require
light to enable him to sleep or rest.

While engaged in constructing the hut, he
observed that the four dogs were sitting on their
tails doing nothing except gazing in curiosity, if
not surprise, at his unwonted proceedings. Being
a busy man, he naturally disliked idlers, and there-
fore unlashed some food from his sledge and
served out their supper by way of giving them
something to do. They ceased idhng at once, but
after supper sat down on their tails again to
watch as before, though in a more languid frame
of mind.

When the hut was finished he sat down outside,
the night being clear and comparatively warm,
or rather, we should say, not bitterly cold. During
the meal he kept up the interest of the dogs to
a keenly hopeful point by occasionally tossing a
iii'^-sel to each. When the meal was over, and
they knew from long experience that nothing
more was to be hoped for, they curled themselves
up in the lee of the hut, and, with a glorious dis-
regard of bedding and all earthly things, went to
sleep.

It was found rather difficult to get the sledge
into the hut, as Nazinred had forgotten to make

196

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

allowance for its size, but by enlarging the door
and manoeuvring, the difficulty was overcome — a
matter of considerable importance, for there was
no knowing what Arctic monsters might take a
fancy to play havoc with its contents while its
owner slept.

Then the Indian spread a large deerskin with
the hair on over the floor of his hut, and was
about to spread his blankets above that, when ho
remembered that he would want water to drink in
the morning — for it is well known that eating
snow during the intense cold of Arctic winters is
very hurtful. Ho had provided for this by taking
a bladder with him, which he meant to fill with
snow each night and take it to bed with him, so
that his animal heat — and he had plenty of that
— might melt some of it before morning. He was
then on the point of closing up the doorway when
it occurred to him that if the dogs were inside
they might make the place warmer, but upon
reflection ho feared that they might also make it
suttbcating — for the dogs were large and the hut
was smaE After pondering the subject for a few
minutes, he decided to take only one of them
inside.

"Attim, come," he said quietly, as if speakmg
to a human friend.

Attim, without any remark save a wag of his
tail, arose promptly, entered the hut, and lay

A ROM/ NCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

197

down. You Kco, ho was accustomed to little
attentions of the sort.

At last, everything being completed, Nazinred
closed the door, plastered it well with snow round
the seams, so as to render the place air-tight,
wrapped himself in his blankets, took the bladder
of snow to his bosom, laid his wearied head on ono
of his bundles, and prepared to slumber.

But ere he reached the land of forgetfulness an
idea struck him, which, Indian though ho was,
caused him to smile even in the dark.

" Attun," he murmured.

" Here you are," replied Attim's tail with a flop
that was quite as expressive as the tongue — and
softer.

"You take charge of that," said the sly man,
transferring the bladder of snow from his own
bosom to that of the dog ; " you have more heat
than I have."

Whether the Indian was right in this belief we
cannot say, but the humble-minded dog received
the charge as a special favour, and with an
emphatic "I will" from its ever-sensitive tail
again lay down to repose.

Thereafter the two went to sleep, and spent six
or seven hours of unbroken rest, aAvaking simul-
taneously and suddenly to find that the dogs
outside were also awake and wishing to get in.
Indeed, ono of them had already scraped a hole in

198

THK WAMMS HUNTKUS

ill

the wall that would soon have admitted him had
not his master given him a tap on the nose with
the butt of his f^im.

Of course it was still dark, for the morning was
not far advanced, but the star-light and the aurora
were quite sufficient to enable them to see their
way, as they set out once more on their lonesome
journey.

Breakfast was a meal of which Nazinred made
no account. Supper was his chief stand-by, on
the strength of which he and his dogs slept, and
also travelled during the following day. Soon
after they had awakened, therefore, they were far
from the hut in which the night had been spent.

The Indian's plan was to travel in a straight
line in the direction in which the Eskimos had
been last seen. By so doing he counted upon
either crossing their tracks, which he woidd follow
up, or, coming to some large island which might
prove to be their winter quarters, would skirt the
shores of it in the hope of meeting with some
of the tribes of which ho was in search. The
expedition, it will be seen, was somewhat of the
nature of a forlorn hope, for drifting snow quickly
obliterates tracks, and if the natives, when found,
should turn out to be hostile, they would proba-
bly take from him his little possessions, if not also
his life. But Nazinred's love for Adolay was too
strong to admit of his allowing such thoughts to

V.lV.

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

199

weigh with him. Ero long, ho found himself fnr
from his woodland homo, lost among tho rugged
solitudes of ice, with a fast diminishing supply of
provisions, and, worst of all, no sign of track or
other clow to guide him.

One day, as he was plodding slowly northward,
guided by tho stars, his faith in tho success of his
mission began to flag. Hard continuous toil and
a weakening frame had no doubt something to do
with his depression. His dogs, also, were in much
tho same condition with himself, — growing thin,
and becoming less lively. Clambering to the top
of a hummock, ho surveyed the prospect before
him. It was not cheering. The faint daylight of
noon was spreading over the frozen sea, bringing
the tops of the larger bergs out into bold relief
against tho steel-blue sky, and covering the jumble
of lumps and hummocks with a cold grey light.

Despite his resolute purpose the poor man sat
down on a lump of ice, buried his faco in his
hands, and meditated.

"Can it bo," he thought, "that the Great
Manitou knows my grief and does not care?
Surely that cannot bo. I love my child, though
she has fled from me. I am a child of the
Manitou. Docs Ho not love mo ? I will trust
Him!"

A cold object touched his hand at the moment.
It was tho nosG of the faithful Attim.

200

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Nazinred regarded the touch as a good omen.
He rose up and was about to resume the journey
in a more hopeful frame of mind when a dark
cloud on the horizon arrested his eye. After a
long gaze he came to the conclusion that it was
land. Two hours later he arrived at Waruskeek,
and with a beating heart made straight for the
huts, which could be plainly seen on the shore.
But terrible disappointment was in store for him.
On reaching the Eskimo village he found that it
was deserted.

Nevertheless the improved state of mind did not
quite forsake him. It was a comfort to have made
a discovery of any kind, and was it not possible
that, during the brief daylight of the morrow, he
might be able to distinguish the tracks made by
the party when they left the place and follow
them up ?

With this idea in his mind he resolved to
encamp on the spot, and indulge himself as well
as his dogs with a good feed and sleep.

With this purpose in view he collected all the
bits of wood he could find, and, with a few lumps
of much-decayed blubber, made a rousing fire in
one of the huts. The flame cheered his canine
friends as well as himself, and filled the place with
a ruddy glow. As the hut was sufficiently large,
he invited all the dogs to sup with him — an invita-
tion which, it is needless to say, they gladly

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

201

accepted — and we may add that the humble-
minded Attim was not jealous.

The hut of which Nazinred thus took possession
was that which belonged to old Mangivik. With
his usually observant nature, our Indian looked
keenly about hira while cooking his pemraican,
noting every particular with an intelligent eye.
Suddenly his gaze became fixed on a particular
comer. Rising sloAvly, as if afraid of frightening
away some living creature, he advanced step by
step toward the corner with eyeballs starting
nearly out of his head. Then with a light bound
he sprang forward, grasped a little piece of cord,
and pulled out from beneath a heap of rubbish
what appeared to be an old cast-off moccasin.
And such indeed it was. It had belonged to
Adolay! Nazinred, hastening to the fire, ex-
amined it with minute care, and a deep " hoh ! "
of satisfaction escaped from him ; for he knew it
well as being one of a pair made by Isquay for
her daughter's little feet.

Need we say that joy tilled the Indian's heart
that night, and a feeling of gratitude to that
mysterious ever-present yet never visible Being,
who — he had come to recognise in his philo-
sophical way — must be the author of all good,
though his philosophy failed to tell him who was
the author of evil. Nazinred was not by any
means the first savage philosopher who has

202

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

puzzled himself with that question, but it is due
to him to add — for it proves him more scientific
than many trained philosophers of the present
day — that he did not plead his ignorance about
his Creator as an excuse for ingratitude, much
less as a reason for denying His existence alto-
gether.

But there was a surprise in store for our Indian
chief which went far to increase his grateful feel-
ings, as well as to determine his future course. On
looking about the deserted village the following
day for further evidences of his child having been
there, he came upon a post with a piece of birch
bark fastened to it. The post was fixed in the ice
close to the shore, where in summer-time the
land and sea were wont to meet, and from which
point tracks in the snow gave clear indication that
the Eskimos had taken their departure. This
post with its piece of bark was neither more
nor less than a letter, such as unlettered men in
all ages have used for holding intercourse with
absent friends.

Knowing her father's love for her, and suspecting
that, sooner cr later, he would organise a search-
party — though it never occurred to hei that ho
would be so wild as to undertake tho search alone
— Adolay had erected the post when the tribe set
out for winter quarters, and had fixed the bark-
letter to it for his guidance.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

203

The writing on the letter, we need hardly say,
was figurative, brief, and easily read. It did not
give the intelligent father much trouble in the
decipherment. At the top was the picture of a
hand fairly, if not elegantly, drawn, with one finger
pointing. Below it were several figures, the last
of which was a girl in unmistakable Indian
costume. The figure in front of her was meant to
represent Cheenbuk; in advance of him was an
Eskimo woman with her tail flowing gracefully
behind, while before her was a hazy group of men,
women, and children, which represented the tribe
OP che march. Adolay had obviously the artistic
gift in embryo, for there was a decided eftbrt to
indicate form and motion, as well as to suggest
an idea of perspective, for the woman and the
tribal group were drawn much smaller than the
foreground figures, and were placed on higher
planes. The skotchiness of the group, too, also
told of just ideas as to relative degrees of interest
in the legend, while the undue prominence of the
leading facial feature was an attempt to give that
advice which is so forcibly expressed in the well-
known phrase, " Follow your nose." Ten dots
underneath, with a group of snow-huts at the end
of them, were not so clear at first, but in the
end Nazinred made out a sentence, of which the
following may be given as a free-and-easy trans-
lation : —

204

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"My hand points the direction in which wo
have gone. Your loving daughter is following the
man who ran away with her. The Eskimo women
and men, and dogs, and all the rest of them, are
marching before us. Follow me for ten days, and
you will come to the snow-huts where we are to
winter."

Could anything be plainer ? The happy father
thought not. He took an extra meal. His team
gave themselves an extra feed of bits of old
blubber picked up in the camp, and while day-
light was still engaged in its brave though hope-
less struggle with the Arctic night, he tied up
his sledge, thrust the old moccasin into his
bosom, gave Attim the order to advance, and set
off with revived strength and hope on his now
hopeful journey.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

205

CHAPTER XVIII.

A SURPRISE AND A CATASTROPHK.

The trail of the Eskimos as they traversed the
frozen sea, although not always very distinct on
the hard snow, was as plain as a highway to one so
skilled in tracking as the Indian chief Nazinred.
The weather having been clear and calm ever since
he left home, the marks had not been obliterated,
and he pursued his way without halt or hesitation.

But on the fourth day out there came symptoms
of a change. The chief had adopted the plan of
travelling during every hour of the short day,
or twilight, in order to make more sure of not
missing the trail, and the stars with frequent
aurora borealis had mode each night so brilliant
that ho advanced almost as easily as during the
day-time. The fourth day, however, on awaking,
his ears were greeted with sounds that caused him
to rise in haste and force out the door of his sleep-
ing hut, when to his dismay he found that a
furious gale was blowing, that the sky was black,
and that ho could hardly see the poor dogs, whom

206

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

he found crouching as close as possible on the
sheltered side of the hut. In these circumstances,
to advance without losing his way was impossible,
so that he was compelled to make the most of his
time by sleeping as much as he could.

To do him justice he possessed a wonderful
capacity in that way. Having put the sledge out-
side in order to make room, he called all the dogs
in, resolving thp.c the poor things should not bo
exposed to the pitiless storm. Then, having fed
himself and them, he lay down with them and was
soon in happy oblivion.

Of course he had no artificial means of measur-
ing time, and, the sky being overclouded, darkness
visible pervaded the region. But a healthy stomach
helped in some degree to furnish a natural
chronometer, and its condition when he awoke
suggested that he must have slept till near day-
light of the following day. Rousing the dogs, he
gave them a feed, ate heartily himself, and then
went out to look at the weather.

The sight which the grey dawn rendered barely
visible was one which caused him to return to the
hut with extreme promptitude for his gim, for,
about fifty yards off', were two white polar bears
of, apparently, colossal size, frolicking about in a
curious manner, and evidently amusing themselves
with something. The something turned out to bo
the chiefs sledge, which the bears had unpacked ;

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

207

eating whatever they had a fancy for, scatter-
ing about what they did not want, smashing the
sledge itself to pieces, and twisting the leathern
wraps and cordage into unimaginable knots,

Nazinred did not discover all this at once, being
too much excited by the unexpected visit to note
trifling details. Besides, prompt action was neces-
sary, for the four dogs, on becoming aware of
what was transacting outside, made a united and
clamorous dash at the foe. Two of them, being too
valorous, ran close up to the bears, who seemed
to regard them with haughty surprise. Another
movement and the two dogs rose into the air with a
yell in unison, and fell back upon the snow, where
they lay motionless. The other two, learning
wisdom from experience, kept back and barked
furiously.

Nazinred, although taken by surprise, was used
to sudden alarms and not easily frightened.
I^owing that the two dogs were very courageous,
and therefore all the more likely to run into
danger, he sprang forward towards the nearer of
the two bears. It rose on its hind-legs to receive
him, and in this position appeared to stand at
least eight feet high. Without a moment's hesi-
tation the Indian pointed his gun when the
muzzle was not more that a foot from the crea-
ture's breast, and fired. The bear fell dead on the
instant, shot through the heart,

208

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

lit
I'! I

The loud report and flash frightened the other
bear away. It was closely followed, however, by
the dogs, and the chief availed himself of the
opportunity to re-load. While ho was thus
engaged a peculiarly loud yell told only too
plainly that one of the remaining dogs was
injured, if not killed. He called to the remaining
one to come back. Obedient to the call it returned,
and, to its master's great relief, proved to be
his favourite Attim, a good deal cut about the
shoulders and much crestfallen, but not seriously
injured.

" Down, Attim," said his master.

The poor creature obeyed at once, and his
master hurried forward, but the bear had retired.

The result of this encounter Avas that three of
the dogs were killed, many of his things destroyed,
and his provisions rendered almost useless, while
the sledge was irreparably broken to pieces.
There was daylight enough to render the extent
of his misfortune visible, and to show him that
the trail which he had been following so long was
drifted over and entirely obliterated.

To a man of weak resolution this ipight have
been overwhelming, but Nazinred was very much
the reverse of weak, and his utter recklessness
of life in his endeavour to recover his lost child
would have rendered him a hero for the time being,
even if he had not been one by nature.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

200

After collecting the remains of his property,
and ascertaining that the sledge was hopelessly
destroyed, ho made up his mind to carry the
provisions on his back and push forward in the
direction pointed out by Adolay until ho found
her. If ho did not succeed, the failure of his food
would soon end the struggle.

It was some consolation to the unfortunate man
that his favourite dog had been spared. The
amount of "company" afforded even by an ordinary
dog is well known, but the civilised world can but
feebly understand the value of a more than usually
affectionate creature in the forlorn circumstances
in which our Indian was now placed. Like many
other people, he had got into the habit of talking
to the dog about himself and his affairs, as if it
Avore human. Whether he held the opinion we
have heard so often expressed that " he under-
stands every word I say," we cannot tell, but the
gravity of his expression and the solemnity of his
tone when conversing with it, encouraged that
belief, and the very earnest attention of the dog
almost justified it.

But the friendly feelings existing between them
did not relax the chiefs notions of discipline.
Attim was not permitted to follow his master as
an idle companion. He was made to carry, or
rather to drag, his own food, by means of a collar
with two pieces of stick attached, the ends of

210

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

which trailed on the ice, thus I'onaing as it were
a pair of trams without wheels. This is a siniplo
contrivance, largely used by the prairie Indians
with their horses as well as dogs. The two sticks
or poles, being long, project a good way behind the
animal, thus leaving space for a load. As the
poles are suited to their size, each horse or little
dog is loaded with an appropriate bundle, and it
is to bo presumed does not feel overburdened.

When all was arranged, Nazinred started off
with a large pack on his broad shoulders, and
Attim, with a small bundle, followed close at his
heels.

Of course the Indian shouldered his gun, and
he slung upon it his snow-shoes, for the hard-
driven snow rendered these unnecessary at the
time. He also carried with him a bow and quiver
of arrows, with the ornamented fire-' ag — made for
him by Adolay — which contained his flint, steel,
and tinder as well as his beloved pipe and
tobacco.

Things went well with him for the first few
days, and although the trail was now lost, he guided
himself easily by the stars, of which he had been
careful to take note and make comparison with
the hand in the letter before disturbing its
position. But one night the sky became over-
cast, and he would have been compelled to halt
had he not previously laid his course by several

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

211

huge i(;cbcrgs which toworod up in the far
distance.

When he had passed the last of those bergs,
however, ho began to hesitate in his movements,
and Attim, trotting quietly by his side, looked
inquiringly up into his face once or twice with
the obvious question, " What' s the matter ? " ir.
his soft brown eyes — or some Dogrib idiom equi-
valent thereto.

" I 'm afraid to go on," murmured the Indian
gravely.

To this Attim replied with a reassuring wag of
his tail.

"Without stars it Avon't be easy to keep the
straight line," contipued the chief, stopping
altogether and looking up at the clouds.

Attim also looked up, but evidently could make
nothing of it, for he turned his eyes again on his
master and wagged his tail dubiously.

At the moment a rift in the clouds revealed
some of the stars, and the Indian, regaining his
direction again, hurried forward — all the more
rapidly that a pretty stiif fair wind was blowing,
to speak nautically, right astern of him.

By degrees the breeze increased to a gale, and
then to a regular hurricane, which whirled among
the bergs and hummocks, shrieked round the
ice-pinnacles, and went howling over the plain of
the solid sea as if all the Hyperborean fiends had

212

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

been let loose and told to do their worst. Its
violence was so great that the Indian was forced
to scud before it, and more than onco Attini's
little bundle caught the blast and whirled him
rounfl ^ike a weathercock, while the drifting snow
at iast became so thick that it was impossible to
see anything more than a few yards ahead. In
these circumstances to auvance was madness.

"It won't do, pup," cried Nazinred, turning
suddenly to his right round a mass of ice, and
taking shelter in the lee of a towering berg ; " come,
wo will encamp here."

Ho had scarcely uttered the words when a
tremendous rending sound was heard above the
noise of the hurricane. The Indian looked up
quickly, but nothing was to be seen anywhere
save that wild confusion of Avhirling snow, which
in more southerly lands is sometimes called a
blizzard, and the back-whirl of which nearly
suffocated man and dog. Suddenly there came
a crash as if a mountain were being shattered
near them. Then Nazinred saw, to his horror,
that an ice-pinnacle as big as a church steeple
was bowing forward, like some mighty giant, to
its fall. To escape he saw was impossible. It
was too near and too directly above his head for
that. His only hope lay in crushing close to the
side of the berg. He did so, on the instant,
promptly followed by the dog, and happily

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

213

found that the ice-wall at the spot was slightly
concave.

Another moment and the stupendous mass fell
with an indescribable crash, which was prolonged
into sounds that bore quaint resemblance to the
smashing up of gigantic crockery, as the shivered
atoms shot far away over the frozen plain. But
the chief heard nothing of this save the first great
crash, for the avalanche, although it passed
harmlessly over his head, had buried him in what
seemed to him a living tomb.

The chamber in which he and his dog were thus
enclosed was of course absolutely dark — a dark-
ness that might be felt ; and the man would have
been more than human if he had not experienced
a sinking of the heart as he contemplated his
awful position. Once again arose in his mind the
question. Docs the Maker of all care nothing about
such things ? The feeling deepened in him that
such could not bo true, — tht.t the All-Father must
certainly care 7)iore for His children than ordinary
fathers for theirs, and with that thought came also
the old feeling, " I will trust Him." The poor dog,
too, had the consolation of trust, for it rubbed its
head against its master with a touch that implied
implicit belief in his power to deal effectively with
any difficulty whatever.

Feeling his way carefully round the walls of his
prison, the Indian ascertained that it was not much

214

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

more than about twelve feet long by three or
four broad. On one side was the comparatively
smooth wall of the berg, but for the hollow in
which he would have been crushed ; in front was
the rugged heap of confused masses which had
thoroughly closed him in. There was no outlet
anywhere; he felt assured of that after three
careful examinations of the chamber, and how
many thousand tons of ice lay between him and
liberty of course he could not guess.

There was only one course open to him now,
and that was to cut his way out Avith his hatchet.
Before beginning to act he unstrapped his bundle
and sat down to eat, having previously relieved
Attim of his load and given him some food.
Everything he did had to be done by feeling,
for he could not see his hand even when held only
an inch from his face.

Then he set to work. It was difficult at first,
for he had to strike out at random, sometimes
hitting a lump of ice unexpectedly, sometimes just
tipping it, and occasionally missing it altogether,
when the axe would swing round behind him, to
the great danger of Attim, who insisted on keep-
ing close to his master's heels wherever he went.
By degrees, however, he learned to guess more
correctly the position of the walls, especially after
he had advanced a few foet and cut a tunnel,
with the shape and dimensions of Avhich he soon

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

215

became familiar. For hours ho laboured with
unflagging diligence, clearing back the ice debris
into the cavern from which he had started. But
no sign of open air rewarded him.

At last, when almost exhausted, he made pre-
parations for passing the night where he was.
Before lying down he ate a hearty meal and fed
the dog, who indicated his satisfaction by an occa-
sional whine and the usual wag of the tail, which
could be faintly heard though not seen.

A pipe of course followed, and during the
process of lighting it he and Attiin obtained a
fleeting glimpse of their abode. As his materials
could not produce a flame — only a dull red
glow — the glimpse was not cheering, or of much
value.

Then Nazinred spread a deerskin on the ice,
rolled himself in his blanket, pillowed his head
on the dog, who seemed to be perfectly satisfied
with the arrangement, and went to sleep till — wo
cannot say morning, for pitch darkness still
prevailed, but till — that ]ioint of time when the
stomachic chronometer awoke them.

After another feed the chief again set to work
with indomitable perseverance, and extended the
tunnel during many hours ; yet when he had
accomplished what appeared to him a long and
severe day's work, it seemed as if he were as
far off as evor from deliverance. Just as he was

216

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

giving way to weary disappointment, however,
a rush of cold air came against his face, and
with an irrepressible exclamation of satisfaction
he found that his last blow with the axe had
opened a way to the outer world. A few more
strokes, delivered with unwonted vigour, set him
free, to find that the gale was over, that a pro-
found calm prevailed, and that the faint grey
light of the Arctic noon was illuminating the
ghostly scene.

He also discovered that during his imprison-
ment a heavy fall of snow had taken place, so
that he sanK a full foot into it — if not more — at
every step. Congratulating himself on having
brought his snow-shoes with him, he at once
put on those useful implements, and, having
secured the pack on his back, he once more set
forth on his journey, beating a track as he went
on which the dog followed him with ease,
though without such a track the poor thing
could not have travelled at all until the surface
of the snow had hardened.

But although our Indian's heart was lighter
after his deliverance, the toil which he had
vmdergono, and the cold which he had experi-
enced in the berg, had told somewhat severely
even on his hardy frame, and when he built his
hut that night it was with a feeling of despon-
dency, for he became aware of a considerable

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

217

diminution of strength. An unusually keen
frost on the following day increased this feeling,
and when he was about to encamp at night,
Nazinred said to himself, as well as to his dog,
that he feared they would never complete their
journey.

But "Hope springs eternal in the human
breast." On looking round for a sheltered spot
on which to build the snow-hut he observed
three objects in the distance which bore a strong
resemblance to Eskimo dwellings. Pushing for-
ward eagerly, he soon reached them, and found
that they were indeed huts of these children of
the ice, but that they were deserted. The
disap^^ointmeut was very great, yet our chief
bore up against it manfully. He made use of
one of the luts as a resting-place for the night.
Next mo mg he found that the prolonged
strain had rendered him much weaker than he
had believed to be possible. Diminishing pro-
visions, also, had increased the evil, and a still
further foil in the temperature induced a feeling
of feebleness which the hitherto vigorous man
had never before experienced.

The idea of giving in, however, had never
once entered his mind. To persevere in the
search until success or death should arrest him
had been his tixcd resolve from the beginning.

"Come on, pup," he said, patting the head of

218

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

his faithful friend, as he fastened on his snow-
shoes and set forth.

To his surprise he found that ho staggered a
little at first, but as he warmed to the work his
vigour increased and his powers of endurance
seemed almost as strong as ever.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

219

CHAPTER XIX

THE ESKIMOS AGAIN, AND A ORBAT DISCOVERT AND RESCUE.

While Nazinred, under the influence of strons:
affection, was thus fighting with the unfamiliar
difficulties and dangers of the polar sea, Chcen-
buk and his Eskimo friends were enjoying life
in what may be '^alled their native element.

" Will Adolay come for a drive ? " said our
gallant Eskimo one day when the sun had risen
near enough to the eastern horizon to almost,
but not quite, extinguish the stars. "We go to
seek for walruses."

The Indian maiden was sitting at the time
in the snow residence which belonged to Man-
givik. Mrs. Mangivik was sitting opposite to
her mending a sealskin boot, and Cowlik the
easy-going was seated beside her, engaged with
some other portion of native attire. Nootka was
busy over the cooking-lamp, and old Mangivik
himself was twirling his thumbs, awaiting the
result of her labours. Oolalik was there too — ho
was frequently there — courting Nootka in the

220

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

usual way, by prolonged silent staring. The pro-
cess might have been trying to some women,
but Nootka did not mind. Like many young
damsels, she was fond of admiration, and could
stand a good deal of it, no matter how peculiar
the mode in which it was expressed.

" I don't care to go," said Adolay, with a sigh.

Cheenbuk did not repeat the invitation or
press for a reason. He was a considerate as
well as a gallant youth. He knew that the poor
girl was pining for her parents, and that
she regretted having left them — even although
remaining in her native village might have
involved her being wed against her will to the
hated Magadar, or subjected to his persecutions
during her father's absence. Cheenbuk did his
best to comfort her with the assurance that he
would take her back to her home with the very
first of the open water. But when Adolay began
to realise what a very long time must elapse
before the ice would reopen its portals and sot
the waters free, her heart sank and she began
to mope.

" We may as well have some women with us,"
remarked Oolalik, with a pointed glance at
Nootka, but Nootka took no notice of either
the observation or the glance. Even Eskimo
girls understand how to tease !

" Will Cowlik go ? " asked Cheenbuk.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

221

"Yes." Cowlik smiled, and was quite ready
to go.

"No, she won't," said Mrs. Mangivik, with a
positivcness almost European in its tone.

" Very well." Cowlik smiled, and was equally
ready to remain.

Mangivik himself expressed no opinion on
the subject, but twirled his thumbs faster as he
expressed a hope that the cooking would be
soon completed.

It was finally arranged that only young men
should go, with sledges and teams of dogs to
fetch the meat home.

The little town in which this scene was being
enacted was composed of between twenty and
thii^y whity-brown bee-hives of snow, of the
usual shape, ranged on the ice near the shore
of a large island. The scene presented was a
lively one, for while some of the inhabitants
were creeping into the small tunnels which
formed as it were porches before the doors,
others were creeping out. Men and dogs were
moving about — the former harnessing the latter
to sledges in preparation for the approaching
hunt, while hairy little balls of children were
scampering about in play, or sitting on the tops
of the snow bee-hives, watching the proceedings
with interest.

The Eskimo sledge is a contrivance of wood

■

222

THE WALRUS HUNTEUS

capable of accommodating fivo or six men, and
usually drawn by a team of from six to ten
dogs, each dog being fastened to it by means
of a separate line of tough walrus hide. In a
short time the long-lashcd, short-handled, power-
ful whips cracked, the teams yelped, the men
shouted, and away they all went with much
noise over the frozen sea.

After a short run the parties separated and
went in different directions. Cheenbuk and his
men drove in a southerly direction. Soon they
came to a place which had been kept open by
walruses as a breathing-hole. Here they got
out, hid the sledge and dogs behind a hunnnock,
and, getting ready their spears and harpoons,
prepared for an encounter. After waiting some
time a walrus thrust its ungainly head up
through the young ice that covered the hole,
and began to disport itself in elephantine, or
rather walrusian, gambols.

Tiring of this in a few minutes, it dived, and
the natives ran to the edge of the hole to
bo ready when it should come up again. The
animal was a female, and a small one. When it
reappeared harpoons and lances were at once
driven into it, and it was killed almost imme-
diately. This is not always the result of such an
encounter, for this elephant of the polar seas is
naturally a ferocious brute, and when bulls are

A llOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

223

attacked they are prone to show fight rather than
t;iko fright.

Leaving the young men to skm and cut up the
meat, Cheenbuk went on, with only Antcek to keep
him company, in search of another breathing-hole.

" You must harpoon the next one all alone, and
kill him without help," said Cheenbuk to his com-
panion soon after they had started.

" I '11 tiy," returned the boy, with the air of con-
fidence befitting a knight who had already won
his spurs, yet with the modesty of a youth who
was aware of his fallibility.

But Anteek was not destined to distinguish
himself that day, for, about three miles beyond the
place where the walrus had been slain, they came
across a track so singular that, on beholding it,
they were stricken dumb with surprise.

Stopping the dogs, they gazed at it for a few
moments in speechless wonder.

" I am not an old man," said Cheenbuk at length
in a solemn tone, " but I have seen most of the
wonderful things in this world, yet have I never
seen a track like that ! "

He pointed to the track in question, and turned
a look of blazing inquiry on Anteek.

" And I am not an old boy," returned the other,
" but I too have seen a good many of the wonder-
ful things of this world, yet have I never even
dreamed of the like of that !"

224

THE WALRUS IIUNTEHS

It will doubtless strike tho reader here, as an
ovidenco that Eskimos are under siiuiliir delusions
to the rest of tho human fixmily, that these two
referred to that world of theirs as equivalent to
the world at large !

" Wliat can it be ? " murmured Checnbuk.

" The very biggest bear that ever was, come to
frighten the Avisest people that ever lived out of
their wits," suggested Anteek.

The face of tho older Eskimo underwent a
sudden change, and an intelligent expression flitted
over it as he said —

"I know now — I remember — I guess. You
have often heard mo talk of the Fire-spoutcrs,
Anteek ? Well, tho snoAv where they live is very
deep and soft — not at all like the snow here, except
when our snow is new-fallen — so that they cannot
travel in the cold time without great things on
their feet. That" — pointing downward — "must bo
the track of those great things, and there must
bo a Fire-spouter not far off."

"Perhaps a number of Fire-spouters — a war-
party," suggested Anteek, becoming excited.

" I think not, for there is only oi e track."

" But they may have walked in a row — behind
each other."

" That is true. You notice well, Anteek. You
will be a good hunter soon."

He stooped as he spoke, to examine more care-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

225

fully the track, which was indeed none other than
that made by the snow-shoes of Nazinred on his
weary and wellnigh hopeless journey over the
frozen sea.

" Look here, Cheenbuk," cried the boy, whose
excitement was increasing. "Is there not here
also the track of a dog, with a strange mark on
each side of it, as if it were drawing two lines as
it went along ? "

" You are right again, boy. There is here the
track of a dog, but there is only one man. Come,
we will follow it up."

Jumping on the sledge again, the Eskimo
cracked his whip and set the dogs off at full gallop.

For some time they advanced, looking eagerly
forward, as if expecting every minute to come in
sight of the man and dog who had made the
tracks, but nothing appeared for some hours.
Then they arrived at the three huts where the
Indian had received such a disappointment on
finding them deserted. A close examination
showed that the stranger had spent a night in one
of them, and, from various indications, Cheenbuk
came to the conclusion that he had been much
exhausted, if not starving, while there.

Getting on the sledge again, he continued to
follow up the trail with renewed diligence.

They had not gone far when an object was seen
lying on the ice not far ahead of them.

226

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Antcok was first to catch sl^'ht of it, and point
it out to his companion, who did not speak, I; 'it
lot out his lash and urged tho dogs on. As they
approached, tho object was seen to move, then
there came towards them what sounded Uko a
prolonged melancholy howl.

" Tho dog is alivo," whispered Anteek.

" I hopo the man is — but I fear," returned his
comrade.

In a few moments moro they were alon
and tho dog started up with a snarl as if to
defend its master, who was lying motionless on
the ice; but tho snarl was feeble, and tho poor
boast was obviously in a state of exhaustion.

"Ho is not dead," said Choenbuk, putting his
hand over tho Indian's heart, while Anteek caught
poor Attim by the nose and held him gently back.

It turned out as the Eskimo had said. Nazin-
rod was not dead, but ho was very nearly so, and
it is probable that another hour of exposure and
inaction would have ended the career of both
himself and his dog.

Ho had walked on persistently until that peculiar
feeling of an irresistible desire to lie down and
sleep overcame him. No one knew better than
himself tho danger of his condition, yet tho fatal
lethargy is such that no resolution is sufficient to
overcome it. Lying, or rather falling, down, ho
had remained still for a few moments — then tho

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

227

state of quiot, but deadly repose had supervened
and he would never have risen agam if succour
had not been sent.

As it was, the Eskimos set to work with tremen-
dous energy to chafe and resuscitate him, but it
seemed at first that they wore too late. By dint
of untiring perseverance, however, they became
successful. A slight effort to exert himself was
observable in the Indian, and thm, getting him on
his feet, Cheenbuk on one side and Anteek on
the other, they forced h m to stagger about until
vitality began to revive.

" Now, boy, wo '11 get hiui into the sledge, and
.away back to the igloes."

Without delay they led Nazinred to the sledge,
rolled him in a large white bearskin, and tied him
on. While thus engaged Anteek observed that
Cheenbuk gazed for a few moments intently into
the Indian's face, and then became much and
strangely excited.

" Is he going to die ? " asked the boy anxiously.

" No, it is not that — but — but, I have seen this
Firc-spouter before. I know him! Quick, we
must save his life ! "

If the life of Nazinred had depended on the
speed of the Eskimo dogs there would have been
much hope of it, for Cheenbuk made them fly like
the wind until he regained the three igloes. As
for Attim, having, with prompt sagacity, perceived

228

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

that the strangers were friendly, he resigned him-
self to his fate. Indeed, his master had, in a dazed
sort of way, adopted the same course, and willingly
submitted to whatever was done to him.

Arrived at the deserted huts, the Indian was
allowed to lie in his white bearskin until the
Eskimo had kindled a lamp, cooked some food,
warmed some water, and prepared a comfortable
couch. Then he went out to unlash the sleeper.

"Now, Anteek, I'm going to send you away,
and will expect you to bo quick and act like a
man. Drive the sledge back to where we killed
the walrus. Let the men pack the meat on it and
away back to our igloes. It is not far. You will
soon get there if you make the dogs yelp. When
you have arrived, and told your story, get a fresh
team of dogs, and two men, and come back here
with a little meat and some more bearskins —
and do it all, boy, as fast as you can."

" I will," answered Anteok in a tone and with
a look of decision that were quite satisfactory.

It was difficult to rouse the Indian at first so as
to get him to stagger into the snow hut, and he was
more than half asleep all the time, insomuch that
when inside he fell down on the couch prepared
for him and again sank into profound slumber.

Thon Anteek started up, jumped on the sledge,
and sot off for home at full speed.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

229

CHAPTER XX.

BTBANGB CONVERSE AND DISCOVEBIES.

Returning to tho hut, Cheenbuk continued his
culinary preparations with great diligence, gazing
often and earnestly, as he did so, at the thin and
careworn countenance of the sleeper.

Although Nazinred was considerably altered by
fatigue and suffering, the Eskimo entertained not
the smallest doubt that he was the same Indian
with whom ho had once struggled on the banks of
the Whale, or Greygoose, River. Equally sure was
ho that the Indian, o^/ing to his worn-out condition
when discovered, had not recognised himself, and
the fancy occurred to him that he would at first try
to avoid recognition. To this end he pulled his hood
a little more over his eyes, deepened the colour of
his face by rubbing it with a little lamp-black and
oil, and resolved to lower his voice a note or two
when tho time for speaking should arrive. That
time was not long of coming ; probably 'he in-
creasing warmth of the hut, or the smell of the
seal-steak in the nostrils of the half-starved man,

230

THE WALRUS HUNTEllS

may have had something to do with it, but the
meal Avas hardly ready when the Indian yawned,
stretched himself, sat up and gazed solemnly
around.

" You are feeling better ? " said Cheenbuk in his
deepened tone, and in broken Dogrib tongue.

The Indian fixed a steady gaze on him for
nearly a minute before replying.

" Yes," he said, in a dreamy tone, " I'm better.
If the Eskimo had not been sent to mo I had now
been with my ancestors."

" No one sent me to you," returned Cheenbuk ;
" I found you lying on the snow.

" The Great Manitou sent you," said the Indian
gravely.

It was this touch of seriousness which had
originally drawn those two men together, but the
Eskimo remembered that he was acting a part at
the moment, and that any expression of sympathy
might betray him. Ho therefore made no rejoinder,
but, placing the seal-steak on a flat 'otone, bade the
hungry man eat.

Nazinred required no pressing; he began at
once, and was ready for more almost before more
was ready for him. By persevering industry,
however, Cheenbuk kept his guest supplied, and
when appetite began to fail ho found time to
attend to his o^vn wants and keep the other
company.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

231

Silence reigned at first. When the Indian had
finished eating he accepted a draught of warm
water, and then had recourse to his fire-bag and
pipe. Cheenbuk expected this, and smiled in-
wardly, though his outward visage would have
done credit to an owl.

At last ho looked up and asked the Indian how
he came to bo travelling thus alone and so far from
his native land.

Nazinred puffed a voluminous cloud from his
lips and two streaming cloudlets from his nose ere
ho replied.

" When my son," he said, " was on the banks
of the Greygoose River his voice was not so
deep!"

Cheenbuk burst into a laugh and threw back
his hood.

"You know me, then, you man-of-the-woods,"
said he, holding out his hand in the white-trader
fashion which the other had tought him.

"When the men-of-the-woods sec a face once
they never forget it," returned the Indian, grasping
the profitercd hand heartily, but without a sign of
risibility on his countenance, for in this, as wo
know, ho differed considerably from his companion ;
yet there was a something about the comers of his
eyes which seemed to indicate that he was not
quite devoid of humour.

" i>ut how did you discover me i " resumed

HHH

232

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Cheenbuk. "I not only spoke with a deeper voice,
but I put black and oil on my face, and pulled my
hood well forwai'd."

" When the Eskimo wants to blind the man-of-
the-woods," answered Nazinred, sententiously, " he
must remember that he is a man, not a child.
The cry of the grey geese is always the same,
though somo of them have deeper voices than
others. A face does not chnnge its shape because
it is dirtied with oil and black. Men draw lioods
over their faces when going out of a lodge, not
when coming in. When smoking tobacco is seen
for the first time, surprise is always created.
— Waugh ! "

" What you say is true, man-of- the- woods," re-
turned Cheenbuk, smiling. " I am not equal to
you at deceiving."

Whether the Indian took this for a comjiliment
or otherwise there was no expression on his
mahogany face to tell, as he sat there calmly
smoking and staring at the lamp. Suddenly he
removed the pipe from his lips and looked intently
at the Eskimo, Avho in turn regarded him with
evident expectation.

" My son," said Nazinred, " I have one or
two questions to put to you. You and I agree
about many things. Tell me, what A/ould
you think of the fawn that would forsake its
dam?"

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

233

Cheenbiik was puzzled, but replied that he
thought there must be something the matter with
it — something wrong.

" I will tell you a story," continued the Indian,
" and it is true. It did not come into my head. I
did not dream it. There was a man-of-thc-woods,
and he had a squaw and one child, a girl. The
parents were very fond of this girl. She was
graceful like the swan. Her eyes were large,
brown, and beautiful like the eyes of a young deer.
She was active and playful like the young rabbit.
When she was at hoine the wigwam was full of
light. When she was absent it was dark. The
girl loved her father and mother, and never dis-
obeyed them or caused them to suffer for a
moment. One day, when the fiither was far away
from home, a number of bad Eskimos came and
fought with the men-of-tho woods, who went out
and drove their enemies away. They took one
prisoner, a strong fine-looking man. One night
the prisoner escaped. It was discovered that the
girl helped him and then went away with him."

Ho paused and frowned at this point, and the
startled Cheenbuk at once recognised himself and
Adolay as the hero and heroine of the story.

"Did the girl," he asked, "go away with the
escaped prisoner of her own will, oi did he force
her to go?"

" She went of her own will," returned the Indian.

234

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"One of the women of the tribe followed her
and. heard her speak. But the father loved his
child. He could not hate her, although she for-
sook her home. At first he thought of taking all
his young men and going on the war-path to follow
the Eskimos, slay the whole tribe, and bring back
his child. But Manitou had put it in the father's
mind to think that it is wrong to kill the innocent
because of the guilty. Ho therefore made up his
mind to set off alone to search for his child." .

Again Nazinred paused, and Chcenbuk felt very
uncomfortable, for although he knew that it was
impossible for the Indian to guess that the Eskimo
with whom he had once had a personal conflict was
the same man as he who had been taken prisoner
and had escaped with his daughter, still he was
not sure that the astute Red man might not have
put the two things together and so have come to
suspect the truth.

"So, then, man-of-the-woods," said Cheenbuk
at last, "you are the father who has lost his
daughter?"

" I am," returned the Indian, " and I know not
to what tribe the young man belongs with whom
she has gone away, but I am glad that I have met
with you, because you perhaps may have heard if
any strange girl has come to stay with any of the
tribes around you, and can tell mo how and where
to find her. We named her Adolay, because she

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

235

reminds lis of that bright season when the sun is
hot and high."

Cheenbuk Avas silent for some time, as well he
might be, for the sudden revelation that the Indian
who had once been his antagonist, and for whom
he had taken such a liking, was the father of the
very girl who had run away with him against
her inclination, quite took his breath away. It was
not easy to determine how or Avhen the true facts
should be broken to the father, and yet it was
evident that something must be said, for Cheenbuk
could not make up his mind to lie or to act the
part of a hypocrite.

" I have heard of the girl-of-the-woods you speak
of," he said at last ; " I have seen her."

For the first time since they met the character-
istic reserve of the Indian broke down, and he
became obviously excited, yet even then he curbed
his tongue for a few moments, and when he again
spoke it was with his habitual calmness.

" Does my son know the tribe to which she has
been taken ? And is it well with the girl V

" Ho does. And it is well with Adolay."

" Do they dwell far from here ?" asked Nazinred,
anxiously in spite of himself.

" Not far. I can soon take you to their igloes.
But tell me, man-of-the-woods, do you think your
child had no reason for leaving home in this way
except fondness for the young man ?"

286

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"I know not," returned the Indian, with a
doubtful, ahnost a hopeful look. "What other
reason could she have ? Her mother and I loved
her more than ourselves. All the young men
loved her. One of them — a bad one — had sworn
to his comrades that he would have her for a wife
in spite of her father" — ho smiled very slightly at
this point, Avith a look of inettablo contempt —
"but Magadar did not venture to say that in
her father's ears !"

"May it not have been fear of this man, this
Magadar, which drove her away?" suggested
Cheenbuk. "You were not there to defend her.
She may have been afraid of him, although you
fear him not."

"That is true," returned the Indian, with a
brighter look, " though I thought that Adolay
feared nothing — but she is not her father."

This wise and obvious truism, or the words of
the Eskimo, seemed to afford some comfort to the
poor man, for he became more communicative and
confidential after that.

" Do you think," asked Cheenbuk, " that your
daughter has married this young man ?"

" I know not."

"Don't you think it is likely?"

" I fear it is not unlikely."

" Why should you fear it ? Are not the Eskimos
as strong and brave as the men-of-the-woods ?"

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

237

For a moment the Indian looked at his com-
panion with high disdain, for the boastful question
had aroused within him the boastful spirit; but
the look quickly disappeared, and was replaced by
the habitual air of calm gravity.

" It may be, as you say, that your nation is as
brave and strong as ours — "

" I did not say that," remarked the free-and-easy
Eskimo, interrupting his companion in a way that
would have been d( emed very bad manners in an
Indian, " I asked you the question."

With a look of deeper gravity than usual the
Indian replied :

" To your question no true answer can be given
till all the men of both nations have tried their
courage and their strength. But such matters
should only be discussed by foolish boys, not by
men. Yet I cannot help confessing that it is a
very common thing among our young braves to
boast. Is it so among the Eskimos ?"

The Eskimo laughed outright at this.

" Yes," said he, " our young men sometimes do
that — some of them ; but not all. Wo have a few
young men among us who know how to hold their
tongues and when to speak."

" That is useful knowledge. Will my son speak
now, and toll me what he knows about Adolay ?"

" Ho knows that she is well spoken of, and much
loved by the tribe with which she lives."

238

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"That is natural," said tho Indian, with a
pleased look. " No one who sees Adoiay can help
loving her. Does tho young man who took her
away treat her kindly ?"

" No one can tell that but herself. What if ho
treated her ill?"

"I would hope never to meet with hira face
to face," replied Nazinred, with a frown and
a nervous clenching of the fist that spoke
volumes.

" I have heard," continued Chcenbuk in a quiet
way, " that the girl is very sad. She thinks much
about her old home, and blames herself for having
left it."

"Good," said the Indian emphatically. "That
is like the child, to be sorry when she has done
wrong."

" And I have heard that tho young man who
took her away is very fond of her — so fond that
he will do whatever she likes to please her. His
name is Cheenbuk. She asked him to take her
home again, and he has promised to do so when
the hot sun and tho open water come back."

" Good. The young man must be a good man.
Will ho keep his promise ? "

" Yes. I know him well. He loves truth, and
he will do what he says."

"It is a long time till tho open water comes.
Will the young Eskimo's mind not change ? "

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

239

"Choenbuk's mind will not change. Ho loves
Adolay better than himself."

Nazinred pondered this statement for some
time in silence, caressing the sleek head of Attim
as he did so.

" Will this young man, this Cheenbuk, be willing,
do you think, to leave her in the lodges of her
people and give her up altogether?" he asked,
with a somewhat doubtful look.

"If Adolay wishes to bo given up, ho will,"
replied the Eskimo confidently.

" And you know him well ? "

" Very well. No one knows him better."

Again the Indian was silent for some time.
Then he spoke in a low tone :

" My son has made glad the heart of the man-
of-the-woods. When wo met by the river and
strove together, we were draAvn by a cord that
anger could not snap. It is strange that you
should now bo chosen by Manitou to bring me
such good news."

" Manitou can do stranger things than this, my
father."

No more was said at that time, for, as both
were thoughtful men, a considerable space of time
was allowed to elapse between each question and
answer. Before it could be resumed the crack of
a whip and loud yeli^ing were heard in the distance,
and in a few minutes Antcok and two men drove

240

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

up to tho igloo with the sledge and fresh team
of dogs.

" I sent for them," explained Chcenbuk. " My
father is tired, he will lie down on tho sledge with
a bearskin round him, while I take him to tho
igloes of my people. After that I will take him
to Adolay."

"Nazinred will not lie down. He is no longer
tired, for his heart is glad."

A UOMANCE Ol' THE ICE-WOKIJ)

241

oain

My
vith

the
him

CHAPTER XXI.

iger

KICK-BALL AND AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

We bc},' tlio reader now to accompany us to
the Eskimo viUago, whore the men and boys are
having a game at kick-ball, a favourite game with
those mcn-of-thc-ico, which goes far to prove their
kinship with ourselves.

But the details of the game are dissimilar in
many ways — only the spirit is the same ; namely,
an effort to rouse the bodily system to as near
the bursting-point as possible without an abso-
lute explosion.

It was a lovely northern night. There Avas a
clearness in the still frosty air which gave to the
starry host a vivid luminosity, and seemed to
reveal an infinite variety of deep distances instead
of the usual aspect of bright spots on a black
surface. Besides the light they shed, the aurora
was shooting up into the zenith with a brilliancy
that almost equalled that of moonlight, and with
a vigour that made the beholder think there was
a rustling sound. Indeed, some of the natives
stoutly asserted that these lights did rustle — but

242

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

among Eskimos, as among ourselves, there are
highly imaginative people.

Oolalik was there of course. No game was
thought complete without the co-oporation of
that robust Eskimo. So was Ravcntik, for the
game of kick-ball suited his bold reckless nature
to perfection, and there were none of the other
players except himself capable of opposing Oolalik
with any hope of success. Aglootook the magician
also took part. The dignity of his office did not
forbid his condescending to the frivolities of re-
creative amusement. Gartok was also there, but,
alas i only as a spectator, for his wound was not
sufficiently healed to permit of his engaging in
any active or violent work. His fellow-sufferer
Ondikik sat beside him. He, poor .'nan, was in
a worse case, for the bullet which was in him kept
the wound open and drained away his strength.
He was wrapped in a white beaiskin, bemg unable
to withstand the cold.

The whole male population, except the old men
and the wounded, took part in the game, for the
ball frequently bounded to the outskirts of the
ice-field, where the beys of every shape and size
had as good a chance of a kick as the men. As
the women stood about in all directions looking
on, and sending back the ball when it chanced to
be kicked out of bounds, it may be said to have
been an exceedingly sociable game.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

243

Old Mangivik took groat interest, though no
part, in it, and Mrs. M. was not a whit behind him
in enthusiastic applause whenever a good kick was
given. Of course the fixir Nootka was beside them,
for — was not Oolalik one of the players ? She
would have scorned the insinuation that that was
the reason. Nevertheless there is reason to be-
lieve that that had something to do with her
presence.

Our friend Adolay, however, was not there.
The absence of Cheenbuk may have had some-
thing to do with her absence, but, as she Avas
seated in Mangivik's igloe moping over the lamp,
it is more charitable to suppose that a longing
for home — sweet liome — was weighing down her
spirits.

Old and young Uleeta were looking on with
great delight, so '.-as Cowlik the easy-going, and
Ilinka the sympathetic; and it was aoticcable
that, every now and then, the latter distracted
her mind from the play in order to see that the
bearskin did not slip off the shoulders of Ondikik,
and to replace it if it did. Not that Rinka had
any special regard for Ondikik, but it afforded her
intense pleasure merely to relieve suffering in any
way — so strong was the weakness for \v'liich she
got credit !

The game had lasted for a considerable time,
and the players were beginning to blow hard, when

244

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

the ball, kicked by a surprisingly snmll boy in dis-
proportionately big sealskin boots, chanced to fall
between Raventik and Oolalik.

" Oh ! " exclaimed Nootka to herself, Avith a gasp
of hope.

" Ho ! " exclaimed Oolalik, with a shout of deter-
mination.

Raventik exclaimed nothing, but both young
men rushed at the ball with furious vigour. The
active Oolalik reached it first.

" Ah ! " sighed Nootka with satisfaction.

"Hoh!" cried Oolalik, with a kick so full of
energy that it would have sent the ball far over
a neighbouring iceberg, if it had not been stopped
dead by the broad face of Raventik, who went flat
on his back in consequence — either from the
tremendous force of the concussion, or because of
a slip of the foot, or both.

This incident was received with shouts of
laughter and great applause, while Raventik
sprang to his feet. Instead of taking it in good
part, however, the reckless man allowed his
temper to get the better of him, and made a
rush at Oolalik, who, being naturally peaceful
emperament, dodged his adversary, and, with
a laugh, ran away from him; but tiio other was
not to be baulked in this way. A fight he was
bent on, so he gave chase at the top of his
speed. The man of peace, however, was too fleet

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

245

for him. He kept just out of his reach, thereby
stimulating his rage and inducing many a
"spurt" which proved abortive. At last, being
desirous of putting an end to the chase — or
himself losing patience, who knows ? — OolaUk
suddenly dropped on his hands and knees, and
Raventik, plunging headlong over him, fell flat
on his breast aiid went scooting over the ice for
about ten or fifteen yards before he could stop
himself. What would have happened after that
no one can tell, ^or just then the attention of
the whole party was diverted by a shout in
the distance, accompanied by the cracking of a
whip and the usual sounds that announced an
arrival.

A few seconds later and Cheenbuk drove his
team into the village.

Ho had warned Anteek to say nothing about
the finding of the Indian, and the boy had been
faithful to his trust, so that the Avholc population
was thrown into a state of wide-eyed amazement,
not to mention excitement, when the tall form
of the Firc-spoutcr was seen to rise from the
sledge and turn his grave countenance upon
them with the calm dignity characteristic of his
race. The dogs of the village showed not only
.surprise, but also their teeth, on observing Attim
among the new comers, and they made for him,
but a well-directed and sweejjing cut from the

246

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

whip of the watchful Anteek scattered them right
and left, and rebuked their inhospitality.

Thereafter Cheenbuk began to tell how he
had discovered the Indian on the ice, and in-
troduced the subject with some prolixity, like
not a few white men when they have a good
story to tell. Moreover, the wily man had an
eye to dramatic effect, and, observing that Adolay
was not among the women, ho made up his mind
to what is called "prolong the agony" as far as
possible.

Unfortunately for his purpose, there happened
to be blowing at the time a gentle nor'-west
breeze, which, in its direct course towards them,
had to pass over the igloe that belonged to
Mangivik, and the humble-minded Attim, keen
of scout, recognised something there that caused
him suddenly to cock his ears and tail, open
his eyes, and give vent to a sharp interrogative
yelp !

Next moment ho charged through the canine
throi <.' — scattering them in abject terror — dashed
into tiiC tunnel of Mangivik's dwelling, and dis-
appeared from view. Another moment and there
issued from the igloe — not a scream : Indian girls
seldom or never scream — but a female ebullition
of some sort, which was immediately followed by
the sudden appearance of Adolay, with the dog
waltzing around her, wriggling his tail as if he

Ill

~y^\jti

"SnE BOUXDED TOWARDS IIIM/'-Page 24T

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

24V

wished to shake oft' that member, and otherwise
behaving himself like a quadrupedal lunatic.

Eager inquiry was intensified in every lino of
her expressive face, and, withal, a half-scared
look, as if she expected to see a ghost. If she
]>ad really seen one the effect could scarcely
have been more impressive when hor eyes
encountered those of her father. She stood for
a few moments gazing, and utterly unable to
move, then, with a wild cry of joy, she bounded
towards him. In like manner the Indian stood at
first as if thunderstruck, for Checnbuk's informa-
tion had not led him to expect this. Then his
Avonted dignity utterly forsook him ; fur the first
time in his life, pcrlunps, he expressed his feelings
of affection with a shout, and, inccting the girl
half way, enfolded her in an embrace that lifted
her completely off' her legs.

The Eskimos, as may well be imagined, Avcre
not only surprised but profoundly interested in
the scene, and Chccnbuk was constrained to
draw his narrative to an abrupt conclusion b}-
inforiuing them hurriedly that the Fire-spouter
was the father of Adolay; that he had loft home
alone and on foot to search for her ; that ho was
also the v^ry man with whom, on the banks of
the Whale River, ho had fought and fraternised,
and that therefore it behoved them to receive
him hospitably as his particular friend.

248

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

lil

Cheenbuk spoko tho concluding sentence with
a look and tone that was meant to convey a
warning to any one who should dare to feel or
act otherwise; but there was little need of the
Avarning, for, with the exception of Aglootook
the medicine-man, tho chief leaders of the lire-
eating portion of the tribe, Gartok and Ondikik,
were at the time helpless.

Wliilo this irrepressible display of Dogrib
affection was enacting, Attim was performing a
special war-dance, or rather love-dance, of his own
round the re-united pair. He was an unusually
wise dog, and seemed to know that ho could
expect no attention just then ; he therefore con-
tented himself with a variety of hind-legged
pirouettes, and a little half-suppressed yelping,
knowing that his turn would surely come in time.

Meanwhile an incident occurred which seemed
further to enhance the dramatic character of the
meeting. There burst suddenly and without
warning upon the amazed and horrified multi-
tude a miniature thunder-clap, which, being
absolutely new to their experience, shook them to
their spinal marrow. Several boys of unusually
inquisitive disposition, taking advantage of the
pre-occupation of the tribe, ventured to poke
about the sledge which had just arrived, and
discovered the fire-spouter of the Indian. With
awe-stricken countenances they proceeded to

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

249

examine it. Of course, when they came to the
trigger it went off. So did the boys — excepting
the one who had touched the trigger. He, having
the butt against his chest at the moment, received
a lesson which he never forgot, and was laid flat
on his back — as much with fright as violence.
Fortunately there was nothing in front of the
gun at the time save the tip of a dog's tail.
Into this one lead-drop entered. It was enough !
The owner of the tail sprang into space, howling.
Every one else, including dogs and bairns, with
the exception of Mrs. Mangivik — who, being as it
were petrified with consternation, remained ab-
solutely innnovable — fled for shelter behind the
igloos, leaving Nazinred, Adolay, Cheenbuk and
Antcek in possession of the field.

By degrees their fears Avere calmed, and accord-
ing to their courage the rest of the population
returned to the scene of the explosion, some
half ashamed of having run away, others more
than half ready to nm again.

"Do they sometimes do like that by them-
selves ? " asked Cheenbuk, referring to the gun.

" Never," said the Indian. " Some one must
have touched it."

" The boys," remarked Antcek ; " I know
them ! "

Adolay laughed. " Yes," she said, " I knoAv
them too, and they meddln with everything."

250

TFTE WALRUS HUNTERS

"Conic, inan-of-thc-woods," said Chccnbuk,
"and seo my father's igloe. Ho is hiding inside
of it since the spouter made its noise. This is
my sister, Nootka, and that," ho added, pointing
to Mrs. Mangivik, who was gradually becoming
untransfixed, " is my mother."

" Have you told my father all, Cheenbuk ? "
asked Adolay as they went towards the hut.

The Indian stopped abruptly and looked with
a piercing glance at the Eskimo.

" Cheenbuk ! " he exclaimed, in a low voice.

" Yes, that is my name," said the young man,
with a smile, and yet Avith a something in his
face which implied that he was not ashamed to
own it.

For a moment the Indian frowned as if he
were displeased, at the same time drawing his
daughter close to him. The prejudices of race
were at work within him then, and that very
human weakness which shows itself in esteeming
all nations inferior to one's own strove Avith his
better feelings ; but as lie looked on the handsome
face and brave bearing of the young man-of-the
ice, and remembered his sentiments and sym-
pathy, he suddenly stepped up to him and held
out his hand.

"The white trader has taught me," he said,
" that the dift'crenco in men is only skin-deep.
The same Manitou made us all. Cheenbuk,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

251

my son, I am grateful to you for your caro of
my child."

"My father," said tho Eskimo, returning his
grasp, " your mind is in a good state. So is mine !
You must be tired and hungry. Let us go and
feed."

252

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XXII.

TEU-a OP HUNTING KXTRAOBDINART.

This advent of a male Fire-spoutcr into the little
community was a source of much interest and
delight to old and young — all the more that he
had brought the mysterious spouter with him.

Not less interesting to Nazinred was the com-
munity in the midst of which he found himself,
for, as we have more than once indicated, our
Indian was intellectually far in advance of his
fellows, and the opportunity he now had of observ-
ing closely the life of the men-of-the-ico in all its
details could not be otherwise than full of interest
to an inquiring and large-minded man.

On the day, or rather the night, of his arrival
he was allowed quietly to eat his supper in
the igloe of Mangivik, and go to sleep in peace,
but next morning there was a crowding of relatives
and friends into the hut, which rendered the meal
of breakfast not quite so pleasant as it might have
been, for the Indian, having been accustomed all
his life to the comparatively open wigwam, did not

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOHM)

253

relish tho stifling atmosphere of the densely
crowded snow-hut. However, ho belonged to a
race of Stoics, and, restraining his feelings, ato his
meal with moderate appetite and becoming gravity.

There is reason to believe that ho rather liked
tho earnest attention with which all his move-
ments wore closely and openly scrutinised ; at all
events ho proceeded with his meal as calmly as if
ho had been alone, and in his own wigwam with
none but tho faithful Isquay and amiable Adolay
to observe him.

Staring, as wo have already said, is not con-
sidered rude among tho Eskimos ; thoy therefore
sat open-mouthed and eyed, taking mental notes
in silence, till brealcfast was over, when Nazinred,
according to custom, opened his lire-bag, took out
his pipe, and began to fill it.

This created a sensation which was expressed
by hard breathing and eloquent looks. They had
been waiting for this. Of course Cheenbuk had
often descanted to them on the subject of smoking,
besides showing them how the thing was done,
but now they were going to see the amazing thing
done, in tho right way, by the real Simon Pure — a
live Fire-spouter !

" My father," said Cheenbuk at this point, " tho
igloe is hot, and there are many more who wish to
see you do that thing. Will you come outside ? "

With a condescending smile the Indian rose.

264

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

It was somewhat destnictivo of his dignity that he
was obliged to go down on hands and Icnees, and
creep out through the short snow tunnel, but as
there was no other mode of egress he had to
submit, and did it with the best grace possible,
making up for the brief humiliation by raising
himself when outside Avith ineffable dignity, and
throwing his deerskin robe over one shoulder d la
Roman toga.

He was greeted with something like a British
cheer by the entire community of men, women,
children, and even cogs, who were waiting outside
for him.

Sitting down on a snow-clad rock he went
through the process of filling the pipe, striking n,
light and beginning to smoke, to the unutterable
delight of the nati\es. This delight became rot
only utterable but obstreperous when Chcenbuk
gravely took out the pipe which Adolay had given
him and began to keep him company, at the same
time bestowing a look — a wink not yet being
known to him — on Anteek, who forthwith went oft"
into uncontrollable laughter and was promptly
hustled out of the crowd.

The iu^^crest aroused by the pipe, however, was
aj noti liig compared with that bestowed on the
fiie-spouter. For there was a mystery, noise, and
'leadhness about the latter which tended to evoke
feelings of awe rather than amusement.

y^.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

255

" I don't like to trouble your father too much,
Adolay," whispered Cheenbuk ; " would you say to
him that we wish very much to see him use the
spouter ? "

Nazinred was an amiable man. He at once
consented, and went back to the hut for his gun,
which, remembering the tendency of the boys to
meddle, ho had kept close beside him all night.

Loading it inside, he re-appeared with it ready.
Taking up a lump of ice about the size of one's
hand, he set it up on a hummock, and retired to
a distance of about thirty yards.

" Tell them all to keep back, out of the way of
that, Cheenbuk," said Nazinred.

The excitement and nervous expectation of the
Eskimos had been worked up considerably by
these preparations, so that they not only retired to
a safe distance, but some of them even took refuge
behind the igloes, and all held their breath while
their guest took aim.

He had loaded with shot, and when the explosion
took place the piece of ice vanished, having been
blown ♦o atoms. Of course a yell of admiration
greeted the result, and all the dogs of the tribe
fled on the wings — or paws — of terror, while Attim
sat quietly looking on with somewhat of his
master's dignity.

But the curiosity of the Eskimos was only
whetted by this. They immediately began to

25G

THE WALRUS IlUNTEllS

clamour for explanations, so that the Indian found
himself at last obliged to undertake a lecture ou
gunnery, as far as he understood it.

" My father," said Cheenbuk, whose respect for
the Indian was rapidly deepening, "some of my
people want to know if you can kill bears with the
spouter."

"Yes, it will kill bears. I killed a white one
not long before you found me."

" And will it kill the walrus too ? "

" Yes ; it will kill the walrus. It kills anything
that has life."

There was an expression of great astonishment
at this. Some even ventured to doubt it. Then
there was a noisy consultation for a few minutes,
after which Cheenbuk was told to ask if their
guest would go with them then and there to hunt
for a walrus.

"Oh yes;" the Indian was quite ready to go,
whereupon the men scattered to harness the dogs
and make prepa'-ation ioi* an immediate hunt.

" Go and get my sledge ready," said Cheenbuk
to Anteek.

The boy was only too glad to obey, for the
mission implied that he should have a place ou
the sledge along with the Fire-spouter.

In a very short time several sledges were ready.
Nazinrofl seated himself on one. Cheenbuk and
the others jumped in, the whips cracked, and

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

257

away they went amid the shouting of the drivers
and the yells of children and women left behind.

It did not take long to Hnd one of those giants
of the frozen seas. Some miles out on the ice
they came to a place which the walruses had
kept open as a breathing-hole. At the time of
their arrival it had not been disturbed for some
hours, for the water was covered by a coat of
young ice, which was quite able to bear the weight
of the men singly, though scarcely suiHcieutly
strong for the sledges.

Just as they arrived a walrus took it into its
very thick head to crasli up through the young
ice and have a gambol. The party retired behind
a hunmiock and prepared for action.

" Will the man-of-thc-woods go tirst and try the
spouter ? " asked Checnbuk.

" No," replied Nazinred ; " the man-of-thc-woods
prefers to Avatch hoAv the men-of-the-ice do their
work. After that he will use the spouter, which
we call pasgisseyan. Tlie white traders call it
gun."

Harpoons and lances were at once got ready.

" Come, Anteek, with me ; bring a harpoon and
a coil with you. We will show the man-of-the-
woods what we can do."

He said this with a look of self-confidence, for
Cheenbuk, be'ng a noted hunter among his fellows,
was naturally lathcr proud of his powers.

258

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Waiting until tlic v/alrus dived, the Eskimo and
his companion ran towards the hole of open water,
and then suddenly lay down, for they knev the
habits of the brute, and that ho would soon
reappear. This, in fact, happened before they
had lain more than a fcAv minutes. After another
^'•ambol the ungainly animal dived again. Up got
the two Eskimos and ran at full speed to the
very edge of the hole. On rising the third time the
walrus found Cheonbuk standing with tlie harpoon
raised. On<"i look of huge astonishment it gave at
the man, who instantly drove the harpoon dco"^ into
its side, and then ran from tlie hole as Tust as he
could, uncoiling the long line of hide until ho was
some distance oft'. Then he struck a piece of bone,
sharp-pointed, into the ice, and put the loop at the
end of the lino over it. This checiccd the dive of
the walrus, which in furious rage came up '^nd
smashed another hole in tlie ice, looking fiercely
around as if in search of its persecutor. Antcek's
opportunity had now come. He ran towards the
creature, which, so far from being afraid, smashed
up the ice hi vain attempts to got upon it.
Another harpoon was deftly driven into it, and
the boy, running back, fixed his lino as the man
had done.

These two now began to " play " ilio walrus,
casing off' and tightening thoir lines as ro(iuircd.

Meanwhile the other Eskimos ran forward,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

259

and, taking advantage of the creature's combative
disposition, fixed several more harpoons in it.
besides giving it -my severe thrusts with their
lances. But the h'de of a walrus is nearly an inch
thick, and it was not easy to pierce it with an
ett'cctive thrust. At last, however, they suc-
ceeded in killing it after a battle of over three
hours.

" That is hard work," observed Nazinred to
Cheenbuk, as they stood watching the cutting up
and packing of their prize on the sledges^ "aud
to,kes a long time."

" Come, now, let my father show us Avhat the —
the pass— pass — ^i — spouter-gun can do," said
Cheoibuk, pointing to his s!edge, which Anteek
had got ready, " There are more walruses
yoador."

He pointed to another bole, not far oft", where
several were seen rolling about in the vater. The
Indian stopped on the sledge, the others followed,
and in a -jhort time the v/hole party was concealed
behind a hummock clo?o co the hole.

Nazinred now loaded l:is gun with ball.

" You mnst first th."ow a harpoon for fear it
should sink," he saia, when ready to start.

Without a word Cheenbuk grasped his harpoon
and coil and ran forward, for the walrus had dived
at. that moiuent. Anteek followed, and Nazinred
kept close to both. Once they lay down to let

260

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

the animal come up and dive again. The moment
it did so they ran at full speed as before to the
edge of the hole and waited.

" Send it deep in," muttered the Indian.

" I will," replied the Eskimo.

"So will I," thought the boy, but he was too
modest to say so.

The thought had barely passed when the walrus
came up with a puff and snort that might have
been heard a mile off. Chconbuk's weapon was
succcssfidly launched in a moment. So was that
of Anteek, though he missed the animal's side,
but hit in the neck. Nazinred took quick but sure
aim at one of its glaring eyes, and before the
smoke of the shot had cleared away the walrus
fell over dead with a bullet in its brain.

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLD

261

CHAPTER XXIIT.

A BEAR-HUNT AND A SAD END.

The Indian chief was after tliis an object of
almost veneration to the Eskimo men, of admira-
tion to the women, and of dchght to the boys and
girls, Avho highly apjireciated his kindly disposition
as well as his skill with the spouter.

He was taken out on all their hunting expedi-
tions, and fully initiated into all the mysteries of
seal, walrus, deer, and musk-ox killing. Of course
the wonderful gun was brought into frequent re-
quisition, but its owner was obliged to have regard
to his powder and shot, and had to explain that
without these the spouter would refuse to spout,
and all its powers would vanish. \\'hen this
was thoroughly understood, his hosts ceased to
persecute him with regard to displays of his
skill.

One day, in the dead of the long winter, Cheen-
buk proposed to Nazinred to go on a hunt after
bears. The latter declined, on the ground that he
had akeady arranged to go with Mangivik to

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

watch at a seal-hole. Cheenbuk therefore re-
solved to take Anteek with him instead. Gartok
was present when the expedition was projected,
and offered to accompany it.

"I fear you are not yet strong enough," said
Cheenbuk, whose objection, however, was delivered
in pleasant tones, — for a change for the better had
been gradually taking place in Gartok since the
date of his wound, and his old opponent not only
felt nothing of his ancient enmity towards him, but
experienced a growing sensation of pity, — for the
once fire-eating Eskimo did not seem to recover
health after the injury ho had received from the
Firc-spouter's bullet.

" I am not yet stout enough to fight the bears,"
he said with a half-sad look, "but I am stout
enough to look on, and perhaps the sight of it
might stir up my blood and make mo feel
stronger."

Old Mangivik, who was sitting close by, heaved
a deep sigh at this point. Doubtless the poor
man was thinking of his own strength in other
days — days of vigour which had departed for
ever — at least in this life; yet the old man's
hopes in regard to the life to como were pretty
strong, though not well defined.

"Well, you may come," said Cheenbuk, as he
rose and Avcnt out with Anteek to harness the
dogs.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

263

In less than half an hour they were careering
over the ice in tiio direction of a bay in the Innd
where fresh bear-tracks had been seen the cay
before.

The bay was a deejD one, extending four or
five miles up into the interior of the island.

We have assumed that the land in question was
an island because of its being in the neighbour-
hood of a largo cluster of islands which varied
very considerably in size ; but there is no certainty
as to this, for the region was then, and still is, very
imperfectly known. Indeed, it is still a matter of
dispute among geographers, we believe, whether
continents or seas lie between that part of the
coast of America and the North Pole.

As far as appearance went the land might
have been the edge of a vast continent, for the
valley up which the Eskimos were driving ex-
tended iuAvards and upwards until it was lost in
a region where eternal glaciers mingled with the
clouds, or reared their grey ridges against the
dark winter sky. It was a scene of cold, wild
magnificence and desolation, which might have
produced awe in the hearts of civilised men,
though of course it must have seemed connnon-
place and tame enough to natives who had never
seen anything mdch softer or loss imposing.

The party had travelled about four miles up
the valley, and reached a steep part, which was

264

THE WALIUJS HUNTERS

l^-i

tryin*,' to tlio nicttlo of tho doj^'s, when a track
was observed a sliort distance to their ri<^dit.

"Bear," said Gartok in a low voice, pointing
towards it.

Checnbuk made no reply, but at onco ran the
team under the shelter of a neighbouring cliff and
pulled up. Tho dogs were only too glad to obey
tho order to halt, and immediately lay down,
panting, with their tongues out.

Fastcninr' the sled'^o to a rock, and Icavint,' it
in charge of a little boy who hod been brouglit for
tho purpose, the other throe set off to examine
the track and reconnoitre ; intending, if they had
reason to believe the bear was near, to return for
tho dogs and attack it in force.

Tho track was found to bo quite fresh. It led
upwards in the direction of a neighbouring ridge,
and towards this the party hastened. On reaching
the summit they bent low and advanced after the
manner of men who expected to see something
on the other side. Then they dropped on hands
and knees, and crawled cautiously, craning their
necks every now and then to see what lay beyond.

Now, the little boy who had been left in charge
of tho sledge happened to be a presumptuous
little boy. He was not a bad boy, by any means.
Ho did not refuse to obey father, or mother, or any-
body else that claimed a right to command, and
he was not sly or double-tongued, but he Avas

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOIILD

2GI

afflicted with that very evil quality, presumption:
ho thought that ho know how to manage things
better than anybody else, and, if not actually
ordered to let things remain as they were, he was
apt to go in for experimental changes on his own
account.

When, therefore, he was left in charge of the
dogs, with no particular direction to do or to
refrain from doing anything, ho found himself in
the condition of being dissatisfied with the position
in which the team was fastened, and at once
resolved to change it only .a few yards farther to
the right, near to a sheltering cliff.

With this end in view he untied the cord that
held the sledge, and made the usual request, in an
authoritative voice, that the team Avould move on.
The team began to obey, but, on feeling them-
selves free, and the sledge light, they proceeded
to tho left instead of the right, and, despite the
agonising remonstrances of the little boy, began
to trot. Then, appreciating doubtless tho Eskimo
ver::jion of "Home, sweet Home," they suddenly
went off down-hill at full gallop.

Tho presumptuous one, i)uckering his face, was
about to vent his dismay in a lamentable yell,
when it suddenly occurred to him that he might
thereby disturb the hunters and earn a severe
flogging. He therefore restrained himself, and
sat down to indulge in silent sorrow.

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266

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Meanwhile the explorers topped the ridge, and,
peeping over, saw a largo white bear not more
than a hundred yards off, sitting on its haunches,
engaged, apparently, in contemplation of the
scenery.

At this critical moment they heard a noise
behind them, and, glancing back, beheld their
dogs careering homeward, with the empty sledge
swinging Avildly in the rear. Checnbuk looked at
Gartok, and then both looked at the bear. Ap-
parently the ridge prevented the distant sound
from reaching it, for it did not move.

"We must go at it alone — without dogs," said
Gartok, grasping his spear, while a flash of the
old fire gleamed in his eyes.

" You must not try," said Chcenbuk ; " the drive
here has already tired you out. Antcek will do
it Avith mo. This is not the first time that we
have hunted toother."

The boy said nothing, but regarded his friend
with a look of gratified pride, while ho grasped
his spear more firmly.

"Good," returned Gartok, in a resigned tone;
" I will stand by to help if there is need."

Nothing more was said, but Cheenbuk looked
at Anteek and gave the brief order — " Go ! "

The boy knew well what to do. Grasping his
spear, he ran out alone towards the bear and
flourished it aloft. Turning with apparent surprise,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

267

the animal showed no sign of fear at the challenge
of such an insignificant foe. It faced him, how-
ever, and seemed to await his onset. The boy
moved towards the right side of the bear. At
the same time Cheenbuk ran forward towards
its left side, while Gartok went straight towards
it at a sloAv walk, by way of further distracting
its attention.

As the three hunters approached from different
directions, their prey seemed a good deal dis-
concerted, and looked from one to the other as if
undecided how to act. When they came close
up the indecision became more pronounced, and
it rose on its hind-legs ready to defend itself.
Gartok now halted when within five or six
yards of the animal, which was anxiously turning
its head from side to side, while the other two
ran close up.

The plan was that usually followed by Eskimos
in similar circumstances. Anteck's duty was to
run forward and prick the bear on its right side,
so as to draw its undivided attention on himself,
thereby leaving its left side unguarded for the
deadly thrust of Cheenbuk. Of course this is
never attempted by men who arc not quite sure
of their courage and powers. But Cheenbuk and
Anteek knew each other well. The latter was
not, perhaps, quite strong enough to give the
death-dealing thrust, but he had plenty of courage.

268

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

and knew well how to administer the deceptive
poke.

As for Gartok, besides being incapable of any
great exertion, he would not on any account have
robbed the boy of the honour of doing his work
Avithout help. He merely stood there as a
spectator.

With active spring Anteck went close in and
delivered his thrust.

The bear uttered a savage roar and at once
turned on iiim. Just at the moment the boy's
foot slipped and he fell close to the animal's feet.
In the same instant the two men sprang forward.
Checnbuk's spear entered the bear's heart, and
that of Gartok struck its breast. But the thrust
of the latter was feeble. In his excitement and
weakness Gartok fell, and the dying bear fell upon
him. His action, however, saved Anteek, who
rolled out of the way just as his preserver fell.

Cheenbuk and Anteek did not hesitate, but,
regardless of the few death-struggles that folloAved,
rushed in, and grasping its thick hair dragged the
monster off the fallen man.

Gartok was insensible, and it was a considerable
time before he fully recovered consciousness.
Then it was found that he could not rise, and that
the slightest motion gave him intolerable pain.

" He will die ! " exclaimed Anteek, with a look
of painful anxiety.

"DRAGGED THE MONSTER OFF TUB FALLEN' MAX."-Paoe 208.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

269

" Yes, he will die if we do not quickly get him
home," said Cheenbuk. "He cannot walk, and
he would freeze long before we could make an
igloe. I must depend on you now, Antcek. Go
back as fast as you can run, and send men with a
sledge and skins and something to eat. The boy
will remain with mo. Away ! "

Without a word Antcek leaped up, and, drop-
ping his spear, ran as if his own life depended on
his speed. The little boy, Avho had acted so fool-
ishly, came up with anxious look on being hailed,
but soon forgot himself in his anxiety to be of
use to the injured man.

There was a mound of snow within three yards
of the spot where the combat had taken place.
To the lee side of this Cheenbuk carried Gartok.
Being very strong, he was able to lift him tenderly,
as if he had been a child, but, despite all his care,
the poor man suffered terribly Avhen moved.

It was well that this mound happened to be so
close, for a dark cloud which had been overspread-
ing the sky for some time began to send down
snow-flakes, and frequent gusts of wind gave in-
dications of an approaching storm. Having placed
Gartok in such a position that he was quite
sheltered from the wind, Cheenbuk took off his
upper sealskin coat, laid it on the snow, and lifted
the injured man on to it. He then wrapped it
round him and folded the hood under his head for

270

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

a pillow, bidding tlic boy bank up the snow beside
him in such a way as to increase the shelter.
While thus engaged ho saw with some anxiety
that Gartok had become deadly pale, and his com-
pressed lips gave the impression that ho was
sutt'ering much.

" Come here," said Chcenbuk to the boy quickly ;
" rub his hands and make them warm."

The boy obeyed with alacrity, while the other,
hastening his movements, began to skin the bear.
Being an expert with the knife in such an opera-
tion, he was not long of removing the thick-
skinned hairy covering from the carcass, and in
this, while it was still warm, he wrapped his
comrade — not a moment too soon, for, despite
the boy's zealous ettbrts, the intense cold had
taken such hold of the poor man that he was
ahnost unconscious. The warmth of the bearskin,
however, restored him a little, and Cheenbuk,
sitting down beside him, took his head upon his
lap and tried to shelter him from the storm, which
had burst forth and was raging furiously by that
time — fine snow filling the atmosphere, Avhile the
wind drove it in huge volumes up the valley.

Cheenbuk noted this, and congratulated himself
on the fact the wind would favour the progress of
the rescue sledge.

Sometimes the whirling snow became so suffo-
cating that the little boy was compelled to cease

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

271

his labours on the sheltering wall and crouch close
to it, while Cheenbuk buried his nose and mouth
in the white fur of the bear until the violence of
the blasts abated. By keeping the skin well over
tho face of the wounded man, he succeeded in
guarding him from them effectually. But his
mind misgave him when ho tried to look through
tho whirling confusion around, and thought of tho
long tramp that Anteek would have ere ho could
commence his return journey with tho sledge.

It turned out, however, that this was one of those
short-lived squalls, not unconmion in the Arctic
regions, which burst forthwith unwonted fury.swcep
madly over the plains of the frozen seas, rush up
into tho valleys of the land, and then suddenly
stop, as though they felt that all this energy was
being spent in vain. In a short time, which how-
ever seemed interminable to the watchers on the
hillside, the wind began to abate and the wild gusts
were less frequent. Then it calmed down ; finally
it ceased altogether ; and the storm-cloud, passing
away to the south-east, left the dark sky studded
with the myriad constellations of the starry host.

Uncovering Gartok's face to see hoAv it fared
with him, and hoping that he slept, Cheenbuk
found that he was wide awake, but in a condition
that made him more anxious than ever. He
looked up at tho face of his protector with a faint
but grateful smile.

272

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" I have always been your enemy," ho said, in a
low voice, " but you have been my friend."

" That does not matter now," replied Cheenbuk.
" I have never been your enemy. Wo will bo
friends from this time on."

Gartok closed his eyes for a few seconds, but did
not speak. Tlicn ho looked up again earnestly.

" No," he said, with more of decision in his tone ;
" wo shall neither bo friends nor enemies, I am
going to the country Avhere all is dark; from
which no sound has ever come back ; whore there
is nothing."

"Our people do not talk in this way. They
think that we shall all meet again in the spirit-
land, to hunt the seal, tho walrus, and the bear,"
returned Cheenbuk.

" Our people talk foolishness. They think, but
they do not know" rejoined this Hyperborean
agnostic, as positively and as ignorantly as if ho
had been a scientific Briton.

" How do you know that there is * nothing ' in
the place where you are going ? " asked Cheenbuk,
simply.

Gartok was silent. Probably his logical faculty
told him that his own thinking and coming to
a conclusion without knowing was as foolish in
himself as in his comrades.

The subject of conversation happened to be very
congenial to Cheenbuk's cast of mind. He re-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

273

niainod thinking and gazing upwards lor a minute
or two, then ho said meditatively, as if ho wore
trying to work out some mental problem —

" Did you ever make a sledge, or a spear, and
then destroy it utterly while it was yet good and
new ? "

" Never. I have been bad, it may bo, but I am
not a fool."

" Is the great Maker of all a fool ? Ho has made
you, and if He lets you die now, utterly. He
destroys you in your best days. Is it not more
likely that Ho is calling you to some other land
where there is Avork for you to do ? "

" I don't understand. I do not know," replied
Gartok, somewhat doggedly.

" But you do understand, and you do know, that
He would be foolish to kill you now, %inless He had
some work and some pleasure for you in the
unknown land from Avhicli no sound ever comes
back. When a father gives his son a Avork to do,
he does not destroy his son Avhen the Avork is done.
He gives him another piece of Avork; perhaps
sends him on a long journey to another place.
When the Maker of all sees that Ave have finished
our work here, I ask again, is it not likely that He
will send us to Avork elseAvhere, or is it more likely
that He Avill utterly destroy us — and so prove
Himself to be more foolish than Ave are ? "

I do not knoAv," repeated Gartok, " but I do

274

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

know that if tlio Maker of all is {j^ood, as I have
heard sa}', then I have not dono Hh work hero —
for you know, everybody knows, T have been bad !"

Cheenbuk was much per()loxcd, for ho knew
not " how to minister to a mind diseased."

" I have often wondered," ho said at last, " why
it is that some things aro wrong and somo right.
The Maker of all, being good and all-powerful,
could havo made things as Ho pleased — all right,
nothing wrong. Perhaps men, like children, will
understand things better when they aro older —
when they havo reached the land from wliich no
sound conies back. But I am not much troubled.
Tho Maker of all must bo all-good and all-wise.
If Ho Avero not, Ho could not bo tho Maker of all.
I can trust Him. He will throw light into our
minds when tho tiuio comes. He has already
thrown somo light, for do wo not know right from
wrong ? "

" True, but although I havo known right I have
always dono wrong," retiu'ned Gartok moodily.
" I am sorry now. If you had not been kind to
me, your enemy, Cheenbuk, I should never have
been sorry. Ever since I was hurt by tho Firo-
spouters you havo boon kind to mo, and now you
Avould save my life if you could. But it is too late.
You have known right, and dono it."

" You mistake," rejoined Cheenbuk gravely.
"Like you, I have known right but I havo not

A UOMANCE Ol' THE ICE-WORLO

275

always (lono it; only .soinetimcs. It is not long
since I hc'^iin to think, and it is since I have been
thinking that iny spirit seems to have changed, so
that I now hate wrong, and desire right. I think
that the Maker of all nuist have caused the change,
as He makes the ice-mountains molt, for it is not
possible that I could change myself. I had no wish
to change till I felt the change."

" I wish," said Gartok earnestly, " that — if lie
exists at all — He would change me."

At that moment Chccnbuk, who was gazing up
into the brilliant sky, seemed to bo moved by a
sudden inspiration, for he gave utterance to tho
first audible prayer that had ever passed his lips.

" Maker of all," he said, " give to Gartok the
spirit that loves right and hates wrong."

The dying Eskimo raised his eyes to Chconbuk's
face in astonishment ; then he turned them to the
starry host, as if he almost expected an immediate
answer.

"Do you think He hears us?" ho asked in a
faint voice, for the strength of his feelings and tho
effort at conversation had exhausted him greatly.

" I will trust Him," answered Cheenbuk.

" I will trust Him," repeated Gartok.

For some time they sat in profound silence, and
Gartok closed his eyes as if he were falling asleep.
The silence was broken by a distant sound. It
was the approach of Anteok with tho sledge. He

276

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

had found the runaway dogs anchored fast be-
tween tAv^o masses of ice where the sledge had
got jammed. Turning the team round he plied
his whip with vigour, insomuch that they would
have arrived much sooner if the storm nad not
caused delay.

Having arranged the sledge and its wraps so as
to form a comfortable couch for the wounded man,
they lifted him on to it, but when they removed
the bearskin from his face it was found that he
was beyond earthly care : he had passed over to
the land from which no sound has ever come
bpck.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

277

CHAPTER XXIV.

THB TBADERS AT WORK.

Wherever half a dozen average men are
banded together and condemned to make the
best of each other's society for a prolonged period,
there is apt to bo a stagnation of ideas as well as
of aspirations, which tends more or less to develop
the physical and to stunt the spiritual part of
our nature,

So thought MacSweenie as ho sat one fine
spring morning on a rude chair of his own
making in front of the outpost on Great Jiear
Lake which he had helped to build.

The Scottish Highlander possessed a compara-
tively intellectual type of mind. We cannot tell
precisely the reach of his soul, but it was certainly
" above buttons." The chopping of the firewood,
the providing of food, the state of the weather,
the prospects of the advancing spring, and the
retrospect of the long dreary winter that was just
vanishing from the scene, were not sulhcient to
api^easo his intellectual appetite. They sufficed,

278

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

indeed, for his square, solid, easy-going, matter-of-
fact interpreter, Donald Mowat ; and for his chief
fisherman, guide, and bowman, Bartong, as well as
for his other men, but they failed to satisfy him-
self, and he longed with a great longing for some
congenial soul with whom ho might hold sweet
converse on something a little higher than
buttons,"

Besides being thus unfortunate in the matter of
companionship, our Highlander was not well off
as to literature. He had, indeed, his Bible, and,
being a man of serious mind, he found it a great
resource in what was really neither more nor less
than banishment from the world ; but as for light
literature, his entire library consisted of a volume
of the voyages of Sir John Franklin, a few very old
numbers of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, and
one part of that pioneer of cheap literature. The
Penny Magazine. But poor MacSweenie was not
satisfied to merely imbibe knowledge ; he wished
also to discuss it; to philosophise and to ring
the changes on it.

Ho occasionally tried his hand on Mowat, who
was undoubtedly the most advanced of his staff
intellectually, but the results were not encouraging.
Donald was good-natured, amiable, ready to listen
and to accord unquestioning belief, but, not having
at that time risen above " buttons," he was scarcely
more able to discuss than an average lamp-post.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

279

Occupying the position of a sort of foreman, or
confidential clerk, tlio interpreter liad frequent
occasion to consult his superior on tlio details of
the establishment and trade.

" I 'm thinking, sir," said ho, approaching his
master on the spring morning in question, " that
we may as well give the boat an overhaul, for if
this weather lasts the open water will soon be
upon us,"

"You are right. Tonal'," answered the trader,
knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and proceeding
to refill it. "That iss just what wass in my own
mind, for we must bo thinkin' about makin' pre-
parations for our trip to the Ukon Ruver. We will
hev to start whenever my successor arrives here.
Man, it will bo a goot job when we are off, for I
am seek-tired of this place. Wan hes notliin' in
the world to think about but his stamik, an' that
iss not intellectooal, whatever."

" Are wo to use the inch or the inch-an'-a-half
nails ? " asked Mowat, after a moment's pause.

" Whichever you like, Toual'. There iss plenty
of both in the store, an' ye are as jjoot a iudofe o'
these mettcrs as I a

nyi

help y(

man ; only see that the work is done well, for there
iss a rough trup bo lore us when wo do git away.
An' the load will bo heavy moreover, for tliere will
be a deal of stuff needed if wo are to build an
outpost fit to spend a winter in. Man, it iss

280

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

pleasant to think that we will break up now
gi'ound — open up a new country among savitches
that scarce knows what like a white man iss. We
Avill feel quite like what we felt as boys when wo
was readin' Robinson Crusoe."

"Wo will need two pit-saws," remarked the
practical Orkneyman in a meditative tone.

"No doubt, no doubt," returned MacSweenie,
" and a grindstone too. Do you remember what
that man Nazinred said when ho came here on
his last trup, — that the Indians about his country
would be fery pleased to see traders settle among
thorn? He little thought — an' no more did I —
that wo would be so soon sent to carry out their
wishes; but our Governor is an active-minded
man, an' ye never know what he '11 be at next.
He 's a man of enterprise and action, that won't
let the grcss grow under his feet — no, nor under
the feet of anybody that he lies to do wi'. I am
well pleased, whatever, that he hes ordered mo on
this service. An' no doubt ye are also well pleased
to go. Tonal'. It will keep your mind from gettin'
rusty."

" I am not ill-pleased," returned the inter2)rcter
gravely. — " I 'm thinkin' there won't be enough o'
pitch to go over all the seams o' the boat. I
was — "

" Hoot, man ! never mind the putch. Tonal'.
What there iss will do fery well, an' the boat that

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

281

comes with supplies for the new post will be sure
to hev plenty. By the way, I wonder if that fine
man Nazinred will hev come back when we get to
the Ukon River. It wass a strange notion of his
the last comers told us about, to go off" to seek his
daughter all by himself. I hov my doubts if he '11
ever come back. Poor man ! it wass naitural too
that ho should make a desperate attempt to get
back his only bairn, but it wass not naitural that
a wise man like him should go off all his lone.
I 'm afraid ho wass a little off his head. Did
they tell you what supplies he wass supposed to
have taken ? "

" Yes. The wife said he had a strong sled with
him, an' the best team o' dogs in the camp. — Do
you think the boat will need a new false keel ? I
was lookin' at it, an' it seemed to mo rather far
gone for a long trup."

" I will go an' hev a look at it. Tonal'. But I
hev been wonderin' that Mozwa, who seemed so
fond o' his frund, should hev lot him start away
all by his lone on such a trup."

" Ho couldn't help lottin' him," said Mowat, " for
he didn't laiow he was goin' till ho was gone."

"You did not tell mo that," said the trader
sharply.

" Well, perhaps I did not," returned the inter-
preter, with an amiable smile. " It is not easy to
remember all that an Indian says, an' a good deal

282

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

of it is not wortli rememberin'. — "Would you like
me to sot-to an' clean up tlio store to-day, or let
the men go on cuttin' firewood ? "

" Let them do whatever you think best, Tonal',"
replied MacSweenic, with a sigh, as ho rose and
re-entered his house, where he busied himself by
planning and making elaborate designs for the
new "fort," or outpost, which he had been in-
structed to establish on the Ukon River. After-
wards he solaced himself with another pipe and
another dip into the well-worn pages of the Penny
Magazine.

Not long after the conversation just narrated,
the boat arrived with the gentleman appointed to
reUeve MacS weenie of his charge on Great Bear
Lake, and with the supplies for the contemplated
new post.

Action is not usually allowed to halt in those
wild regions. A few days sufficed to make over
the charge, pack up the necessary goods, and
arrange the lading of the expedition boat; and,
soon after, MacSweenio with Donald Mowat as
steersman, Bartong as guide and bowman, and
eight men — some Orkneymen, some half-breeds —
were rowing swiftly towards the Arctic shore.

Passing over the voyage in silence, wo raise the
curtain again on a warm day in summer, when
animal life in the wild nor'-wcst is very lively,
especially that portion of the life which resides in

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

283

mosquitoes, sand-flies, and sucli-liko tormentors of
man and beast.

"Wo should arrive at the TJkon to-morrow, if
my calculations are right — or nixt day, whatever,"
said MacSweenie to his interpreter and steersman,
as he sat smoking his pipe beside him.

"Bartong is of the same opeenion," returned
Mowat, "so between you we should come right.
But Bartong is not quite sure about it himself, I
think. At least ho won't say much."

" In that respect the guide shows himself to be
a wise man," returned MacSweenie sententiously.
" It iss only geese that blab out all they think to
everybody that asks them questions."

"Ay, that is true," rejoined Mowat, with a
cynical smile, " an' some geese manage, by sayin'
nothin' at all to anybody, and lookin' like owls, to
pass themselves off as wise men — for a time."

Bartong, Avho was being thus freely discussed in
the stern of the boat, sat in his place at the bow-
oar, pulling a steady stroke and casting serious
looks right and left at the banks of the river as
they went along. He was a dark fine-looking
stalwart man, of what may bo called mixed
nationality, for the blood of Scotchmen, French-
Canadians, and Indians flowed in his veins — that
of Indians predominating, if one were to judge
from appearance. He was what is called in the
parlance of the nor'- west a " good " man — that is

284

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

to say he was mentally and physically well adapted
for the work ho had to do, and the scenes in the
midst of which his lot had been cast. Ho pulled
a good oar; he laboured hard; could do almost
any kind of work ; and spoke English, French, and
Indian almost equally well. He also had a natural
talent for finding his way almost anywhere in the
wilderness. Hence ho had been sent as guide to
the expedition, though he had never been at the
Ukon River in his life. But he had been to other
parts of the Arctic shore, and had heard by
report of the character and position of the river
in question.

" It iss gettin' late, Bartong ; don't you think it
would be as well to camp here ?" asked Mac-
Sweenie.

The bowman ceased rowing, and the crew
followed his example, while he glanced inquiringly
up at the sky and round his limited horizon, as
guides and seamen are wont to do when asked for
an opinion as to professional movements,

"There will yet be daylight for an hour, and
there is a small lake ahead of us. If wo cross it,
we come to a place where one of the Indians
said he would meet us if we came to his country."

" That is true. Tonal','' said the leader, turning
quickly to his steersman, " I had almost forgot that,
it wass so long ago since we met them. Both
Nazinred and Mozwa said something about mcetin'

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

285

US, if we came to settle, though I paid little
attention at the time. But are ye sure, Bartong,
that this is the lake ? "

" I know not. It is not unlikely. If it is the
lake, it is small, and we will soon come to the end
of it. If it is not the lake, an' turns out to be
big, we can camp on the shore. The night will be
fine."

" Go ahead then, boys," cried the leader, " we
will try."

The oars were dipped at once, and the men
pulled with a will, encouraged by the conversation,
which secuied to indicate the approaching end of
their voyage.

The lake over the bosom of which they were
soon sweeping proved to be a small one, as they
had hoped, but whether it was the one referred to
by the Indians remained to be scon. A sharp
look-out was kept for the smoke of wigwams, but
nothing of the kind was seen on either side, and
the end of the lake was -finally reached without
any sign of the presence of natives being observed.

" No doubt Mozwa has forgotten, or it may be
that he iss away to seek for his frund Nazinred
among the Eskimos. No metter. We will camp
here, whatever, for the night. I think on the
other side o' that point will be a goot campin'
ground."

He pointed in the direction indicated, and there

2S6

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

was just daylight enough loft to enable Mowat to
steer into a narrow creek.

There is something calming, if not almost solem-
nising, in the quietude with which a boat glides
ashore, on a dark night, under the overhanging
trees of a wilderness lake. The oars are neces-
sarily stopped, and the voices hushed, while tlio
bowman, standing erect, with a long polo in hand,
tries to penetrate the thick mysterious darkness
that seems to be the very gate of Erebus. Bar-
tong stood ready to thrust the head of the boat
off any rocks that might suddenly appear in their
course, or give the order to "back all" should
the water become too shallow. But no obstacles
presented themselves, and the boat forged slowly
ahead until it lay alongside a ledge of rock or
natural jetty. Then the spell was broken as the
men leaped ashore and began to unload the things
that were required for the night's bivouac.

Still, the voices were moderated, for it is not
easy to shake off the tranquillising effect of such a
scene at such an hour, and it was not till the
camp-fire was lighted, and the kettles were on,
and the pipes going full blast, that the cheering
effect of light chased the depressing influence of
darkness away.

Then, indeed, MacSweenie, dropping the role of
leader, assumed that of hon camarade ; and Mowat,
descending from the dignity of steersman, enlarged

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOHLD

287

upon his oxpcrionccs in otlior cliiys ; and Bartong,
still retaining his dignity however, relaxed his
anxious frown and listened witii an air of intelli-
gent appreciation that charmed every speaker, and
induced the belief that ho could cap every anec-
dote and story if he only chose to open his mouth ;
while the men divided their sympathies between
the narratives, the tobacco-pipes, and the music of
the frying-pan and bubbling kettle.

Then, too, the darkness into which they had
penetrated fled away, — not indeed entirely, but
forsaking the bright spot thus created in the
wilderness, it encircled the camp as with a wall of
ebony.

It was not long, however, ere appetites were
appeased, and the voyagers sought repose ; for
men who have to Avork hard all day at a healthy
occupation are not addicted to late hours — at least
not in the wildernesses of the nor'- west. Ere long
every man was rolled in his blanket, stretched
out with his feet to the fire and his head on his
coat, while the blaze sank low, until at last the red
embers alone remained to render darkness visible.

Among the last to seek repose were the leader
of the expedition, the interpreter, and the bow-
man. Having the cares of state on their shoulders,
these three naturally drew together for a little
consultation after the others had retired.

"What iss your opeenion, Bartong?" asked Mac-

288

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Swconio, pushiiit,' down tho toKacco in his pipo
Avitli tho end of a very bhint and niuoh charred
forefinger ; " do you think tho savitches will como
here at all ?"

" ^[aybe they will, and maybe they won't,"
answered the guide, with a caution worthy of tho
Scottish portion of his blood. " Wo nivor know
what Injins is goin' to do till they do it."

"Umph!" ejaculated tho Highlander; "if
Solomon had boon your grandliither you could
scarcely hev made a wiser speech. — What think
you. Tonal'?"

" Weel, as ye put it to me, I nuist say that I 'm
strongly of Bartong's opeenion."

"Just so," remarked MacSweenio, with a thought-
ful air ; " so, as I agree wi' you both, I think it iss
about time for us all to turn in."

He turned in accordingly, by lying back in his
place and drawing his blanket over him.

The other statesmen immediately followed his
example, and the camp subsided into silence.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOHLD

289

CHAPTER XXV.

THK OUTPOST, AND EFKEOT OF A " KUDDLK."

Soon afterwards the expedition of the fur-
traders reached the Ukon River, a comparatively
insignificant stream, but, from its character and
position with reference to the Indians of that
region, well suited for the establishment of an
outpost. At least so thought the natives who had
reported upon it.

" There iss no doubt," remarked MacSweenie, as
he surveyed the banks of the river, " that the place
is no' that bad, but in my opeonion the summer
will be short, whatever, an' the winter it will be
long."

" Ye may be sure that you are not far wrong
if it's like the rest o' this country," replied
Mowat,

" There now, look at that," cried MacSweenie,
who was a sketcher, and an enthusiast in regard to
scenery ; " did ever you see a prettier spot than
that, Tonal' ? Just the place for a fort — a wee
burn dancin' doon the hull, wi' a bit fa' to turn a

290

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

grindstone, an' a long piece o' flat land for the
houses, an' what a grand composeetion for a
pictur', — wi' trees, gress, water, sky, an' such light
and shade ! Man, it 's magneeficent ! "

" I 'm thinkin' that it '11 be a bad job if that
keg o' screw-nails we forgot at our last camp is
lost—"

" Hoot, man, never mind the screw-nails. We
can easy send back for it. But, wow ! there 's a
far grander place we 're corain' in sight of — an' —
iss that an Indian tent I see ?"

"Ay, an' there's more than wan tent," said
Mowat, giving his steering oar a sweep that sent
the boat farther out into the stream, and enabled
them better to see what lay beyond the bend of
the river in front of them.

" Hold on, lads ; stop pullin' !"

The men lay on their oars and turned round to
look ahead. The view presented there was indeed
a pleasant and inspiring one, though it was scarcely
entitled to the appellation " magneeficent," which
MacSweenie applied to it.

The river at that place made a wide sweep on
the right, round a low cliff which was crowned with
luxuriant foliage. The stream opened out into
something like a miniature lake, and the water was
so calm that the clifi" and its foliage made a clear
dark reflection. The left bank was edged by a
wide grass plateau some fifty yards wide, beyond

A nOMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

291

which was a background of bushes and trees, with
another " wee burn," which doubtless suggested to
MacSweenie the useful as well as the picturesque.
The distance was closed by ground varied in form
as well as in character, indicating that a stream of
considerable size joined the Ukon at that point.

But that which interested the beholders most of
all was a number of Indian wigwams, which were
pitched on the grassy plateau above referred to.

" Yonder are our frunds, I make no doubt," said
MacSweenie in high glee. " That man Mozwa iss
as goot as his word ; an' 1 do believe they have
chosen the spot an' been waitin' for us. Gif way,
boys ; ' an'. Tonal', make for that landin'-slup — it
must either be a naitural wan, or the Redskins
hev made it for us,"

By that time the natives, having observed the
boat, had launched several of their canoes. The
iirst man who came alongside was Mozwa himself.

"What cheer? what cheer, Mozwa?" cried the
trader as he reached over the side and shook the
Indian heartily by the hand.

" Watchee ! watchee ! " repeated Mozwa, return-
ing the shake with equal goodwill, though undis-
turbed solemnity.

The trader's surmise proved to be correct.
Mindful of the prospect which had been held out
to him and Nazinred, that an expedition might
possibly be sent to establish an outpost and open

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

up the fur trade in their immediate neighbourhood
on the Ukon River, Mozwa had made more than
one trip to the contemplated scene of operations,
after the disappearance of his friend Nazinred,
with the view of making himself well acquainted
with the land, and ascertaining the best site for
the new fort. He did not of course suppose that
the pale-faces would be guided entirely by his
opinion, but he thought it not unlikely that they
might weigh that opinion, and, if acted on at once,
much time might be saved during the very brief
summer season they had in which to place them-
selves comfortably in winter quarters before the
hard weather should set in.

" You are a wise man, Mozwa," said MacSweenie,
when the Indian had explained his views to him
in the united smoke of their pij 's and the camp-
fire. " Your notion of a place for a fort iss not a
bad one, an' efter I hev had a look round I hev
no doubt that I will agree wi' you that this is the
very best site in the neighbourhood. Tell him that,
Tonal', an' say that I am fery much obleeged to him
for all the forethought and trouble he hes taken."

Whether Donald translated all this as it was
delivered we know not. From the peculiar cast of
his mind, however, coupled with the moderate
depth of his knowledge of the Indian tongue, it is
probable that his translation was neither literal
nor comprehensive. Indeed, it is not unlikely that

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

293

his subsequent remark to one of his comrades —
" we told Mozwa it was very good of him to come
to meet us, an' the place would do well enough "
■ — was more like the sentence to which he had
reduced it. But whatever he said Mozwa seemed
to be quite pleased with it.

" By the way, Tonal', ask him about his friend
Nazinred."

The serious way in which the Indian shook his
head showed that he had no good news to tell. In
a short time he had related all that was known
about the sudden departure of his friend.

While Mozwa was thus engaged with the leader
of the expedition, their guide Bartong was wander-
ing among the wigwams and making himself
agreeable to the natives, who, because of his mixed
blood and linguistic powers, regarded him as a
half-brother.

" Who is this man Nazinred that our leader is
always talking about?" he asked of the old chiefs
while seated in his tent.

" He is one of our chiefs, one of our boldest
braves — "

"But not so brave as he looks," interrupted
Magadar, who was present ; " he is fonder of peace
than of fighting."

" Foolish man !" exclaimed Bartong, with a smile
so peculiar that Magadar did not feel quite sure
that his remark was sincere. " But has he not left

294

THE WALUUS HUNTEItS

your triDe ? I heard our steersman say something
about that."

" He left us in the winter to seek for his daughter,
who was carried off by an Eskimo and has never
come back since. We don't expect to see either
of them again."

Magadar said this with a grave countenance, for,
however httle he cared for the loss of the father,
that of the daughter distressed him a little — not
much, however ; for could he not console himself
with another wife ?

Having questioned the old chief a little more on
this point, he wandered off into other subjects, and
finally left — intending to visit the wife of Nazinred
on his way back to camp.

Isquay was sitting beside her niece Idazoo,
embroidering a moccasin, when Bartong entered,
squatted on a deerskin unceremoniously, and began
to fill his pii^e,

"What kind of a man is your husband ?" asked
the guide.

" A good man," replied Isquay, Avho was tender-
hearted, and could not speak of him without moist
eyes. " He was a good hunter. None of the young
men could equal him. And ho was kind. He
always had plenty of things to give mo and
Adolay."

" They say ho did not love war," remarked Bar-
tong.

A IJOMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

295

" No ; ho hated it : but he was brave, and a good
fighter — the best in the tribe. None of the young
men dared to touch him."

" Was the young brave Alizay afraid to touch
him ?" asked the guide, with a sly glance at the
younger woman.

At this Idazoo flushed and looked up angrily.

" No," she said sharply ; " Alizay fears nothing."

Bartong took no notice of the remark, but con-
tinued gravely to question the other.

"Was Nazinred very fond of his daughter ?" he
asked.

" Yes, very."

" And was the girl fond of him and of you ?"

"Yes," replied the poor woman, beginning to
weep gently.

" And she seems to have been very fond of this
Eskimo, who, they tell me, saved your life once."

" She was, but I did not think she would go
away with him. It was not like her — she was
always so good and bidablo, and told me every-
thing."

"Why did your husband go off alone?"

" I cannot tell. I suppose he knew that none of
the young men would go with him, or feared they
might lose heart and turn back. No doubt he
thought it best to go by himself, for he was very
brave ; nothing would turn him back !"

A fresh though silent dropping of tears occurred

296

THE WALRUS HUNTEIIS

here, and a severe pang of remorse shot through
the heart of Idazoo as she thought of her unkind
report of what had taken place hesido the dead
tree under the cHfi".

"Don't cry, Isquay; Nazinred will come back,
you may be sure of that," said the guide, in a
confident tone, " and he will bring your little girl
along with him, for when a man is good and brave
he 'Jiever fails!"

The brevity of summer near the shores of the
Arctic Sea rendered it advisable that no time
should be wasted in looking about too particularly
for a site for the new trading post ; and as Mac-
Sweenie was well pleased with Mozwa's select'on
he at once adopted it and set to work.

Deeming it important to open the campaign by
putting a good taste in the mouths of his friends
the Indians, he began by distributing a few gra-
tuities to them — some coloured beads to the
women, and a few lines, fish-hooks, and tobacco
to the mca Then he marked out a site for the
future dwelling-house and store, got out the tools
and set to work to fell, saw, and shape suitable
timber for the buildings. He constituted Magadar
chief hunter to the establishment, supplied him
with a new gun, powder and ball, and sent him
off to the woods as proud as, and doubtless much
happier than, a king. Mozwa he kept by him, as
a counsellor to whom he could appeal in all matters

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

297

regarding the region and the people, as well as an
overseer of those among his countrymen who were
hired to render assistance. Alizay was sent off in
a canoe — much to the satisfaction of Mowat — for
that forgotten keg of screw-nails which had lain so
heavy on his mind, and the old chief was supphed
with unlimited tobacco, and allowed to wander
about at will, under the agreeable impression
that he was superintendent-general of the works.
Tsquay, Idazoo, and some of the other women
were furnished with moose-deer skins and needles,
and employed to make moccasins for the men,
as well as to do all the needful repairs to gar-
ments.

Thus the plateau on the banks of the Ukon
River presen;:ed, during the weeks that followed,
a scene of lively bustle and unfamiliar noise to
the furred and feathered inhabitants of those vast
solitudes, and formed to the Red men a new and
memorable era in their monotonous existence.

At last there came a day when the roof of the
principal dwelling was completely covered, the doors
were fixed up, and the glazed windows fitted in.

"Now, Tonal'," remarked ^lacSweenie, on the
morning of that auspicious day, " it iss a house-
warming that I will be giving to-night, for the
Indians will be expectin' something o' the sort,
so you will be telling the cook to make the biggest
lump o' plum-duff he ever putt his hands to ; an'

298

THE WALRUS HUNTEUS

tell him not to spare the plums. It iss not every
day we will be givin' thiss goot people a blow-out,
an' it iss a matter of great importance, to my
thinking, that first impressions should be good
ones. It iss the duty of a new broom to sweep
clean. If it continues, goot and well, but if it
does not begin that way it iss not likely to come
to it, whatever. There iss far more than people
think in sentiment. If you fail to rouse a senti-
ment of goot- will, or confidence, or whatever it
may be, at a first start-off", it iss not easy to rouse
it afterwards. Hev ye not noticed that. Tonal' ?"

" I can't say that I have," answered the inter-
preter, with a matter-of-fact frown at the ground,
"but I have noticed that the pit-saw they was
usin' yesterday has been allowed to saw into the
holdin'-irons and damaged half o' — "

"Hoots, man! never mind the pit-saw!" ex-
claimed MacSweenie, with a touch of asperity.
" All the planks we want are sawn, an' if they were
not, surely we could mend — tut, man, I wonder
ye can play the fuddle. It always seemed to me
that a goot fuddler must be a man of sentiment,
but ye are the exception. Tonal', that proves the
rule. Away wi' you an' gic my orders to the cook,
an' see that you have the fuddle in goot tune, for
we will want it to-night. An' let him hev plenty
of tea, for if we gain the women we 're sure o' the
men."

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

299

Movvat retired with a smile on his broacl be-
nignant face. Ho understood his leader, and
was not ottended by his plain speaking. Besides,
it was not easy to make the interpreter take
offence. His spirit was of that happy nature
which hopeth all things and believeth all things.
It flowed calm and deep like an untroubled river.
Nothing short of a knock-down blow would have
induced Donald Mowat to take oftence, but that
would certainly have stirred him, and as he pos-
sessed vast physical strength, and was something
awful to behold when roused, and his comrades
were aware of these facts, the serenity of his life
was not often or deeply ruffled.

The cook, who was an enthusiast in his art, did
his best, and was eminently successful. His plum-
duft" dumpling was bigger than any gun — at least
of ancient type — could have swallowed, and the
plums, as Mowat afterwards said, did not need to
seek for each other. He made enough of delight-
fully greasy cakes to feed an army, and, accord-
ing to his own statement, infused " lashin's o' tea."

Before the hour for the feast arrived that night,
Mowat got out his violin and went into one of the
rooms of the new house to put it in order. The
window of the room looked towards the back of
the house, where the forest was seen just beyond
the plateau.

Drawing a bench to the window, he sat down

300

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

and opened the ciiso. Of course ho found the first
string broken, but that did not break his heart,
for he had a good supply of spare st rings, and if
these should fail — well, there were plenty of deer-
sinews in the land. It was soon put to rights, and,
leaning his back against the wall, he began to
tickle the strings gently. Whatever ho was at
other times, there is no doubt that the interpreter
was full of genuine sentiment the moment he got
the violin under his chin.

Now at that moment three young Dogrib braves
chanced to be passing under the window, which
was about seven feet from the ground. Though
equally young, and no doubt equally brave, as well
as equally Dogribbcd, those three youths were not
equally matched, for one was tall and thin, another
was short and thick, while the third was middle-
sized and fat. They had been hunting — success-
fully — for the thick man carried a small deer on
his lusty shoulders.

On hearing the first notes of the instrument the
three youths started into three different attitudes
as if of petrified surprise, and remained so, waiting
for more.

They had not to wait long, for, after tickling
the fiddle once or twice to get it in perfect tune,
Mowat raised his eyes to the pine-plank ceilmg
and glided softly into one of those exquisite
Scottish airs by means of Avhich a first-rate per-

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

301

former on the violin can almost draw the soul out
of a man's body. Wo think it was "The Flowers
of the Forest."

Whatever it was the three Dogribs were ravished.
They turned their heads slowly, as if afraid to
break the sjiell, and lOokcd at each other, showing
the whites of their great eyes increasingly, while
each raised a hand with spread fingers as if to
keep the others from speaking. They had never
heard anything approaching to it before. They
had never oven imagined anything like it. It was
an utterly new sensation. What could it be?
They had heard of something strange in the
musical way from Nazinred and Mozwa, but with
the carelessness of youth they had scarce listened
to the comments of those men. Now it burst
upon their awakened sense like sounds from some
other planet. Their mouths opened slowly as
well as their eyes, and there was an expression
of awe in their faces which betokened a touch of
superstitious fear.

Suddenly Mowat drew his bow across all the
strings with a skirl that might have shamed the
bagpipes, and burst into the Reel o' TuUochgorum.

The effect was electrical. The thick man
dropped the deer ; the thin man sloped forward ;
the fat man sprang into the air, and all three
made for the woods as if all the spirits of evil
were after them in full cry.

302

THE WALUUS HUNTERS

We ncod hardly say, after this, that those
Dogrib Indians spent an excited and agreeable
evening Avith the fur-traders. They appreciated
the dancing, undoubtedly, though very few of thorn
Avould condescend to join. They appreciated the
phim-dufF and the greasy cakes highly, and they
more than appreciated the tea— especially the
Avomen— which MacSweonie took care to provide
hot, strong, and sweet. But there is no doubt
that the lion of the evening was— the " fuddle."

A nOMANf'K OF THE (CE-WORLD

303

so
lo

Ml
111
10

■y

CHAPTER XXVI.

A MY8TKBI0US JOURNEY AND A GREAT DISCOVERT.

ruiTiNO on tho wing.s of imagination, good
reader, let us once more fly over the snow-fields
of the lone Nor'-west and return to the regions of
thick-ribbed ice. We have to apologise humbly
for asking you also to fly back a little in time,
and plunge once more into the dreary winter,
from which, no doubt, you thought you had fairly
escaped.

One morning toward tho beginning of spring,
referred to in last chapter, while yet the northern
seas were covered with their solid garment,
Cheenbuk announced to all whom it might ccd-
cern that he intended to go off on a long journey
to the eastward — he called it the place where the
Great Light rises — for purposes which he did not
see fit publicly to reveal.

At that time the Great Light to which he re-
ferred had begun to show symptoms of intention
to return to the dark regions which it had forsaken
for several months. The glimmer on tho eastern

304

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

sky Lad been increasing perceptibly each day, and
at last had reached the point of producing a some-
what rosy twilight for two or three hours before
and after noon. King Frost, however, still reigned
supreme, and the dog-sledge as yet was the only
mode of travelling among the islands or on the sea,

" Why go you towards the rising sun ? " asked
Nazinred when Cheenbuk invited him to be one
of the party.

" Because it is from r^y countrymeo who dwell
there that we get the hard stuff that is so good for
our spear-heads, and lances, and arrows. We
know not where they find the stuff, and they
won't tell. I shall go and fine, out for myself, and
take back plenty of it to our people."

The "hard stuff" referred to was hoop-iron,
which, as well as nails and a few hatchets, the
Eskimos of the eastern parts of the Arctic shores
obtained from whuio-ships and passed on to their
friends in the more remote regions of the farther
north.

"I can tell you how they get it," said the
Indian. " White traders to whom our people go
with their furs have spoken of such things, aiul
Tiiy ears have been open. They say that there are
white men who come over the great salt lake
from far-off lands in big big canoes. They come
to catch the great whales, and it is from them
that the hard stuff' comes."

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

305

For some miuutes the Eskimo was silent. A
new idea had entered his head and he was turning
it over.

" Have you ever seen these white men or their
big canoes?" asked Cheenbuk with great in-
terest.

"Never. The salt lake where they kill the
whale is too far from ray people's hunting-grounds.
But the white traders I have visited have seen
them. Some traders have come from the same
far-off" lands in big canoes of the same sort."

" Is it very far from here to the seas to which
these whale-killers come ?"

"Very far from the hunting-grounds of the
Dogribs, but it may not be far from here."

" I will go and see," said Cheenbuk, with much
decision, and he went off" forthwith to make pre-
parations. The expedition consisted of one large
sledge with a team of twelve dogs. Being re-
solved not to risk failure by taking too many com-
panions, the Eskimo limited the number to seven,
besides himself — namely, Nazinred, with his fire-
spouter ; Oolalik, Avhom he deemed the strongest
and bravest among the young men ; Anteek, the
most plucky of the big boys; Aglootook, the
medicine-man, whom he took " for luck ; " and
Nootka, as being the most vigorous and hard-
working among the women. She could repair the
boots, etc., and do what little cooking might be

306

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

required. Cowlik the easy-going was also taken
to keep Nootka company.

It was high noon when the party set out on
their mysterious journey, and a brighter glow
than usual was suffusing the eastern sky, while a
gleam of direct sunshine, the first seen that
spring, was tipping the peaks of the higher bergs
as if with burnished gold.

It was merely a whim that induced Cheenbuk
to throw an air of mystery over the expedition.
Having no definite idea himself of what ho was
going in search of, or how long he should be away,
he thought it wisest to look solemn and keep his
thoughts to himself; thereby impressing his kins-
men with the belief that he was one of the wi..'^st
men of the tribe, which in tmth he was. Being,
as we have said elsewhere, a man of humour
and a good-natured fellow, he thought that the
presence of the magician, whom he believed to be
an arrant humbug, would add mystery as well as
interest to the expedition.

Aglootook was himself thoroughly convinced on
this point, and sought by every means to induce
the leader to disclose his object and plans, but as
Cheenbuk maintained hiflexible reticence on this
matter, the magician made a virtue of necessity,
shook his head solemnly when spoken to about it,
and gave it to be understood generally that in
his and the leader's minds there were rolling

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

307

about thoughts and mtentions that were far too
deep for utterance.

Cheenbuk would have offered a seat to Adolay,
but her father thought it better to decline for
her. She was therefore left in the camp in care
of old Mangivik and his amiable spouse.

Travelling by dog-sledge among the Eskimos is
rapid and exhilarating when the ice is unbroken.
AVhen the explorers left the village and made for
the far east, the plain of ice before them was
level and smooth as far as the eye could reach.
They therefore went along at a swinging pace,
the team stretching out at full gallop, a crack
from the whip resounding only now and then,
when one of the dogs inclined to become re-
fractory.

The short day soon vanished, and the long
night with its galaxy of stars and shooting aurora
still found them gliding swiftly over the white
plain.

At last a line of hummocks and icebergs rose up
before them, as if to bar their further progress,
and the dogs reduced their speed to a trot,
until, on reaching the broken ice, they stopped
altogether.

" We will camp hero,' said Cheenbuk, jumping
off and stretching himself. "Make the igloe
there," he added, pointing to a convenient spot
in the lee of a small berg.

308

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

The whole party went to work, and in a wonder-
fully short time had constructed one of their snow
1 ice-hives large enough to contain them all.

Here they ate a hasty supper and spent several
hours in a slumber so profound and motionless
that it seemed as if they were all dead; not a
sigh, not even a snore, broke the stillness of the
night. Next morning they were up and oif long
before the first glimmer of dawn proclaimed the
advent of a new day.

Fortunately a passage among the ridges of
broken ice was found, through which the sledge
was hauled with comparative ease, and before
noon they had reached the open sea-ice beyond,
over which they again set forth at full swing.

Little food had been brought, for they depended
chiefly on their weapons to supply them, and as
seals abounded everywhere, as well as walruses,
they had no lack.

Thus they advanced for several days, sometimes
being retarded a little by broken ice, but for
the most part dashing at full speed over smooth
surfaces.

One day they came to a long stretch of land,
extending to the right and left as far as the eye
could reach, which seemed to be a check to their
progress, for it was extensively covered with willow
bushes. Cheenbuk climbed a neighbouring berg
with Nazinred to have a look at it. The Eskimo

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

309

looked rather glum, for the idea of land-travelling
and struggling among willows was repugnant to
him,

" I don't like the look of this," he said, turning
to his companion ; " there seems no end to it."

"Let not my son be cast down," returned the
Indian ; " men-of-the-A/oods understand the nature
of land. This looks like a low flat, running out
from the mainland. If so, it is not likely to be
very wide, and we shall be sure to find the great
salt lake on the other side of it. Besides, away
to the left I see something like a small lake. If
we go there we may find hard snow on which the
dogs can nm."

"There is bad fortune here," said Aglootook,
endeavouring to look oracular, as ho came up at
that moment with Anteek. "We must go far
away in that direction," he added, pointing to the
right, and looking at his leader with the aspect
as Avell as the wisdom of an owl.

The fact was that from the start the magician had
been thirsting for some opportunity to display his
profound sagacity, and in his opinion the time had
arrived, for in other men's extremity he was wont
to find his opportunity. True, ho knew no more
than the king of Ashantee which was the best
line to take — right or left, — but nmch of the
power he had acquired over his fellows was due to
his excessive self-sufiicieney, coupled with reckless

■HM

310

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

prompitude in taking action. If things went well
he got the credit ; if wrong — well, he was ingenious
in devising explanations !

"Aglootook is wise," said Cheenbuk, with
gravity and a glance at Anteek ; " I will act on his
advice, but first I must take just a little run to
the left, to find out something that I see there."

Anteek was not naturally rude, but there was a
sensation in him at that moment which induced
him to turn his back on the magician and become
absorbed in the contemplation of a neighbouring
berg. When he turned round again his face was
a little flushed.

Nazinred was right. There was not only a lake
at the place which he pointed out, but a cnain of
small lakes, over which the dogs scampered as
well as if they had been on the open sea. That
night, however, they were obliged to encamp
among the willows, but next night they reached
the other side of what was evidently a large
promontory, and finally swept out again on the
familiar frozen sea.

The day following they arrived at an obstruction
which it appeared as if neither the wisdom of
Aglootook, the sagacity of Nazinred, nor the
determination of Cheenbuk could enable them to
surmount.

This was a mighty barrier of broken ice, which
had probably been upheaved by the flow of cross

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

311

currents when the sea was setting fast in autumn,
or the action of conflicting bergs, many of which
were imbedded in the mass, thus giving to it the
appearance of a small mountain range with higher
peaks rising above the general elevation.

On beholding it Aglootook recovered some of
his self-respect, and, with a look of wisdom quite
inconceivable by those who have not seen it,
expressed his solemn belief that they would have
escaped this difficulty if they had only acted on
his advice, and travelled to the right !

Cheenbuk admitted that he seemed to have
been mistaken, in a tone Avhich again set Anteek
contemplating one of the neighbouring bergs with
a countenance not altogether devoid of colour, and
the leader drove the team towards the least for-
bidding part of the ridge.

" You will never get across," said Aglootook in
a low voice.

" I will try," returned Cheenbuk.

" It is madness," said the magician.

" People have often called me mad," responded
Cheenbuk, " so if they were right I am well fitted
to do it."

it was an exceedingly difficult crossing. In
some places the blocks and masses were heaped
together in such confusion that it seemed as if the
attempt to pass wore useless, and the magician
solaced himself by frequent undertoned references

312

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

to the advantage in general of travelling right
instead of left. But always when things looked
most hopeless the indefatigable Cheenbuk found a
passage — often very narrow and crooked, it is true,
— through which they managed to advance, and
when the way was blocked altogether, as it was
more than once, Cheenbuk and the Indian cleared
a passage with their axes, while Anteek led the
dogs over the obstruction, and Oolalik guided the
sledge over it. Nootka usually stood on a con-
venient ice-mound and admired the proceedings,
while Aglootook, who had no axe, stood beside
her and gave invaluable advice, to which nobody
paid the slightest attention.

At last, after many a fall and slip and tremen-
dous slide, they reached the other side of the ridge,
and once again went swiftly and smoothly over
the level plain.

" We shall not find them," remarked Oolalik,
becoming despondently prophetic as he surveyed
the wide expanse of frozen sea, with nothing but
bergs and hummocks here and there to break its
uniformity.

" We must find them," replied Cheenbuk, with
that energy of resolution which usually assails a
man of vigorous physique and strong will when
difficulties accumulate.

" But, my son, if we do not find them it will not
matter much, for the white traders of the woods

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-AVORLD

S13

have plenty of the hard stuff, and all other things
also, and when we return to the Greygoose River
at the opening of the waters, we may take the
teeth of the walrus and the skins of the seal and
begin a trade with them. I have much of their
goods in my own wigwam, and Cheenbuk knows
that I can guide him to the home of the trader on
the great fresh lake."

Oolalik glanced at Nootka while the Indian
spoke, as if he felt that a splendid prospect of
decorative, ornamental, and other delights was
opening up to her. Nootka returned the glance
as if she felt that a splendid opportunity of secur-
ing such delights for her was opening up to him.

Cheenbuk did not reply, being engaged in the
profound abysses of thought which had been
opened up by his red friend's suggestion.

Before he could find words to reply, Nazinred,
whose vision was keen and practised, pointed
out something that appeared like a cloud on the
horizon ahead of them, and which he declared
to be land.

"I have noticed that the eyes of the man-of-
the-woods are sharper than those of the Eskimo,"
said Cheenbuk.

The Indian received this compliment with a
gaze of calm indifference, as though he heard it
not.

Just then an exclamation from Anteek attracted

314

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

general attention. Ho pointed to a mound of
snow on tho ice a short way to the left of tho
track which had a peculiar shape.

"Something covered over with snow," said
Cheenbuk, turning the dogs in that direction by
the simple but significant expedient of sending
his long whip with a resonant crack to the right
of the team.

"It is a man," remarked Nazinred as they
drew near.

He was right. On clearing away the snow
they found the dead body of a man, some por-
tions of whose costume resembled that of a
sailor, though of course none of those who
discovered it were aware of that fact.

"Kablunet!" exclaimed Cheenbuk, using the
Eskimo terra for white man.

How long the poor man had lain there it was
not easy to guess, for the body was frozen stiff,
so that decay was impossible, but the fact that
it had not been discovered by bears argued that
it could not have lain long. Its emaciated
appearance and the empty sack slung across tho
shoulder showed that death must have been the
result of starvation. There was a short loaded
carbine lying beside the body, and in a pouch
a flask of powder with a few bullets.

"I think," said Nazinred, after careful inspec-
tion of the remains, " that this is one of the white

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

315

men who come over the salt lake in their big
canoes."

" If so," said Cheenbuk, " we will follow his
track, and may come to the big canoe itself;
perhaps some of the Kablunets may bo yet
alive."

The Indian shook his head.

" Men do not start off alone on a journey to
nowhere," ho replied. " The big canoe must have
been crushed in the ice, and the men must have
started off together to search for Eskimos. I
think they must all have died on the way, and
this one walked farthest."

"The man-of-the-woods is wise," said Oolalik.
" If Ave follow the track we shall soon find out."

"Yes," said Aglootook, putting on his most
prophetic air. "Go on the track straight as we
can go — that is my advice, and we shall be quite
sure to come to something."

Cheenbuk acted on the advice. Having buried
the body of the unfortunate sailor in a snow-
grave, and taken possession of the carbine and
other things, they leaped on the sledge again,
and continued to advance along the track, which,
though in some places almost obliterated, was
easily followed. They had not advanced more
than a mile when another mound was discovered,
with another seaman beloAV it, whom they buried
in the same way, and close to it a third, whose

316

THE WALRUS HI'NTERS

costume being in some parts a little finer, they
correctly guessed to bo a chief.

At last they came in sight of a large mound,
and on uncovering it found a boat with four
dead men lying near it. All seemed to have
died of starvation, and the reason why some of
them had forsaken the boat was obvious, for it
was crushed ou ^f shape by ice; the bottom
having been < ompletely away, so that all

the provisions thu^ had to depend on had no
doubt been lost.

"This is not the big canoe," remarked the
Indian, while they examined it. "The big one
must have been sunk, and they had to try to
escape in the little one."

The party spent a long time in examining tl .
boat, and as there was a good deal of iron about
it which might be useful, they resolved to re-visit
it on the homeward journey.

Setting off again, they now made straight for
the land discovered by Nazinred, which now lay
like a dark blue line of hills in the far distance.
From the abrupt termination of the land at either
extremity of the range it was judged to be a large
island.

As the night was clear and the ice level, the
party travelled all that night, and arrived at the
island about daybreak the following morning.

The shore was rocky and desolate, Avith high

A UOMANCE OF THE ICE-WOllLD

317

clirts behind it, so lliiit further progress to the
eastward was evidently hnpossiblo, unless by
passing round the island to tlio north or south
of it.

"I said you would come to somcthlmj" said
the magician, sententiously, as they drew near to
the forbidding coast.

" You were right, Aglootook. Indeed, it would
be impossible for you to bo wrong," replied
Cheenbuk, with one of those glances at Anteclc
Avhicli rendered it hard for the boy to preserve
his gravity ; yet he was constrained to make the
effort, for the magician was very sensitive on
the point, and suspected the boy.

They were by this time running between the
headlands of a small bay, and suddenly came in
sight of an object which caused them all to
exclaim with surprise and excitement — for there,
under the shelter of a high cliff, lay a three-
masted ship, or, as the Indian termed it, the
white man's big canoe.

318

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XXVII.

INTBRESTINO, AMCSINO, AND A8TO0NDINO DISCOVEUIES.

Although close under the clifts, and apparently
on the rocks, the vessel was by no means a wreck,
neither had it the aspect of one. There were
no broken masts or tattered sails or ropes dangling
from the yards. On the contrary, the masts were
straight and sound ; such of the yards as had not
been lowered were squared, and all the ropes were
trim and taut.

The deck was covered over with a roof of canvas,
and the snow banked up all round so as to meet
the lower edges of it and form a protection from
the wind. Up one side of this bank of snow a
flight of stairs had been cut, leading to the port
gangway, and the prints of many feet were seen
all round the ship converging towards the stairs,
the steps of which were worn as if by much use.

At first the natives approached the vessel with
extreme caution, not being sure of what might be
tiieir reception if any man should be on board,
and with a sense of awe at beholding a mysterious

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

319

object which had hitherto been utterly beyond the
range of their experience, though not quite un-
known to them by report. By degrees, however,
they drew nearer and nearer, until they reached
the bottom of the snow staircase. Still there was
no sound to be heard in the white man's big
canoe to indicate the presence of a human being.

At last Cheenbuk uttered a shout with the view
of attracting attention, but there was no reply.

" Make the fire-spouter speak," he said, looking
at his Indian friend.

Nazinred silently obeyed, pointed his gun at
the clouds, and fired ; then the whole party awaited
the result, listening intently. They heard much
more than had been expected, for the cliffs em-
braced several echoes, which, being thus rudely
awakened, sent the shot crashing back with
multiplied violence, to the no little surprise, as
well as alarm, of the hearers.

Still all was silent on board of the ship, and at
last, coming to the conclusion that there was no
living soul there at all, the Indian, having re-
loaded his gun, began to ascend the staircase,
closely followed by Cheenbuk, Oolalik, Anteek,
and Aglootook — which last, being a cautious man,
was careful to bring up the rear. Nootka and
Cowlik remained on the ice to observe the end of
it all — the former anxiously curious, the latter
curiously easy. For some time these two stood in

320

THE WAT.RUS HUNTERS

silent expectancy. Then Oolalik appeared at the
top of the staircase, and, looking down with a face
in which solemn wonder had reached its utmost
limit of expression, beckoned them to come up.

Nootka obeyed with alacrity; her companion,
leisurely.

What the party saw on entering the vessel was
well fitted to arouse wonder in their unsophisti-
cated minds. Whether it was one of the numerous
discovery ships that have invaded those regions in
the present century, or a whaler which had been
driven out of its course by stress of weather or
power of ice, is uncertain, for although some relics
of the expedition ultimately reached the outpost
of the fur-traders, nothing was brought away by
the Eskimos which bore name or date or writing
of any kind. Although ignorant of the meaning
as well as the uses of almost everything they saw,
those natives were quite sufficiently intelligent to
guess that the white n\an's big canoe had been set
fast in the ice the previous autumn, and laid up
for the winter in this place of safety to servo as a
big igloe or hut.

Their examination of the ship was at first very
slow, for they stepped about on tiptoe as if afraid
of disturbing some of the ghosts of its former
inhabitants. Then, a speculative gaze had to bo
turned on each object for a few moments, followed
by an inquiring glance at each other. The dock

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

321

and its accompaniments of masts rising through
the canvas roof, and ropes, and blocks, hatches,
skylights, companions, etc., afforded them matter
for unbounded astonishment; though what they
afterwards discovered below was productive of
unutterable amazement.

" Hoi ! " exclaimed Cheenbuk, pointing at some-
thing with all his ten fingers expanded.

He had discovered the binnacle, and was gazing
for the first time at the mariner's compass !

" Hi ! " cried the responsive Anteek in a Avide-
cyed condition.

Ho had discovered the after-companion, which
was partially open, and was gazing solemnly into
the depths below.

The unwonted nature of their surroundings
developed an unsuspected vein of curiosity in
Cowlik, who pushed the companion-door open,
and, seeing a flight of steps with some degree of
light below, she began to descend. Whether
Nootka's surprise at this sudden act of self-
assertion, or her curiosity, was the stronger, it
would be hard to say, but she immediately went
after Cowlik. The men, seeing the way thus indi-
cated, did not hesitate to follow.

Of course they all held tenaciously by the brass
rail, being afraid to slip on the steep stair, and
some of them, slewing round almost naturally,
went down in true sailor fashion, backAvards.

322

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Reaching the bottom, the girls, probably by
chance, turned to the left and entered the after-
cabin. The men of the party turned to the
right, and became absorbed in contemplation of
the steward's pantry. It smelt deliciously, but
that was all that remained of its native attractions,
for of food or drink there was nothing left.

They had just made this discovery when a loud
laugh and then a wild scream from the cabin
horrified them. Cheenbuk and Oolalik drew their
knives, Nazinred cocked his gun, Anteek grasped
a rolUng-pin that lay handy, and all four sprang
to the rescue.

The scream came from Cowlik. She had
suddenly faced a mirror that hung in the cabin,
and beheld a perfect representation of her own
fat face. It was by no means an unknown face,
for she had often had an imperfect view of it in
pools and in calm seas, but it quite took her
aback when thus unexpectedly and clearly pre-
sented. The blaze of astonishment that followed
the first glance caused the burst of laughter
referred to, and the display of her wide mouth
and white teeth in the changed expression in-
duced the scream of alarm. It also made her
start backward so quickly that she sent poor
Nootka crashing against the starboard bulkhead.

" Look ! " cried the frightened girls, pointing to
the mirror.

fMM

"TO THE RESCUE."— Paoe 822.

RffiSH

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD 323

The three Eskimos sprang forward and received
something like an electric shock on beholding
their own faces.

Cheenbuk turned to Nazinred, but that usually
grave Indian was indulging in a patronising smile
instead of sharing their surprise.

" I know what it is," he said quietly. " I have
seen it before, in the stores of the fur-traders, but
never so big as that."

B'amiliarity, it is said, breeds contempt. After
gazing at themselves in the miraculous mirror
for some time, an idea occurred to Anteek. He
suddenly shot out his tongue, Avhich happened
to be a very long one. Anteek's reflection did
the same. Thereupon Oolalik opened his mouth
wide and laughed. So did Oolalik's reflection,
which had such an effect upon Cheenbuk that he
also burst into a fit of laughter. The girls, pressing
forward to see what it was, likewise presented
grinning faces, which formed such a contrast to the
grave countenance of Nazinred, as he stood there
in all the dignity of superior knowledge, that the
whole party went off' into uncontrollable explosions,
which fed upon what they created u'^til the tears
were running down the cheeks of the Eskimos, and
the Indian himself was constrained at last to smile
benignly.

But mirth gave place to solemnity again, not
unmingled with pity, as they spent hour after hour

924

THE WALRUS HUITTERS

examining the various parts of tho forsaken ship.
Of course they could go over only a small part of
it that day. When tho short day came to a close
they went to tho shore and encamped in their
usual way — not daring to sleep on board a big
canoe, about which as yet they know so little.

On shore they found more subjects of interest
and perplexity, for hero were several mounds
marked by crosses, and a large mound surmounted
by a pole on the top of which were fluttering a few
remnants of red cloth. The shape of the smaller
mounds naturally led them to infer that they were
the graves of white men who had died there, but
the large mound was inexplicable until Nazinred
recollected having seen a flag hoisted on a pole at
the fort on Great Bear Lake.

" 1 remember," he said to Cheenbuk, " that the
traders used to hoist a piece of cloth to the top of
a pole like this, at times, when something of im-
portance happened. Perhaps the chief of the big
canoe died and was buried here, and they hoisted
the red cloth over him to mark the place."

" My father may be right," observed tho Eskimo ;
" but why did they put such a heap of stones above
him ? "

" Perhaps to keep the bears from getting at him,"
returned the Indian thoughtfully, " or, it may be,
to show him great respect."

Resting satisfied with these surmises, tho two

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WOULD

S25

men returned to their encampment without
disturbing the mound, which was, in all pro-
bability, a cairn covering a record of the expedition
which had come to such an untimely end.

Next day, the moment there was enough of
light to enable them to resume the search, the
Eskimos hurried on board the ship and began to
ransack every hole and comer, and they found
much that caused their eyes to glitter with the
delight of men who have unexpectedly discovered
a mine of gold. Among other things, they found
in a small room which had been used as a black-
smith's forge, large quantities of hoop, bar, and
rod-iron. While Cheenbuk and Oolalik were
rejoicing over this find, Anteek rushed in upon
them in a state of considerable excitement with
something in his hand. It was a large watch of
the double-cased " warming-pan " tribe.

" Listen ! " exclaimed the boy, holding it up to
Cheenbuk's ear, and giving it a shake ; " it speaks."

" What is it ? " murmured the Eskimo.

" I don't know, but it does not like shaking, for
it only speaks a little when I shake it. I tried
squeezing, but it does not care for that."

Here again Nazinred's superior knowledge came
into play, though to a limited extent.

" I have seen a thing like that," he said. " The
trader at the great fresh- water lake had one. He
carried it in a small bag at his waist, and used

32G

1"IIE WALRtrS HUNTEItS

often to pull it out and look at it. He never told
mo what it was for, but onco he let mo hear it
speak. It went on just like this one — tik, tik, tik,
— but it did not require shaking or squeezing. I
think it had a tongue like some of our squaws,
who never stop speaking. One day when I went
into the trader's house I saw it lying on the thing
with four legs which the white men put their food
on when they want to eat, and it was talking away
to itself as fast as ever."

They were still engaged with this mystery when
a cry of delight from Nootka drew them back to
the cabin, where they found the girl clothed in a
pilot-cloth coat, immensely too large for her. She
was standing admiring herself in the mirror — so
quickly had her feminine intelligence applied the
thing to its proper use; and, from the energetic
but abortive efforts she made to wriggle round so
as to obtain a view of her back, it might have been
supposed that she had been trained to the arts of
civilisation from childhood.

With equal and earnest assiduity Cowlik was
engaged in adorning her head with a black
flannel-lined sou'-wcster, but she had some
trouble with it, owing to the height of her
top-knot of hair.

Kidiculous though the two girls might have
looked in our eyes, in those of their companions
they only seemed peculiar and interesting, for

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

327

tlio step between the sublime and ridiculous is
altogether relative, in Eskimo-land as elsewhere.
There was no opportunity, however, to dwell long
in contemplation of any new thmg, for the dis-
coveries came thick and fast. Cowlik had barely
succeeded in pulling the ear-pieces of the sou'-
wester well down, and tying the strings under her
fat chin, when a tremendous clanking was heard,
as of some heavy creature approaching the cabin
door. Chccnbuk dropped forward the point of his
spear, and Nazinred kept his gun handy. Not that
they were actually alarmed, of course, but they felt
that in such unusual circumstances the least they
could do Avas to be ready for whatever might befall
— or turn up.

A moment later and Aglootook stalked into the
cabin, his legs encased in a pair of fishermen's
sea-boots, so large that they seemed quite to
diminish his natural proportions.

In all their discoveries, however, they did not
find a single scrap of any kind of food. It was
quite clear that the poor fellows had held by the
ship as long as provisions lasted, in the hope,
no doubt, that they might ultimately succeed in
working their way out of the ice, and then, when
inevitable starvation stared them in the face, they
had tried to escape in their boats, but without
success — at least in one case, though how many
boats had thus left to undertake the forlorn hope

328

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

of Storming tho strongholds of the polar seas it
was impossible to tell.

On tho second night, as the Eskimos sat in their
igloe at supper talking over tho events of the day,
Nazinred asked Cheenbuk what he intended to
do, —

" For," said he, " it is not possible to take back
with us on one sledge more than a small part of
the many good things that we have found."

" The man-of-the-woods is right," interposed the
magician ; " he is wise. One sledge cannot carry
much. I told you that wo were sure to find some-
thing. Was I not right ? Have we not found it ?
My advice now is that we go back with as much as
we can carry, and return with four or five sledges
— or even more, — and tal<c home all that it is
possible to colloct."

'•' \uys full of knowledge and
'"- mbuk, as he drove his
power' tough bear-steak, and

stru -Iw' - ne moments before con-

tin his i\ ivs but — but — ha! he does

not ^^ lite see t1 a-ough an iceberg. I will — (Give me
another, Noo ka, with more fac on it), — I will go
back, as ho wisely advi ■'i, witb is much as the
sledge will carry, and will ic not only with
four or five sledges, but with uhe sledges we
have got, and all the dogs, an ill the men and
women and children — even to le smallest babe

"Aglootook is
wisdom " reir

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

329

that wears no clothes and lives in its mother's
hood, and sucks blubber. The whole tribe shall
come here and live hero, and make use of the good
things that have fallen in our way, till the time of
open water draws near. Then wo will drive to
the place where we have left our kayaks and
oomiaks, some of us will go to Waruskeek, and
some to pay a visit to the Firc-spouters at Whale
River. — Give me another lump, Nootka The last
was a little one, and I am hungry."

The grandeur of Cheenbuk's plan, as compared
with Aglootook's suggestion, was so great that the
poor magician collapsed.

Anteek looked at him. Then he covered his
young face with his hands and bent his head
forward upon his knees. It was too early for
going to rest. The boy might have been sleeping,
but there was a slight heaving of the young
shoulders which was not suggestive of repose.

Later on in the evening, while Nazinred was
enjoying his pipe, and the Eskimos were looking
on in unspeakable admiration, Cheenbuk remem-
bered that the last time he quitted the ship he had
left his spear behind him.

"I'll go and fetch it," said Anteek, who pos-
sessed that amiable and utterly delightful nature
which offers to oblige, or do a service, without
Avaiting to be asked. In a few minutes he was out
upon the ice on his errand. Soon he gained the

330

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

snow staircase, and, running up, made his way to
the cabin where the spear had been left.

Now it chanced that a polar bear, attracted
perhaps by the odour of cooked food, had wandered
near to the ship and observed the young Eskimo
ascend. Polar n/ears are not timid. On the con-
trary, they are usually full of courage. They
are also full of curiosity. The night was clear, and
when that bear saw the youth go up the stair, it
immediately went to the place to inspect it.
Courage and caution are not necessarily antagon-
istic. On arriving at the foot of the stair it
paused to paw and otherwise examine it. Then
it began to ascend slowly, as if doubtful of con-
sequences

Now, if it were not for coincidences a great many
of the extraordinary events of this life would never
have happened. For instance — but the instances
are so numerous that it may be well not to begin
them. It happened that just as the bear began
to ascend the snow staircase Anteek with the
spear in his hand began to ascend the companion-
ladder. But the chief point of the coincidence
lay here — that just as the bear reached the top of
the stair ^he boy reached the very same spot, and
next moment the two stood uvoe to face within
four feet of each other.

We will not go into the irrelevant question
which was the more surprised. Anteek at once

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

331

uttered a yell, compounded of courage, despair,
ferocity, horror, and other ingredients, which
startled into wild confusion all the echoes of the
cliffs. The bear opened its mouth as if to reply,
and the boy instantly rammed the spear into it.

He could not have done anything worse, except
run away, for a boar's mouth is tough. Happily,
however, the monster was standing in a very
upright position, and the violence of the thrust
sent him oft' his balance. He fell backwards do^vn
the stair, and came on the ice with an astounding
crash that doubled him up and crushed all the
wind out of his lungs in a bursting roar.

Fortunately his great weight caused the destruc-
tion of five or six of the lower steps, so that when
he rose and tried viciously to re-ascend, he was
unable to do so.

Of course the uproar brought the men on shore
to the rescue, and while the bear was making
furious attempts to reconstruct the broken stair-
case, Nazinred went close up and put a bullet in
its broin.

332

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THB SHIP BE-VISITED AND RE-EXFLORED.

Cheenbuk's plan was afterwards fully carried
out. On the return of the party with all their
wonderful news and wealth of old iron, the greatest
excitement prevailed in the tribe, and the persons
composing the expedition became heroes and
heroines for the time being. Each member formed
a centre of attraction and a subject of cross-
examination to its own particular relatives and
friends.

In the igloe of Aglootook was assembled,
perhaps, one of the most surprised, if not one of
the most credulous, of the gatherings — for the
magician had a strong hold on the imagination of
the greater number of his tribe, and a wonderful
power of oratory. His wife in particular idolised
him, which said much for his amiability, and his
only sister worshipped him, which spoke volumes
for her gullibility.

" Yes," ho exclaimed, gazing round on the circle
of his admirers j " I said from the first that this

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

333

would be a wonderful trip, and that we would be
sure to find something. And did we not find it?"

(Vigorous assent by look and voice from the
audience.)

" And," he continued, with a lowered voice and
solemn look, "if Cheenbuk had not turned to
the left when I told him, we never would have
found it."

" But what was it like ? " asked an elderly man
with a squat nose, whose mind was not quite clear,
although he had already listened to an elaborate
description.

" Like ? Ho ! it was like— hke— "

" Like a big kayak ? " remarked some one.

" No, no. Far, far bigger," said the magician,
making an imbecile attempt to indicate inconceiv-
able size by waving arms and outspread fingers;
" it was — as big — as — as — "

" A whale ? " suggested Squat-nose.

" Bigger — bigger ! " said Aglootook, with a
lost look in his eyes. "You could stuff twenty
igloes into it; and there were three great poles
rising out of it as thick as — as me, with other
'_'oles across them, low down and high up, and
walrus-lines hanging about in all directions, some
as thick as my wrist, others as thin as my finger,
and strange igloos inside of it — not of snow, but of
wood — with all kinds of things you could think of
in there; and things that — that — you could not

334

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

think of even if you were to try — that nobody ever
thought of since the world began — wonderful ! "

This seemed to fairly take away the breath of
the audience, for they could only glare and remain
dumb. For a few moments they breathed hard,
then Squat-nose said in a deep whisper —

"Goon."

Aglootook did go on, and kept going on so long
that his audience were forced to go oft' and assuage
the pangs of hunger which prolonged abstinence
and mental excitement at last rendered unendur-
able. But no sooner Avas appetite appeased than
the magician and his hearers returned to the
subject with redoubled energy.

" Is it very, very far away ? " asked Aglootook's
wife, with a sigh, when he explained to her the
wonders of the mirror.

" Yes, a long, long way, and some of the ice is
very rough for the dogs."

" Not too far for some of us to go and return
before the open water ? " Squat-nose ventured to
hope.

"Plenty of time," returned Aglootook, with a
patronising smile. " In fact I advised Chcenbuk
to start away back as fast as possible with many
sledges, so that my woman will see it with her own
eyes."

" And me too ? " exclaimed the sister, bringing
her palms together with a smack.

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLD

335

" And you too. I advised Cheenbuk to take the
whole tribe there to stay till the time of open
water, and he agreed. Cheenbuk is a wise young
man : he always takes my advice."

The subject of this eulogiura was meanwhile
giving a graphic and much more truthful account
of the expedition to Adolay, Mangivik, his mother,
and a select circle of friends; yet, although he
did his best, like Aglootook, to convey an adequate
impression of what they had seen, wo make bold
to say that the utmost power of language in the
one and of imagination in the other failed to fill
the minds of those unsophisticated natives with
a just conception of the truth.

But they did succeed in tilling most of their
hearts with an unconquerable desire to go and
see for themselves, so that no difficulty was ex-
perienced in persuading the whole tribe — men,
women, children, and dogs— to consent to a general
migration.

Even Anteek held his court that night in the
tent of old Uleeta.

Since the death of Gartok Anteek had shown
much sympathy with that poor old woman. Ill-
natured people (for there are such in Eskimo-
land) said that sympathy with young Uleeta had
something to do with his frequent visits to the
tent. Well, anrl why not ? The sympathy was
not the less sincere that it was extended to both.

336

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Anyhow, a large circle of juvenile admirers of
both sexes assembled under the snow roof to hear
the young lecturer, and we are inclined to think
that his discourse was quite as instructive and
interesting as the narratives of his seniors. He
did not exaggerate anything, for Anteek was
essentially truthful in spirit. Nothing would
induce him to lie or to give a false impression if
he could help it, but the vivid play of his fancy
and the sparkling flow of his young imagination
were such that he kept his audience in a constant
ripple of amusement and fever of anticipation.
He was particularly strong on Aglootook, and
whatever that wily magician gained in the
esteem of the adults, he certainly lost among the
juveniles.

So eager were the Eskimos to see the wonderful
sights that had been described to them, that they
at once set about preparation for departure. On
the second day after the return of the exploring
party the entire village, having previously hidden
away in a secure place the things already obtained
from the ship, mounted their sledges and com-
menced their journey amid much noise and glee
in the direction of what was to them the far east.

It is needless, and would be tedious, to carry the
patient reader a second time over the same ground.
Suffice it to say that when they reached the spot,
and were introduced to the white man's " niG "

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

337

kayak, they felt disposed to echo the words of the
Queen of Sheba, and exclaim that half had not
been told thcni — not even although that huge
humbug Aglootook had told them a great deal
too nuich !

New circumstances are apt to engender new
conditions in savage as well as civilised life. It is
scarcely credible what an amount of hitherto latent
vanity was evoked by that mirror in the cabin, and
that too in the most unlikely characters. Man-
givik, for instance, spent much of his time the first
few days in admiring his grey locks in the glass.
And old Uleeta, although one of the plainest of the
tribe, seemed never to tiro of looking at herself.
Squat-nose, also, was prone to stand in front of
that mirror, making hideous faces at himself and
laughing violently; but there is reason to believe
that it was not vanity which influenced him so
much as a philosophical desire to ascertain the
cause of his own ugliness ! Aglootook likewise
wasted much of his valuable time before it.

A new sense of shame was by this means de-
veloped among these natives, as well as the power
to blush ; because after people had been inter-
rupted frequently in this act of self-admiratiou,
they were laughed at, and the constant recurrence
of this laughter aroused a feeling of indignation,
at the same time a tendency to hop away and
pretend interest in other things ! Squat-noso

338

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

111

never did this. All his actions were open as
the day — of course we mean the summer day, —
and he would sonictimes invite an intruder to
come and have a look at his reflection, as if it
were a treat. Hence our opinion of his motive.

Not so the magician. The very way he stood,
and moved about, and frowned at his double,
betrayed his state of mind, while the sensitive
way in which ho started off to gaze out at the
stern windows or have a look at the swinging
barometer showed his feeling of guilt when caught
in the act. Antcek soon found this out, and was
wont to lie in wait so as to catch him in the act
suddenly and with exasperating frequency.

After the first excitement of arrival was over,
the Eskimos built igloes on the shore and settled
down to dismantle the vessel and take possession
of her stores, and of all that could be of use
to them. They built an elongated oval igloo on
the shore as a store to receive the lighter and,
as they esteemed them, more valuable articles.
Among these were included all the axes, hoop-
iron, and other pieces of manageable metal that
could be easily carried. There were also numbers
of tin cans, iron pots, cups, glass tumblers, earthen-
ware plates, and other things of the kind, which
were esteemed a most valuable possession by people
whose ordinary domestic furniture consisted chiefly
of sealskin bowls and shallow stone dishes.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

339

During the few days that followed, the whole
colony of men, women, and children were bnsily
occupied in running between the ship and the big
store with loads proportioned to their strength,
and with joviality out of all proportion lo their
size, for it must be borne in mind that these
children of the ice had discovered not only a mine
of inconceivable wealth, but a mine, so to speak,
of inexhaustible and ever recurring astonishments,
Avhich elevated their eyebrows continually to the
roots of their hair, and bade fair to fix them there
for ever !

Perplexities were also among the variations of
entertainment to which they were frequently
treated. Sometimes these were more or less
cleared up after the assembled wit and wisdom
of the community had frowned and bitten their
nails over them for several hours. Others were
of a nature which it passed the wit of man —
Eskimo man at least — to unravel. A few of these,
like the watch, had some light thrown on them
by Nazinrcd, who had either seen something like
them in use among the fur-traders, or whosG
sagacity led him to make a shrewd occasional
guess.

One object, however, defied the brain-power
alike of Indian and Eskimo ; and no wonder, for
it was a wooden leg, discovered by Antcek in what
must have been the doctor's cabin — or a cabin

340

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

which had been used for doctor's stuff and
material. Like letters of the alphabet given in
confusion for the purpose of being formed into
words, this leg puzzled investigators because of
their inevitable tendency to lead off on a wrong
scent by assuming that the leg part was the
handle of the instrument, and the part for the
reception of the thigh a — a — something for — for
— doing, they couldn't tell what !

Sitting round the stone lamp after supper, some
of them passed the mysterious object from hand
to hand, and commented on it freely. The leg was
quite new, so that there were no marks of any
kind about it to afford a clew to its use.

Probably it had been made by the ship's car-
penter for some unfortunate member of the crew
who had come by an accident, and died before ho
could avail himself of it.

Suddenly the magician exclaimed — " I know !
I always knew that I would know, if I only
thought hard enough. It is a club for fighting
with. When the white men go to war they
always use these things."

Grasping it in both hands, he swung it round
his head, and made as though he would knock
Oolalik down with it, causing that young Eskimo
to shrink back in feigned alarm.

" That may be so," said Cheenbuk, with serious
gravity. " I wonder we did not think of it before."

A llOMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

341

"But if so," objected Nazinred, who always took
things seriously, "what is the use of the hollow in
its head, and for what are these lines and ties
fixed about it ? "

" Don't you see ? " said Chccnbuk, with in-
creased seriousness, " after knocking your enemy
down with it you pour his blood into the hollow
till it is full, let it freeze, and then tie it up
to keep it safe, so that you can carry it home
to let your wife see what you have done."

The usual quiet glance at Anteek had such an
effect on that youth that he would have certainly
exploded had he not been struck by an idea which
displaced all tendency to laugh.

" / know," he cried eagerly. " You 're all wrong ;
it is a hat I "

So saying, ho seized the leg out of the magician's
hand and thrust it on his head with the toe
pointing upwards.

There Avas a tendency to approve of this solu-
tion, and the boy, tying two of the straps under
his chin, sprang up, in the pride of his discovery.
But his pride had a fall, for the leap thrust the
leg through the snow roof of the hut, and the
novel head-dress was wrenched off as he staggered
back into Cheenbuk's arms.

Despite this mishap, it was received by most
of those present as a probable explanation of the
difficulty, and afterwards Anteek went proudly

342

THE WALUUS HUNTERS

. about wearing tho wooden hg; on his head. The
stylo of ca]) proved rather troublesome, however,
when ho was engaged in his researches between
decks, for more than once, forgetting to stoop low,
ho was brought uj} with an unpleasant jerk.

In a forest, as Nazinred suggested, tho high
crest might have been inconvenient, but out on tho
floes tho unencumbered immensity of tho Arctic
sky aftbrded tho boy room to swagger to his
heart's content.

Another discovery of great interest was the
carpenter's cabin. Unlike most of tho other
cabins, tho door of this one was locked, and the
key gone, though if it had been there no one
would have guessed its use. Peeping in through
a crack, however, Checnbuk saw so many desirable
things that he made short work of tho obstruction
by plunging his weight against it. The door
Avent down with a crash, and the Eskimo on the
top of it. The sight that met his gaze amply
repaid him, however, for there were collected
in symmetrical array on tho walls, saws, chisels,
gimlets, gouges, bradawls, etc., while on a shelf
lay planes, mallets, hammers, nails, augers— in
short, every variety of boring, hammering, and
cutting implement that can be imagined.

An hour after the discovery of that cabin,
there was not a man or boy in the tribe who was
not going about with cut fingers, more or less.

A ROMANCE OF THE lOE-WORLD

343

Exporicnco, however, very soon taught thorn
caution.

And hero again tho superior knowledge of
Nazinred caino in usefully. Like most Indian.s,
he was a man of observation. Ho had seen tho
fur-traders in their worksliop.s, and had noted
their tools. Taking up a hand-saw he seized a
piece of stick, and, although not an expert, sawed
a lump off the end of it in a few seconds. As this
would probably have cost an Eskimo full half an
hour to accomplish with his blunt knives, they
were suitably impressed, and Cheenbuk, seizing
tho saw, forthwith attempted to cut ott' the end of
a rod of iron — with what eti'oct it is scarcely
necessary to explain.

In tho course of a few days the quantity of
material brought on shore was so great that it
was found necessary to begin a second storehouse.
While most of the natives were engaged on this,
Cheenbuk and the Indian continued their re-
searches in tho ship, for a vast part of its deep
hold still remained unexplored, owing partly to
the slowness of tho investigation in consequence
of tho frequent bursts of amazement and admira-
tion, as well as tho numerous discussions that
ensued — all of which required time.

While going more minutely into the contents
of tho cabin, they came, among other things, on
a variety of charts and books.

344

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" Have you ever seen things like these ? " asked
Cheenbuk in a tone of veneration, based on the
belief that the Indian had seen nearly everything
the world contained.

" Never — except that," he replied, pointing to a
log-book ; " the traders use things hke that. They
open them and make marks in them."

Cheenbuk immediately opened the book in
question and found marks — plenty of them ; but
of course could make nothing of them, even after
turning them sideways and upside-down. As
the Indian was equally incapable, they returned
the whole into the locker in which they had
found them, intendmg to carry them on shore
when the now store should bo ready for the
reception of goods.

This was unfortunate, in some respects, as the
next chapter will show.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

345

CHAPTER XXIX.

CURIOSITY AND rRESDMPTION FOLLOWBD BY CATASTROPHE.

Most of the able-bodied men and a few of the
youngsters set off next day to obtain a supply of
walrus, seal, and uiusk-ox Hesli — or anything else
that happened to be procurable.

Mrs. Mangivik and other ladies were left to look
after the camp and prepare for the return of the
men, strict orders being left that no one should
go on board the ship on any pretext whatever.

But strict orders are not always obeyed. There
was one little boy in that community — not a bad
boy, but a precocious and very ambitious boy —
who chanced not to hear the orders given.
Whether he was partially deaf, or purposely did
not hear the orders, we cannot say. This little
boy's chief weakness was a desire to mimic.
Having admired the wooden leg on Antcek's head,
and having observed where Anteek had stowed
the leg away before sotting off with the hunters,
he possessed himself of it, put it on his head,
and strutted about the camp to the admiration

346

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

and envy of all his compeers ; for he was a very
daring and domineering boy, although small. His
name was Doocheek.

Another of Doocheok's weaknesses was a desire
to ape the men, and think himself a man in
consequence. This, coupled with a consuming
curiosity in regard to Nazinred's tobacco-pipe,
caused him to observe — for he was remarkably
observant — that the Indian had, for the first time
since he resided among them, gone ott' on an
expedition and left his pipe behind him — ac-
cidentaUy, no doubt. Doocheek watched his
opportunity and secured the fire-bag which con-
tained the smoking implements. Stolen waters
are sweet, even in cold climates where all the
waters freeze, and the boy cast about for a
secluded place in which he might enjoy the sweet-
ness of his pipe to the full without fear of inter-
ruption. A blue cavern in an iceberg might do,
but the atmosphere in such caves was rather cold.
Under the clilis there were many sheltered places,
but the juvenile members of the conmiunity were
playing there, and would certainly intrude. Out
on the fioes was an exposed place — to vision as
well as to wind and drift. What 'vv as left to him,
then, but the ship ?

Hurrying through the village in order to carry
out his plans, the boy encountered Mrs. Mangivik
at the entrance to her hut.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

347

"Where are you going, Doocheek?" demanded
the woman, with a look of suspicion born of
frequent experience.

With that spirit of ambiguous contradiction
which would seem to prevail among the youth of
all nations, Doocheek replied, " Nowhere."

It is interesting to observe how that remarkable
answer seems to satisfy inquirers, in nine cases
out of ten, everywhere ! At all events Mrs. Man-
givik smiled as if she were satisfied, and re-entered
her hut, where Nootka was engaged in conversation
with Adolay, while she taught her how to make
Eskimo boots.

"Did not Cheenbuk forbid every one to go
near the big kayak while the men were a\ ay i"
demanded the woman.

" Yes he did," answered Nootka, without raising
her eyes. — " Now look here. Ad — dolay. You turn
the too up this way, and the heel down that way,
and shove your needle in so, and then — "

" I am very sure," interrupted Mrs. Mangivik,
"that little Doocheek has gone down there.
There's not another little boy in the tribe but
himself would dare to do it."

" He will lose some of his skin if he does," said
Nootka quietly — referring not to any habit of
the Eskimos to flay bad boys alive, but to their
tendency to punish the refractory in a way that
was apt to ruHio ihe cuticle.

348

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Quite indifferent to all such prospects in store
for him, the boy hurried on until he reached the
foot of the snow staircase. It had been repaired
by that time, and the deck was easily gained.
Descending to a part of the interior which was
rather dark — for the boy was aware that his deeds
were evil — he sat down on a locker and opened
his fire-bag.

Eskimos are not quite free from superstition.
Doocheek had plenty of natural courage, but he
was apt to quail before the supernatural. Apart
from the conscience, which even in Arctic bosoms
tends to produce cowardice, de strange sur-
roundings of the place — the deep shadows, mergi'^ig
into absolute obscurity, and the feeling of mystery
that attached to everything connected with the
vessel — all had the ef.'oct of rendering Doocheek's
enjoyment somewhat mixed. To look at him
as ho sat there, glaring nervously on all ^jides,
one would have been tempted to say that his was
what might be called a fearful joy. If a rat or a
mouse had f Cvu-ried past hivn at that moment ho
would have fled precipitately, but no rat or mouse
moved. Probably they were all frozen, and ho
had the place entirely to himself — too much to
himself He bcjgan at that point to wish that ho
had brought anotlxer little boy, or even a girl,
with him, to keep up bis coiu-ago and share in
his trimnphant wickedness.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

n49

However, as nothing happened, his courage
began to return, and he emptied the contents of
the bag on the locker. He knew exactly what to
do, for many a time had he Avatched the Indian
fill his pipe and produce fire with flint, steel, and
tinder, beginning with the pipe, he filled it, and
then proceeded to strike a light. Of course he
found this much more difficult than ho had
expected. It seemed so easy in the Indian's hanas
— it was so very difficult in his ! After skinning
his knuckli's, however, chipping his thumb-nail,
and knocking the flint out of his hand several
times, he succeeded in making the right stroke,
and a shower of sparks rewarded his persever-
ance.

This was charming. The place was so dark that
the sparks seemed as large and bright as stars,
while tl . darkness that followed was deeper by
contrast. Forgetting the pipe and tobacco in this
now- found joy, Doochcek kept pelting away at the
flint, sending showers of sparks past his knees, and
some of them wera so large that ihey even fell
upon the deck before going out.

But an abrupt stop was put to his amusement.
Whether it was that something or other in tho sides
of the ship had <jivon way. or the energetic action
of the boy had shaken soui9 fastonin™ loose, we
cannot say, bi it just as ho was '.a the act of raising
his hand for another /eu-<fe-^oi€, a shelf over his

350

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

head gave way, and a perfect avalanche of pots,
pans, and noisy tin articles came down with a
hideous crash on the deck !

To leap [rom the locker like a bomb-shell, and
go straij^'bt up the hatchway like a rocket, was
only natural. Doocheek did that as far as was
compatible with flesh and blood. He could not
remember afterwards by Avhat process he reached
the ice and found himself on the skirts of the
village. But at that point his self-control returned,
and he sauntered- home — flashed, it is true, and a
little winded, vet with the noncho.lant air of a man
who had just stepped out to "have a look at the
weather." His conscience was rather troubled, it
is true, when he thought of the fire-bag and the
pipe, etc., left behind, but nothing would have
induced him to return for these at that time.

Towards evening the walrus hunters returned.
They had been very successful. The sledges were
loaded up with the meat of several large animals,
so that there was a prospect of unlimited feasting
for more than a week to come.

" Now, old woman," said Chcenbuk with cheery
irreverence to his mother, and with that good-
natured familiarity which is often engendered by
good fortune, " stir up the lamps and get ready the
marrow-bones !"

Regardless of lamps and marrow-bones, all the
children of the community, even to the smallest

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

351

babes, Avcro sucking raw blubber as children in
less favoured lands suck lollipops.

" Had you to go far ? " asked Adolay.

" Not far. We found them all close by, and would
have been back sooner, but some of them fought
hard and took up much time," answered Cheen-
buk, who awaited the cooking process ; for since
ho had discovered the Indian girl's disgust at raw
meat, he had become a total abstainer on the point.

"And," he added, beginning to pull off his
boots, "if your father had not been there with
the spoutcr we should have been out on the
floes fighting still, for some of the walruses were
savage, and hard to kill."

After supper, as a matter of course, Nazinred
looked round with an air of benign satisfaction
on his fine face.

" Is my fire-bag behind you, Adolay ? " he asked
in a low voice.

Doocheek was present and heard the question,
but of course did not understand it, as it was put
in the j Jogrib tongue. The search, however, which
immediately began induced him to retire promptly
and absent himself from homo for the time being.

" It is not here, fiither."

A more careful search was made, then a most
careful one, but no fire-bag was to be found.

"Perhaps Nootka took it to her sleeping-place
to keep it safe," suggested old Mangivik.

362

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

No ; Nootka had seen nothing of it, and Nootka
was not a Uttlo annoyed when, in spite of her
assertion, a search was made in ner boudoir, and
not a httlo triumphant when the search proved
fruitless.

" Surely no one has taken it away," said Cheen-
buk, looking round Avith an expression that would
have sunk Doocheck through the snow into the
earth if he had been there.

"// any one has taken it away," said Aglootook,
with a profundity of meaning in his tone that was
meant to paralyse the guilty, and serve as a per-
manent caution to the innocent, " something awful
will happen. I don't say what, but something ; so
it will be as well to confess, for I 'm sure to find
it out — if not soon, then in a long time."

For some moments after this there was dead
silence, but nobody confessed, and they all looked
at each other as if they expected some one to go
off like a cannon shot through the roof suddenly,
and were somewhat disappointed that no one did.

By degrees they began to breathe more freely,
and at last some went out to seek repose in their
own huts, while the inmates of Mangivik's dwelling
began to turn in for the night. Nootka and Adolay
retii'ed to the boudoir, and the men, drawing bear
or seal skins over them, lay down, each where he
had feasted.

Naziared alone remained sitting up, the victim

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOT' T.D

353

of unsatisfied cravinj^. North American Indians
are noted for their power to conceal their feelings,
and Nazinred was not an excej^tion to the rule,
for no sign did ho betray of the longing desire for
a pipe that consumed him. Only a tendency to
silence, and a deeper solemnity than usual, seemed
to indicate that all was not as he would wish.

At last ho lay down. About an hour afterwards,
finding that he could not sleep, he arose, cast an
envious glance at the peaceful slumberers ai'ound
him, crept through the entrance tunnel, and stood
erect outside, with a gaze of subdued inquiry at
the starry host overhead. Bringing his eyes slowly
down to the things of earth, his gaze changed
suddenly into one of wild ala'..^.

The cause was obvious enough. When Doo-
cheek fled from the avalanche of pots and tins,
as before mentioned, he failed to observe that
one of the sparks, which had filled him with
delight, had remained nesthng and alive in a mass
of cotton- waste, or some such rubbish, lying on the
lower deck. With the tendency of sparks to in-
crease and propagate their species, this particular
one soon had a large and vigorous family of little
sparks around it. A gentle pnff of wind made
these little ones lively, and induced them, after
the manner of littlo ones everywhere, to scatter
on exploring ramble.;. Like juveniles, too, their
food at first was simple, — a few more mouthfuls of

354

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

wasto and a bit of ropo hero and there; honco
their progress was slow and quiet. J^ut time and
increasing strength soon made thcni impatient
of such light food. Ero long they created a
draught of their own, and wore blown into a
flame. Then some of them laid hold of some
bedding, while others seized upon a bulkhead,
and, gathering courage from success, they finally
enveloped the 'twcen-decks in a mass of tiame.

It was at this point in the business that the
eyes of Naziured beheld a colunm of smoke
rising from the after-companion hatch which
threw his own smoking powers entirely into the
shade, and indu'-ed him to utter an unreasoning
war-whoop that roused the Eskimo tribe as if by
a shock of electricity.

The entire population rushed out like one man.
They saw the smoke, with a lurid flame licking
out here and there amid the blackness, and seeing
the Indian flying down the beach as if he were
witch-possessed — as indeed he was — they utterod
a united howl, and made ofi' in the same direction.

Fire brigades, of course, are unknown among
the Eskimos, but the way in which Cheenbuk
improvised and organised an Arctic brigade might
have roused the envy even of the London force !

Great men are always with us, though not
always recognised. It requires specially great
occasions to draw them forth, and make them

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

355

visible oven to themselves. Many a time in former
years had Chcenbuk spilt water on the cooking
lamp and put it out. Water at once occurred to
his mind in connection with the tremendous lamp
that was now fairly alight. But water was at that
time locked up seven or eight feet under the solid
ice. The active mind of the Eskimo naturally
reverted to snow ere yet ho had^ covered tho dis-
tance between ship and shore. Wo say naturally,
because ho was quite aware that snow also
extinguished lamps.

Cutting a huge block of snow with his bone
knife from the beaten plain, ho shouted in a voice
of thunder : " Hi ! every ono. Look at me ! Do
as I do!"

He shouldered the mass, sprang up tho snow
stair, and plunged do^vn the sinoking hatchway.

Cheenbuk and Oolalik, who wcro as quick to
obey as to command — perhaps quicker — followed
their leader's example. Others followed suit ac-
cording to their respective natures and capacities.
Anteek, bearing a mass nearly as big as himself,
also dashed below in wild oxcitement. Some of
the young men tumbled their burdens of snow
down tho smoking hole and went back for more.
Even old Mangivik did that as fast as uis rheumatic
limbs would let him. Raventik, reckless as usual,
sprang down with a mighty lump, but finding tho
atmosphere below uncongenial, hurled it towards

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356

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

his predecessors, and sprang up again for a fresh
supply, watering at the eyes and choking. The
poor invalid Ondikik walked as hard as his fast-
failing strength would permit. The women even,
led by the thoroughly roused Cowlik, bore their
share in the work. The children took prompt
advantage of the occasion to enjoy by far the
wildest game that had ever yet been suggested to
their imaginations, and Aglootook the magician,
seeing that something had come at last to verify
his predictions, stood by the capstan and appointed
himself to the command of the upper deck brigade,
while the others were battling with the flames
below.

The battle was indeed a tough one ; for the fire
had got a firm hold, not only of the materials
already mentioned, but also of a mass of canvas
and cordage in what must have been the sail-
maker's department, and the smoke was growing
so dense that it was becoming difficult for the
firemen to breathe.

"Here! Nazinred, Oolalik, throw the biggest
lumps you can lift over there."

Cheenbuk pointed to what seemed a red-hot
spot in the dense smoke before them, and set
them the example by heaving a gigantic mass at
the same place.

A tremendous hiss came forth as the snow was
converted into steam, but there was no abatement

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

357

in the roar of the devouring clement as it licked
up everything around it, making the iron bolts
red, and, though not themselves combustible,
assistants to combustion.

"More snow, Anteek! more snow!" gasped
Cheenbuk.

The boy, with a mass of half-melted snow still
in his hand, sprang up the ladder, scarce knowing
what he did, and appeared on deck, blackened and
wildly dishevelled. Aglootook was close to the
opening at the moment, giving sententious direc-
tions to some little boys. Anteek hurled the
snow-mass full at his face with the force of an
ardent nature intensified by contempt, and sent
him sprawling among the children as he leaped
over the side to carry out his orders.

But no energy on the part of Cheenbuk and his
couu'ades, no eftorts on the part of their assist-
ants, strong or feeble, could avert that ship's
doom. Ere long the smoke and heat between
decks became unbearable, and drove the gallant
leaders back, inch by inch, foot by foot, until they
were compelled to take refuge on the upper deck,
when nothing more could be done to arrest the
progress of the flames. They retired therefore to
the quarter-deck, where the whole of the Eskimos
— men, women, and children — assembled to look
on at the destruction which they could not new
prevent.

868

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

"This is a great loss," observed Chcenbuk
regretfully, as he sat on the after-rail, mopping
the perspiration off his blackened face with his
sleeve.

"It might have been a greater loss," said
Nazinred, glancing towards the well-filled store-
houses on shore.

" That is true ; but just think of wliat a supply
of wood for spears and sledges ! It would have
been enough to last the lives of our children's
children, if not longer,"

"Did I not tell you that something would
happen ? " said Aglootook, coming forward at that
moment.

" Yes, and something did happen," said old
Mangivik, " though I could not see how it
happened, for the smoke. Did not a lump of
snow fly in your face and knock you over among
the children ? "

The magician ignored the question altogether,
and, turning to Cheenbuk, asked if he thought
there was yet any chance of saving the ship.

" Not unless you manage to send some of your
magic down and stop the fire."

" That is not possible," returned the other, with
a wisely grave look. "I can do much, but I
cannot do that."

As he spoke, a fresh roar of the fire up the
hatchway attracted attention. Gathering strength,

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

359

it burst up in a bright flame, showing that the
quarter-deck could not long remain a place of
security.

Suddenly Nazinred showed fsrgns of excitement
which were very unusual in him. Fighting the
walrus or bear, or battling with the fire, had never
produced such an expression as crossed his face,
while he cast a hasty glance round on the women
and children, whose forms were by that time lit up
by the dull red glow that issued fiom the column
of smoke.

" Cheenbuk," he said in a low voice, " the black
stuff that I put in my spouter is kept by traders
in round things — I forget the name. If there is
one of these round things here, and it catches fire,
wo shall, every one of us, with the ship, be sent
up to the stars ! "

The remark was meant to reach the ear of the
leader alone, but several of those around heard it,
and a wild rush was instantly made for the
snow stair, amid feminine and juvenile shrieks.
Aglootook incontinently hurled himseK over the
side, and fell on his hands and knees on the ice,
where an opportune snow-drift saved him. Most of
the party ran or leaped out of the threatened danger.

" Docs not my father think that we should go ? "
asked Cheenbuk, who began to feel uneasy as a fresh
burst of flame set fire to the canvas a^vning, and
made the place they stood on unpleasantly hot.

360

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" Yes, my son, ho does," replied Nazinred ; " but
it does not become men to run from danger."

So saying he began to move as if in a funeral
procession, closely followed by Cheenbuk, Oolalik,
and old Mangivik.

As they reached the head of the staircase some-
thing like an explosion occurred, for the deck was
partially burst up by the heat. The three Eskimos,
who did not think their dignity affected by haste,
leaped down the stair in two bounds, but Nazinred
did not alter his walk in the least. Step by step
ho descended deliberately, and walked in stolid
solemnity to the spot on which the community
had assembled as a place of safety.

They did not speak much after that, for the
sight was too thrilling and too novel to admit of
conversation. Shouts and exclamations alone
broke forth at intervals.

The danger to which they had been exposed
while on the quarter-deck became more apparent
when a clear bright flame at length shot upwards,
and, catching some of the ropes, ran along and
aloft in all directions.

Hitherto the fire had been much smothered by
its own smoke and the want of air below, but now
that it had fairly burst its bonds and got headway,
it showed itself in its true character as a fierce and
insatiable devourcr of all that came in its way.

Catching hold of the awning over the deck, it

A ROMANCE OK THE ICE-WORLD

361

swept fore and aft like a billow, creating such heat
that the spectators were forced to retreat to a still
safer distance. From the awning it licked round
the masts, climbed them, caught the ropes and flew
up them, sweeping out upon the yards to their
extreme ends, so that, in a few minutes, the ship
was ablaze from hold to truck, and stem to stern.

Then the event which Nazinred had referred
to occurred. The flames reached the powder
magazine. It exploded, and the terrified natives
yelled their feelings, while the entire structure
went up into the heavens with a roar to which
the loudest thunder could not compare, and a
sheet of intense light that almost blinded them.

The explosion blew out every fork of flame,
great and small, and left an appalling blackness
by contrast, while myriads of red-hot fragments
fell in a shower on the ice, and rebounded from
it, like evil spirits dancing around the tremendous
wreck that they had caused.

Fortunately the Eskimos were beyond the range
of the fiery shower. When they ventured, with
awe-stricken looks, to approach the scene of the
catastrophe, only a yawning cavern in the floe
remained to tell of the stately vessel that had thus
ended her final voyage.

362

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XXX.

11
ill

A DBCLAHATION, AN INTKUnUPTION, AND A GBBAT FIGHT.

The loss which the Eskimos sustained in the
destructiou of the ship was in one sense consider-
able, for the woodwork about her would have been
of immense value to them ; nevertheless their
gains in what had already been stored were very
great, so that they were able to regard their
losses with philosophic composure.

The weeks that followed — weeks of ever increas-
ing hght and warmth — were spent in examining
and sorting their material into packages suitable
for transport on sledges to their summer quarters
at Waruskeek.

And here again the knowledge possessed by
Nazinred of the habits and implements of the
white men was of great service. Adolay also helped
to instruct, for when among the sailmaker's tools
they found a number of the finer sort of needles
and threads, as well as a few feminine thimbles,
so to speak, she was able to show the women at
once how to use them, and thus saved them from

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

363

the trouble of puzzling out the matter for them-
selves.

" What is this ? " asked Anteek of Nazinred
one day, presenting a file which ho had just
picked up.

" That is a thing," replied the Indian, who, being
ignorant of the names of most tools, got over the
difficulty by calling all objects " things " — " that is
a thing made for cutting iron with; rubbing it
down and cutting it short. It cuts things that
are too hard for a knife."

" I think," returned the boy, regarding it atten-
tively, " we might try it on Aglootook's nose. That
wants cutting short, and rubbing down too, for it
seems very hard to look at it."

Nazinred did not smile. He was slow to under-
stand a joke. Perhaps he thought it a poor one,
but Cheenbuk appreciated it, and met it with the
suggestion that an axe might be more effective.

They were gravely debating this point in front of
the snow stores, when Ondikik came up and asked
when it was likely that a start would be made
for home, as he styled their old winter village.

"Go and ask Mangivik. When ha gives the
order I 'm ready," said Cheenbuk.

" Don't say a word to Aglootook," said Anteek,
as the young man turned to go ; " ho will be sure
to say that something will happen if you do."

" Yes, and as something always does happen "

364

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

remarked Chccnbuk, "he's sure to bo right, the
moosquat."

"Moo-squat" seemed to be used as a term of
extreme contempt ; it may not therefore bo in-
correct to translate it — " humbug ! "

On being consulted, old Mangivik, who was
generally credited with being weather-wise and
intelligent, gave it as his opinion that, as the
things from the white man's kayak were all ready
packed on tho sledges, and the weather was very
warm, and the days were growing long, and tho ice
and snow were melting fast, the sooner they set
out the better.

Aglootook coincided with that opinion, because
ho had been led to tho same conclusion some days
before, chiefly in consequence of profound thought
during the dark hours of night. " And if we don't
start off now," he added at the end of a portentous
oration, " no one can tell what will happen — some-
thing fearful, I know, though of course it is not
possible to say what."

As no one felt disposed to object, the prepara-
tions were hurried forward, and, soon after, the
whole tribe went off on the return journey, leaving
behind them a black and yawning gulf in the Arctic
solitude where so lately a noble ship had been.

Arrived at the old village, these lively and
energetic nomads occupied themselves during the
brief remainder of winter and the early spring in

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

3G5

securely hiding the goods of which they had become
possessed, excepting such light portions as they
meant to carry along with them to their summer
retreat. Among these were a number of bows,
spears, and arrows made from the wood of the
burnt vessel, with cleverly adapted iron heads,
filed to fine sharp points, and burnished until they
glittered in the light. Of knives and axes there
were also sufficient to equip most of the young
men, and those for whom there were none made
to themselves pretty good knives out of pieces of
hoop-iron.

When at last the ocean currents and summer
heat broke up the solid floes and set the icebergs
free to resume their majestic southward course,
our Eskimos put their sledges en cache, got out
kayaks and oomiaks, and, wielding both the short
and the long paddle, started off towards the south-
west, in the direction of Waruskeek — some of the
tribe, however, with a few of the old people, re-
maining behind.

" Now, Adolay, we are going to take you home,"
said Cheenbuk, the day they started, while walking
with her towards the oomiak in which she was to
take her seat and a paddle. " Will the Indian girl
be glad to leave us ? "

The faintest possible tinge of red suffused her
cheek, as she dropped her eyes and replied — " She
will be glad to get home."

866

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" When you have got homo, and stayed for a
time with your people," returned Checnbuk, who
was usually blunt and to-tho-point in his conversa-
tion, "will you corno away with mo and bo my
woman — my squaw?" ho added, accommodating
his words to tho Indian vocabulary,

"I cannot leave my mother," answered the
maiden in a low voice.

"That is good," returned the gallant Eskimo,
"but Choenbuk can leave his mother and his
father too. If I go and live with the men-of-the-
woods, will you be my squaw ? "

Adolay with downcast eyes gave no answer.

It is said that silence gives consent. We are
ignorant as to Arctic opinion on this point, but
before light could be thrown on the subject,
Anteek came rushing round tho corner of a
stranded berg with the exclamation —

" Hoi ! Cheenbuk — here you are ! We thought
you must have got into the teeth of a walrus or
the arras of a bear ! "

Cheenbuk frowned savagely, caught Anteek by
his nether garments and the nape of his neck,
and, lifting him high above his head, seemed about
to dash him on the ground. But, instead, he
replaced him gently on his feet, and, with a
benignant smile, told him to run down to the
shore and put his kayak in the water so as to bo
ready for him.

a
s

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

367

Antcok, who was obedience pcrsonificfl.hastonod
away at once, rubbing his uothor garments, and
sorely perplexed as to tho strange spirit which
seemed so suddenly to have taken possession of
tho friend ho so ardently idolised.

It was arranged that Nazinred, being unaccus-
tomed to tho Eskimo kayak, should voyage with
the women in ono of tho oomiaks. To a younger
bravo this might have been regarded as an undig-
nified position, but to a man of his years and tried
expcrienco it was only a subject for a passing
smile. But tho Indian did not accept tho position
of an idle passenger. Although inoxport in the
use of the two-bladed paddle and the light kayak,
he was thoroughly capable of using the women's
paddle with tho single blade, as it bore much
resemblance in shape and size to that used in his
native canoe. He therefore quietly assumed the
post of steersman in the oomiak, which contained
Madam Mangivik, Nootka, the easy-going Cowlik,
the gentlo Rinka, Adolay, and a variety of children
and babies. The young man Oolalik, in defiance
of immemorial custom, also took a seat and a
paddle in that oomiak— out of pure hospitality of
course, and for the sole purpose of keeping their
guest company. Nootka' said nothing, but she
seemed amused as well as pleased at the inno-
vation. So were tho children, for Oolalik was a
prime favourite with young as well as old.

368

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Old Uleeta was the captain of another of the
oomiaks, and it was observed that Aglootook cast
longing and frequent glances in her direction,
believing, no doubt, that a place by her side would
be an easier berth than in his own kayak, with
nothing but tlio strength of his own lazy arm to
urge it on ; but as there was no guest in this case
to justify the breach of ancient custom on the
ground of hospitality, he felt that manhood re-
quired him to stay where he was.

It was a pretty sight the starting of the little
flotilla on a brilliant spring morning, with the sea
as calm as a millpond, fantastic masses of white
ice floating about in all directions, and mountain-
ous bergs here and there giving dignity as well
as variety, by their size and light-green sides and
deep blue caverns, to a scene which might other-
wise have been too suggestive of wedding-cake.

Seals, walruses, sea-birds, and numerous
denizens of the deep and air, were sporting about
in fearless indifference to the presence of their
great enemy, man, but these were unheeded until
hunger began to affect the Eskimo. Then the war
began, with its usual result — " the survival of the
fittest."

One day, however, there was a battle in which
it came about that the tables were almost turned,
and the survival, as regards the animals, very
nearly reversed.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

369

It happened thus : —

We have already referred to the ferocity of the
walrus when attacked. As a rule, man is the
assailant. Sometimes, however, the monster of
the Arctic deep assumes the oftensive. On the
occasion we are about to describe the attack was
made in force.

The day had been brilliantly fine. The bergs
had absolutely duplicated and inverted themselves
by reflection, so that the sunlit pinnacles became
submarine fires, and refraction stepped in to
reverse, and as it were shatter, the floes on the
horizon, while three mock suns glowed in the
heavens at the same time — thus making the beau-
tiful confusion still more exquisitely confounded.

"Walrus!" said Cheenbuk, pointing with the
end of his long paddle in the direction of a large
berg just ahead of them.

Nazinred, who was close alongside of him, ceased
to paddle, and shaded his eyes with his hand. So
did his crow. The whole flotilla ceased to paddle,
and skiinmed slowly along for some moments in
dead silence.

Then Aglootook, in virtue of his office and
presumption, spoke in a low voice —

" Let us pull softly, imd speak not at all. There
are plenty of beasts. Wonders shall bo done to-
day if you attend to what I say."

They all acted on his advice, whether they heard

370

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

it or not, for Eskimos need no caution to be
wary and silent when approaching a herd of
walruses.

There appeared to be at least a hundred animals
lying sunning themselves on the various ice-lumps
into which the floes were broken up. On one
mass about half a mile off there were some twenty
rolling about and grunting comfortably to each
other. Towards these the flotilla slowly drifted,
for the dipping of the paddles could scarcely bo
seen, and was quite noiseless. By slow degrees
they drew near, and then the oomiaks hung back,
with the exception of that steered by Nazinred, who
had got his fire-spouter ready, while Oolalik stood
in the bow, harpoon in hand, and lance ready by
his side. The women were not expected to take
part in the action — only to look on, — but all the
men in kayaks advanced. While these hist went
on towards the main herd, our Indian steered
straight for the ice-cake on which the largest
number lay, and as they drew near, the extreme
ughness of the creatures' faces and black heads
became very apparent.

There was an old bull with tusks not far short
of three feet long among the herd. Beside him
was a young bull, which seemed from his wicked
expression to be screwing up his courage to assault
the old one. The rest were females and young
ones of various ages, down to what seemed the

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

371

very last walrus baby. Those that were grown up
had bristling moustaches like porcupine quills on
their flat lips, and the young ones had tusks in
different degrees of development — except the
baby, whose head resembled an ill-shaped foot-
ball.

They did not seem in the least afraid of the
approaching oomiak. Perhaps they thought it
a very dirty piece of ice covered with rather
grotesque seals. At all events, although they
looked at it, they went on with their mooing and
rolling about, quite regardless of it, until Oolalik
sent his harpoon deep into the side of one of the
cows. Then indeed there was tremendous roaring
and confusion, as the Avhole herd tumbled off the
ice raft into the sea. The splash sent a cataract
of spray over the Eskimos ; and no wonder, for the
old bull was full sixteen feet long, with barrel-
bulk equal to a hogshead. Some of the others
were not much smaller.

The harpoon thrown was attached to a short
line, to the end of which an inflated sealskin was
fostencd for the purpose of form'ng a drag on the
animal harpooned, and, by coming to the surface,
showing its whereabouts. But on this occasion
the creatures required no such contrivance to
bring them up, for no sooner were the two bulls
in their native clement than they uttered a horrible
succession of roars, and made straight for the

372

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

ooniiak. A rip in the side of the skin boat would
have been fatal, or, if one of the animals were to
hook on to it with his tusks, an upset would bo
certain. Oolalik therefore grasped his long lance,
while Nazinred steered so as to keep the bow
end-on to the assailants. Another moment and
Oolalik dealt the oldest bull a thrust in the neck
that sent it back roaring. The cry seemed to bo
a summons, for answering cries were heard all
round, and the walruses were seen to be con-
verging towards theli savage old chief. Mean-
while the young bull had reached the right side
of the oomiak, where Cowlik sat with an easy-going
look on her placid face, admiring the scene.
Nazinred was so intent on keeping the craft right
that he failed to notice it until its ugly head and
ponderous tusks rose above the gunwale. But
Cowlik proved equal to the occasion. The easy-
going look vanished, and the end of her paddle
went into the throat of the brute with a thrust so
vigorous that the boat was driven to one side and
the tusks missed their mark. At the same
moment Adolay, who sat close to her, grasped her
paddle like a double-handed sword, and brought it
down with surprising force on the creature's left
eye. A shot from the fire-spouter followed; the
ball entered the same eye, reached the brain, and
the young bull sank to rise no more.
The Indian reloaded as fast as he could, but

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

373

not in time for another charge from the old bull,
which Oolalik met with a stab in the side that
again turned him off bellowing. A still younger
bull, anxious, perchance, to win its spurs, took
advantage of the situation, and made a dash at
the opposite side, but Nootka sent about two feet
of her paddle down its throat, which induced it
to reconsider its intentions.

Just then a loud report told that the spouter
was again to the front. This time the ball took
effect on the old bull's forehead, and remained
there. It neither killed nor stunned, though it
probably surprised it, for it sheered ofi' permanently,
and all the rest of the herd went away to sea
along with it.

After this unexpected and dangerous encounter
was over, it was found that several other animals
were splashing about in a dying state, or fast to
sealskin buoys which the men in the kayaks had
managed to affix to them. One of these was
closely followed up by Antcek, who had very
cleverly launched his harpoon.

Aglootook was also seen to be struggling with
a buoy, which he was trying to haul in.

"Keep off!" he cried in great excitement when
old Mangivik paddled to his assistance ; " I have
lanced it twice. I need no help. See, the water
is full of blood ! "

" That is my beast you are fighting," remarked

374

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Oolalik, as the oomiak came up. "Look at the
float : it is mine."

The magician looked crestfallen. He had hoped,
probably, to kill the Avounded animal, secure it to
his kayak, and cast loose the buoy, so that no one
could claim it. He made the most of the situation,
however, by asserting stoutly that if he had not
lanced it well it would certainly have broken
loose from the buoy.

When the whole party was assembled on a largo
floe, cutting up and stowing away the meat, some
of the younger men began to comment on the
success of the hunt, and to congratulate themselves
on the large supply of fresh provisions which they
had secured.

"Did I not tell you," said Aglootook, Avho
appeared to be superintending the workers, " that
wonders would be done to-day ? "

" You did," replied Cheenbuk gravely, " and one
of the greatest wonders was that you managed to
lance a walrus ! "

"It was indeed a great wonder," returned the
magician, with a smile of supreme satisfaction,
" for I was not hunting at all at the time — only
looking on by way of encouraging the young men.
It just came in my way and I killed it, easily, in
passing. If I had been really hunting, then
indeed," he added, with solemn emphasis, "you
would have seen something to astonish you."

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

871

" I have no doubt of that ! " remarked Chconbuk.
At the same moment Anteek went ott' into an
explosion of laughter, which he accounted for by
pointing at a baby-walrus which had just put
its head out of the water with an expression of
surprise on its innocent face that clearly indicated
its inabiUty to understand what was going on.

376

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

CHAPTER XXXI.

AN EXI KDITION AND A DISAPPOINTMENT.

A FEW days later the whole tribe arrived at
their summer quarters, and no civilised family of
boys and girls ever arrived at their seaside homo
with a more genuine expression of noisy delight
than that with Avhich those Eskimos took posses-
sion of the turf-mud-and-stone-built huts of
Waruskeek.

It was not only the children who thus let loose
their glee. The young men and maidens also
began to romp round the old dwellings in the
pure enjoyment of ancient memories and present
sunshine, while the elders expressed their satisfac-
tion by looking on with approving nods and
occasional laughter. Even old Mangivik so far
forgot the dignity of his advanced age as to extend
his right toe, when Anteek was rushing past, and
trip up that volatile youth, causing him to plunge
headlong into a bush which happened to grow
handy for his reception,

Nazinred alone maintained his dignity, but so

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

37V

far condescended to harmonise with the prevailing
spirit as to smile now and then. As for Adolay,
she utterly ignored the traditions of her people,
and romped and laughed with the best of them,
to the great delight of Nootka, who sometimes felt
inclined to resent her stately ways. Cheenbuk
adopted an intermediate course, sometimes playing
a practical joke on the young men, at other times
entering into grave converse with his Indian
guest. Aglootook of course stuck to his o^vn rdle.
He stood on a bank of sand which overlooked the
whole, and smiled gracious approval, as though
he were the benignant father of a large family,
whom he was charmed to see in the enjoyment of
innocent mirth.

Cheenbuk soon formed his plans for the future,
and laid them before the elders of the tribe the
same evening after supper — at that period when
poor Nazinred would have been enjoying his pipe,
if that implement had not been blown with all his
tobacco and tinder into the Arctic sky.

It is but just to the Indian to add that he took
his heavy loss in a philosophical .spirit, and had
by that time quite got over the craving — insomuch
that he began to wonder why he had ever come
under the sway of such a taste.

"Now," said Cheenbuk, with an air of decision,
" listen to my plans."

" Hoi ! ho ! " exclaimed every one, especially

378

THE WALRUS IIUNTEUS

At(lootook, who added " li.ay ! " in a pccidiar
tone, thus giving him loavo, as it wore, to talk
as much as ho pleased.

"You all know that I have promised to take
Adolay back to her own homo, and you know that
I never break my promises. It is therefore my
intention to set off to the Whale River after two
suns have gone round the sky."

" Hoi ! " exclaimed some of the young men, with
looks of surprise at such promptitude.

We may observe hero that in those regions tho
sun in summer describes nearly an unbroken
circle in the sky, and that Cheenbuk's reference
was to tho next two days.

" I will take with mo as many men and women
as choose to go, but no children. We will take
our spears and bows to procure food, but not to
fight, for I go to make friends with the Fire-
spoutors and tho white traders. So, if any one
wants to light " — ho looked at Raventik here, but
that fire-cater happened to bo absent-minded at
the moment, and sat with downcast eyes, — " to
fight," he repeated with emphasis, " he will have
to remain at home and fight the walrus— or the
women ! "

A faint "ho!" hero indicated a desire for
more.

"Nazinred says he is sure his people will be
glad to meet us. I am sure we shall bo glad to

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

379

ineet his people. What will happen after that, I
cannot tell."

" Something will certainly happen," nuirmurcd
Aglootook, as if holding converse with his own
spirit, or with his familiar. "1 know it; 1 am
sure of it. I tell you all beforehand."

" And you will accompany us," said Cheenbuk,
turning to the magician with a nod of approval.
" When wo go on an errand of peace we need our
wisest men with us, men whoso knowledge and
experience will make the Fire-spouters think much
of us, and men who don't like fighting."

"Now, then," continued the Eskimo, turning
again to the young men, " who will go ? I shall
not allow any to go who are not quite willing."

There was no lack of volunteers. The party
Avas then and there arranged, and two days later
they set out on their mission, a goodly band, in
kayaks and oomiaks.

The weather continued fine; the days were
long; islets for camping-places were numerous,
and in process of time the party reached the
mouth of the Whale — otherwise Greygoose —
River, which they began to ascend.

" Oh ! " exclaimed Adolay, with glistening eyes,
as she looked from bank to bank ; " I know it so
well — almost every bush and tree.

" And you love it ? " said Nootka,

" Yes, yes ; is it not my own country ? "

380

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

Nootka sifjfhcd. "I wish I could lovo my
country like you ; but your country sticks. Mino
molts away — most of it — every hot sun-time; and
it is not easy to care nuich for things that molt."

"But Waruskeek does not melt," said Adolay
sympathetically.

"That is true," returned Nootka, as if pleased to
think of something solid, round which her affec-
tions might entwine ; " but wo stay such a short
time there — only while the hot sun-time Lists, and
I have not time to get very fond of it — not so as
to make my eyes open and my cheeks grow red
like yours."

"Then you must como and live with me and
love my country," said the Indian girl in a
patronising tone.

" What ! and forsake Oolalik ? " exclaimed the
Eskimo maiden, with heightened colour and flash-
ing eyes. " No, never. He will not melt, what-
ever else does."

"Right, Nootka," exclaimed Adolay, with a
laugh. "It would take a very hot sun indeed
to melt Oolalik. But perhaps the whole tribe will
stay in my country. I think that Choenbuk will
get us over this difficulty. It is wonderful what
can be done by a man with a determined mind
like Cheenbuk."

" Yes, some of us Eskimos have very determined
minds," said Nootka, complacently.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

381

Adoliiy liiu^'hcd li^'htly. " And don't you think
that sonio of the Firo-spoutors have also a good
deal of dotorniination — especially ono of thcni who
loft the lodges of his people and wandered over
the great salt lake all alone in search of his child?"

"You speak truth," returned Nootka, with a
pleasant nod. " I '11 tell you what I think : both
our nations are very dotcrniined — very."

Having coino to this satisfactory conclusion, the
maidens relapsed into general convciation.

But a disappointment was in store which none
of the party had counted on.

When the village of the Fire-spouters was
reached, not a soul was to bo seen. The tent-
poles remained, and the ashes of the hearths were
still there; but the ashes wore cold, and not a
man, woman, or child remained — not even a dog.

Nazinred and Adolay hurried at once along the
well-known foot-path which led to the spot where
thoir own wigwam had stood, but the place was
deserted. As in the case of all the other lodges,
only the bare poles, according to custom, were left
— the coverings having been carried away.

Father and child looked at each other for some
time in silent dismay. It was a terrible home-
coming — so different from what each had been
fondly anticipating !

The anxious father had strode on in advance of
the Eskimo party, but Choenbuk had followed.

382

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

He hung back a little from feelings of delicacy as
they ncared the old home, and was much moved
when he saw irrepressible tears flowing from the
eyes of Adolay.

" Have enemies been in the camp ? " he asked,
when they had contemplated the scene for some
minutes in silence.

"No; enemies have not been here," answered
the Indian. " There is no blood on the ground ;
no sign of a struggle. The tent-poles are not
thrown down ; the ashes of the fires have not been
scattered. This would not have been so if there
had been a fight. Keep up heart, Adolay!" he
added, turning to the weeping girl ; " no evil can
have come to our people, for they have left of
their own will for a new camp ; but I am per-
plexed, for this is the best place in all the iJogrib
lands for a village, and wo had lived long here in
contentment."

" But if that be so, there must be good reason
for their having left," suggested Cheenbuk.

" Good reason — yes, the men-of- the- woods never
act without good reason."

"My father may be perplexed about reasons,"
continued the Eskimo, " but surely he will have
no difficulty in finding his people, for are not the
raen-of-the- woods good at following up a trail ? "

" Truly you say what is true. It will be easy
to find and follow the trail of a whole tribe,"

A ROMANCE Oi- THE ICE-WORLD

383

returned Nazinred, with a smile. " But it is dif.ap-
pointing to find that they have forsaken the old
place, and it may be many days before we find
them."

"Father!" exclaimed Adolay at this point, a
bright look overspreading her features, "mother
must have left some sign on a piece of bark, as I
did at Waruskeek."

"I had expected as much," said the Indian,
looking round the camp, " and I had thought to
find it here."

" Not here," returned the girl, with r. soft laugh ;
" you don't know mother as well as I do ! There is
a tree, under the shade of which she and I used
to work when the days were long. If there is a
message anywhere, it is there."

She bounded away as she spoke, like a fawn,
and in a few minutes returned with a piece of
bark in her hand.

" Here it is, father. I knew it would be there.
Let us sit down now and make it out."

Sitting down beside the cold hearth of the old
home, father and child began to spell out Isquay's
letter, while Cheenbuk looked on in admiring
silence and listened.

The letter bore a strong family likeness to tliav.
which had formerly been written — or drawn — by
Adolay at Waruskeek, showing clearly whence the
girl had derived her talent.

384

THE WALRUS HUNTEllS

"The hand at the top points tho way clear
enough," said the Indian, " but were you careful
to observe the direction before you moved it?"

" Of course I was, father. I'm not a baby now,"
returned the girl, with a laugh and a glance at
Cheenbuk.

"That you certainly are not!" thought tho
Eskimo, with a look of open admiration.

" It pointed there" she continued, extending her
hand in a north-westerly direction.

"The Ukon River flows there," returned Naz-
inred thoughtfully, as lio traced the various parts
of the letter with his forefinger.

" Is that river better than the Greygoose one ? "
asked Cheenbuk.

"No. It is as good — not better," replied the
Indian, iu an absent mood. "Adolay, this piece
of bark carries some strange news. Here we have
the whole tribe starting off' for the Ukon with all
their tents, provisions, and everything in sledges.
So they left in the cold season — "

" Yes, father," mterrupted Adolay, knitting her
pretty brows as she earnestly scanned the letter,
"but don't you see tho line of geese flying over
the tree-tops ? That shows that it was at tho
beginning of the warm time."

"Adolay is the worthy daughter of a Dogrib
chief!" said Nazinred, patting the girl's shoulder.

" I hope she '11 be the worthy wife of an Eskimo

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

885

youth some day," thought Cheenbuk, but, as
usual, he said nothing.

"And look here, father," continued Adolay,
— " what do they mean by having all their snow-
shoes slung on their guns instead of on their
feet?"

"It means that the snow was very soft,
beginning to melt, and it was easier to tramp
through it without snow-shoes than with them.
I hope they have been careful, for there is great
danger in crossing lakes and rivers at such a
time of the year."

" No fear of danger," said Adolay, with a laugh,
"when Magadar leads the way. Don't you see
him there in front ? Mother knows how to draw
faces — only his nose is too long."

" That is to show that he is the guide," observed
Nazinred. " Did you not do the very same thing
yourself when you made Cheenbuk's nose far too
long — for the same purpose ? "

Adolay laughed heartily at this, and Cheenbuk
joined her, feeling his nose at the same time, as
if to make sure that its handsome proportions
were not changed.

"And look — look, father!" resumed the girl,
growing excited over the letter; "that is your
friend Mozwa! I feel sure of it by the shape
of his legs. Who could mistake his legs ? No-
body is like mother. She does legs as well as

386

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

faces. But what is that on his wife's back — not
a new baby, surely ? "

"Why not, my child?"

" Poor man ! " sighed Adolay. " He had enough
to provide for before."

" Poor woman ! " thought Cheenbuk, but he
maintained a discreet silence.

Of course it was decided to follow up the trail
of the tribe without delay. As Nazinred had
surmised, it was easily found and not difficult
to follow. That night, however, the party en-
camped round the hearths of the deserted
village.

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

387

CHAPTER XXXII.

AN UNKXPECTED llEETINO.

The brief summer had fled, and autumn, with
its bright sunshine and invigorating frosts, had
returned to the Far North, when one day, during
that short dehghtful period styled the Indian
summer, our friend MacSweenie and his in-
separable henchman Mowat sauntered down to
the beach in front of the new fort.
" Iss it here the canoe wass lyin'. Tonal' ? "
" Ay, yonder it is, just beyond the palin', bottom
up."
" Man, this iss fine weather — whatever."
"It is that," replied Mowat, Avho could hardly
have replied otherwise, for the fact did not admit
of a doubt.

There was an intense brilliancy yet a hazy soft-
ness in the air, which was particularly exhilarating.
Trumpeting wild-geese, piping plover, the whist-
ling Avings of wild-ducks, and the notes of other
innumerable feathered tribes, large and small,
were filling the woods and swamps with the music

388

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

of autumnal revelry, as they winged their way to
southern lands. Every view was beautiful; all
the sounds were cheerful. An absolute calm pre-
vailed, so that the lakc-liko expanse in front of
the fort formed a perfect mirror in which the cliffs
and brilliant foliage of the opposite banks were
clearly reflected.

"We will go down to the bend o' the ruver,"
said MacSweenie, as they launched their canoe,
"an' hide in the bushes there. It iss a grand
spote for birds to fly over, an' thci'o 's plenty o'
ducks an' gceso, so we may count on soon gettin'
enough to fill the larder to overflow."

" Ay, there 's plenty o' birds," remarked Mowat,
with the absent air of a man whoso mind is
running on some other theme.

MacSweenie was a keen sportsman, and dearly
loved a day with his gun. As a boy, on his own
Highland hills, he had been addicted to sporting
a good deal without the formality of a licence, and
the absolute freedom from conventional trammels
in the wild North was a source of much gratulation
to him. Perhaps he enjoyed his outings all the
more that he was a stern disciplinarian — so deeply
impressed with a sense of duty that he would
neither allow himself nor his men to indulge in
sport of any kind until business had been
thoroughly disposed of

" It hes often seemed to me," ho said, steering

A ROMANCE 01<' TJIE ICE-WOULD

889

towards the bend of the river above referred to,
" that ceeviHsation was a sort o' mistake. Did ye
ever think o' that, Tonal' ? "

"I can't say that I ever did. But if it is a
mistake, it 's a very successful one — to judge
from the way it has spread."

" That iss true, Tonal', an' more *s the peety. I
cannot but think that man was meant to bo a
huntin' animal, and to get his victuals in that way.
What for wass he gifted wi' the power to hunt, if
it wass not so ? An' think what enjoyment he
hes in the chase until ceevilisation takes all the
speerit out o' him. H'm ! It never took the
spcerit out o' me, whatever."

" Maybe there wasn't enough o' ceevilisation in
the place where you was brought up," suggested
the interpreter.

" Ha ! ye hev me there. Tonal'," returned the
trader, with a short laugh. " Wecl, I must admit
that ye 're not far wrong. The muddle o' the
Grampians iss but a wildish place, an' it wass
there my father had his sheep-farm an' that I
first made the acquaintance o' the muir-cock an'
the grouse. O man ! but there 's no place like the
Heeland hills after a', though the wild woods here
iss not that bad. Tonal', man, catch hold o' that
bush an' draw close in to the bank. There 's a
flock comin', an' they 're fleein' low."

The last words were spoken in a hoarse whisper,

390

THE WALRUS HUNTEHS

for they had just turned the bend of the river, and
MacSweenio had caught sight of a flock of wild-
geese, flying low, as he said, and crossing over
the land, which at that place jutted out into the
stream.

MoAvat, though naturally sluggish, was quick in
action when circumstances required him to be so.
The canoe was drawn close under an overhanging
bush, and quite concealed by it. The two men,
laying down the paddles, took up their guns and
examined the priming to see that it was dry, long
before the flock drew near. Then they sat motion-
less and silent, crouching a little and looking
upwards.

The unsuspicious flock of wild-geese came over
the point in that curious angular formation in
which they usually travel— an old grey gander, as
usual, leading. A deep trumpet-note now and
then told of their approach. Then the soft stroke
of their great wings was heard. Next moment
the flock appeared over the edge of the bush that
concealed their human foes. At the same instant
sportsmen and geese beheld each other. The gims
flew to the shoulders of the former ; the angle was
thrown into dire confusion, and the woods and
cliffs reverberated with two shots, which crashed
forth at the same moment.

Trumpeting and screaming, the scattered flock
passed on, and the hunters pushed out from the

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

391

bank to pick up two plump birds which lay dead
upon the water.

But those two shots did more than carry death
and confusion into the ranks of the grey geese.
They caused surprise and something like wild
excitement in the hearts of a number of Eskimos
who, in their kayaks, happened to be at that
moment pushing up the Ukon River, pioneered
by a birch-bark canoe, which was propelled by an
Indian man and woman.

Submitting to authority whilo among the ice-
floes of the polar seas, Nazinred had, as we have
seen, consented to take his place humbly among
the women and children in one of the oomiaks.
Anteck and one of his companions were permitted
to paddle the birch-bark canoe, to their very
great satisfaction, until Whale River was reached.
But the moment the party entered on the lakes
and rivers of the land, Nazinred ordered Adolay
to take the bow paddle of his native craft, him-
self took the steering paddle, and from that
moment ho had quietly assumed the office of
guide to the expedition.

"Firc-spouters!" exclaimed Cheenbuk,on hearing
the shots of the traders' guns.

" Yes — my countrymen," replied Nazinred.

The kayak of Cheenbuk was about half a
length behind the canoe, else the Eskimo would
have seen that though the Indian's voice was

392

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

low and calm, his black eyes glittered with ex-
citement.

" It is not like the gun of the Dogribs," remarked
Adolay, glancing back at her father.

" Why does Adolay think so ?"

" Because there is too much noise. You have
yourself told me, father, that the Indian uses a
smaller charge both of powder and shot than the
white trader, as he cannot afford to waste it, I
never heard the guns of our men speak so loud.
Perhaps we are going to meet white men."

The chief regarded his daughter with a pleased
smile and a look of pride.

" Adolay observes well," he said ; " she is ULe her
mother. The sound was loud because the charges
were big — also because two guns were fired at
once."

" I heard only one," returned the girl.

"That is because you have not heard much
firing of guns. Adolay is not yet as old as her
father. The traders from the great fresh lake
must have come to our land, and that is the
reason why our people have forsaken the old
home."

As he spoke the flotilla rounded a point on the
river, and came in sight of MacSweenie's canoe
making for the land after having picked up the
geese.

An impartial observer would not have found it

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WOULD

393

easy to dotermino which party expressed more
surprise.

"Fire-spoutcrs!" shouted the new arrivals,

"Eskimos!" exclaimed Mowat.

" Savitches — whatever ! " said MacSweenie.
" Wow ! but this isa goot luck ! Gif way, my boy,
an' we will meet them more than half-way."

Suddenly the trader ceased to paddle, and
raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sun.

" Tonal', man !" ho growled with a Gaelic ex-
pletive which it is impossible to spell, " iss that a
birch-bark canoo that I am seein' ?"

" It is that," answered the interpreter, " an' I do
believe that — that — "

"Man! Tonal'," interrupted the trader, as he
dipped his paddle violently into the water. " It 's
wishin' I am that I may never see the Grampians
again in this world if yon iss not Nazinred himself
wi' his daater in the bow ! It iss my belief there
will be rechoicing in the Dogrib camp this night —
though wi' such a band o' Eskimos there will be
no small risk o' fechtin' also !"

By this time the canoe and flotilla were so near
that Nazinred recognised the trader, and threw up
a hand in salutation, whereupon MacSweenie and
Mowat, taking off their caps, treated the party to a
rousing British cheer, which was so congenial to
the lively Eskimos that they burst into a sym-
pathetic howl, mingled with laughter and some

394

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

fair attempts to imitate the cheer, whilu thoy
splashed up the water with their paddles, and
otherwise conducted themselves jovially.

Of course Nazinred would not condescend to
conduct so undignified, but in his way he expressed
groat satisfaction at the happy meeting.

Then all the paddles were dipped again with
vigour and the whole party made for the fort —
the two canoes leading.

A ROMANCE OP THE ICE-WORLT)

395

CHAPTER XXXIIJ.

TUB LAST.

" I WILL be thiukin'," said MacSwccnie to Mowat,
" that it will bo safer for our two canoes to go first
to the fort an' leave the Eskimos behind the point
till we warn the Indians o' their arrival ; for there
iss no knowin' what these fiery savitches may do
if their old enemies come on them all of a sudden.
Tell Nazinred that."

The interpreter obeyed, and as the chief was of
the same opinion, a halt was called ; Cheenbuk
was consulted, and ultimately the Eskimos in their
kayaks were left concealed behind the nearest
point below the fort, while the two canoes ad-
vanced side by side.

" We Avill take them by surprise, Tonal'. I 'm
fond o' givin' people a surprise," said MacSweenie
in an undertone as they droAV near to the little
wharf that had been run out from the land in
front of the main building. A few Indians were
watching the arrival with some curiosity.

But there was one passenger in Nazinred's canoe

396

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

who cared little for interfering with human plans
— namely, Attim, whose shaggy head rested on the
gunwale as he gazed and snufted anxiously.

The moment the canoes came within a few
yards of the shore, the excited dog plunged over
the side with a huge bound. Ho was a magni-
ficent swimmer, and reached the land in a few
seconds. Springing up the bank, he shook a
shower from his sides and bounded into the
bushes, with the certain knowledge, no doubt,
that he had reached home at last, and that his
faithful nose would not fail to guide him to the
tent of Isquay.

" ye rascal ! " growled MacSweenie, " you 've
let the cat out o' the bag — for I make no doubt
that every man an' wummin o' the tribe knows
you by sight."

And the Highlander was right, for in a few
minutes the whole camp was roused, and the
sight of the dog told them that Nazinrcd had
come back. But had he found his daughter?
That was a point which every one who could a\ alk,
run, or hobble, hurried to the wharf to ascertain.

But the point was cleared up sooner than they
expected, for, before they reached the wharf, a
graceful figure was seen to be bounding through
the bushes, apparently in hot pursuit of the dog.

Immediately after that a treble scream was
heard to issue from a coppice behind the fort. It

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

397

was followed by an equally treble squeal, with a
bass accompaniment of barking. No one took
the trouble to inquire the cause of this, for they
knew, somehow, intuitively.

As we have said more than once, it is unusual
for North American Indians to demonstrate, but
Isquay and Adolay were, like Nazinred, in advance
of their times, and were in the habit of snapping
their fingers in the hideous face of the Eed Indian
Mrs. Grundy !

Meanwhile, MacS weenie and his mmi were
informing the Indians at the wharf that a band of
their old foes, the eatcrs-of-raw-flesh, were at that
moment lying on the other side of the point in
their kayaks.

The news was received with surprise, not
unmlnglcd with frowns. Every one looked at
Nazinred inquiringly, but that astute Red man
was engaged in profound contemplation of the
clouds.

" Moreover," said the trader, " your old prisoner
who gave you the sUp and ran away with Adolay
is among them."

" Then," cried Magadar, starting forward, " we
will get our guns and go after them. The young
men have long wished for a chance of revenge."

" The young men hev wished for nothing o' the
sort," cried MacSwecnie, with a fierce expression
in his blue eyes that was very impressive. " There

398

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

iss no wan here wants to fecht but yourself,
Magadar; but I will not disappoint ye. If you
must fecht wi' some wan, ye shall fecht wi' me.
But it iss jokin' ye are. — Come now, men ; these
Eskimos hev come here on a veesit, an' full well
do I know that there 's not an Indian tribe in all
the land equal to the Dogribs for hospitality ; so
you '11 go and got ready a feast for our veesitors,
an' I '11 gie you some goot things out o' the store
to help it."

Whatever Magadar thought about this address
he shrouded his feelings behind an air of impene-
trable and stern reserve ; for he saw that the young
men sympathised with the trader. Nazinred also,
in a few words, helped ""o confirm their sympathy
by teUing them that the uaters-of-raw-flesh were
not a war-party, but had b' )ught some of their
women and old people along ,ath them. The end
of it was that a shot Avas fired as a preconcerted
signal for tho Eskimos to advance. In a few
minutes the kayaks and oomiaks came sweeping
round the point and made straight for tho land-
ing-place.

The reception of the men-of-thc-ico by tho
traders was of course hearty and sincere, but tho
hereditary ill-will of tho Indians was not quite
overcome at tho first. It was not until there hud
been several meetings, and a feast in the fort, and
Donald Mowat's violin had exercised its soothing

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

339

influence on the savage breasts, that harmony
was produced in some degree between the two
parties.

At length MacSweenie began to see his way to
the establishment of a permanent peace, and he
made arrangements to have a great palaver, a
solemn treaty, and a grand feast in connection
with it.

" You must know, Tonal'," he said one evening
when in consultation with his interpreter in the
privacy of his own room, " I hcv got a plan in my
head which iss calcoolated to make things go
smooth, if anything will."

Ho paused rather a long time, and as Mowat
looked at him in expectation of hearing more, it
struck him that the deepened bronze on his chiefs
face, and the slight motion of his shoulders,
indicated suppressed laughter. But the Orkney-
man was much too sedate a character to express
undue curiosity. He waited patiently.

" Yes, Tonal'," said the trader, taking a few whiiFs
of the long clay pipe which was his usual evening
comforter ; " I hev a plan, and, strange as it may
seem to an unsentimental man like you, love is at
the bottom of it."

"Well, you might have a worse foundation,"
returned Mowat, with something of good-natured
cynicism on his rugged face.

" Yes," continued MacSweenie, " that iss at the

400

THE WAI.IIUS HUNTERS

bottom of it — at least weemen are, an' that 's the
same thing."

Mowat shook his head doubtfully. " 1 'm not so
sure o' that," he said ; " no doubt women have a
good deal to do wi' love — but they 're hardly the
same thing."

" Weel, Tonal', we will not fall out on that point
to-night, for I Iaov got no leisure to dispute.
Another time we may tackle it, but I hev other
fish to fry just now, an' we must begin this very
night wi' a grand palaver."

After a few more vigorous whiffs, and a frown in-
dicative of intense thought, the trader continued —

" I hev no doubt, Tonal', that ^ou hev observed
the curious and, if I may say so, extensive variety
of love-makin' that has broken out in the camp
since the arrival o' these Eskimos ? "

"I can't say that I have," returned Mowat,
gravely.

"Wow, man! for a fuddler ye exhibit a most
extraordinary want o' perception in the more
deUcate affairs o' human life. Well, well, it is
strange. But I hev observed it, an' I'm goin'
to turn it to account, if I can.

" You must know that I hev been troubled in
my thoughts about that warlike follow Magadar,
for, as you know, he was sweet upon tho girl
Adolay before she was carried off by tho Eskimo;
an' Cheenbuk is such a strong and bold lad that

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE- WORLD

401

I felt sure there Avould be mischief between the
two about her ; but to iriy surprise an' satisfaction
Magadar hes gone over head an' ears wi' that
little Eskimo girl Cowlik, who must, I think, hev
been born in an easy-going frame of mind, which
seems to hev stuck to her ever since, and to hev
gone on increasing with her years. Then, as we all
know, our Indian Alizay has for long been efter
the girl Idazoo. There 's no accountin" for taste,
Tonal'. I would sooner be married to a ship's
figure-head myself, but that 's his look-out, what-
ever. I hev also observed — 'deed it would h

'^e

difficult not to observe — that the man Oolalik iss
castin' sheep's-eyes at that girl Nootka. All this
hes impressed me so much that I hev set myself
to observe more closely than I 'm used to do in
such matters, and I hev discovered two more cases
— namely, that poor young Eskimo that was
wounded in the last fecht, but seems to be slowly
recovering. They call him Ondikik, and he would
hev kicked altogether if it had not been for the
nursin' — so they say — o' that nice little craitur
they call Kinka, or something like that. The
other case is that lively stripling Anteek. He's
scarcely more than a boy yet, but young Uleeta,
as they call the girl, seems to think that no great
objection.

"Now, Tonal', my plan iss to marry them all
ort'-hand on the same day! You know that by

' tm n-x. ■

40'>

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

virtue of my poseetion in the Service I am em-
powered to perform the marriage ceremony. Of
course, as a Christian man, I would not fail to
impress them with the fact that no real marriage
can take place without the blessin' o' their
Manitou, but I think that the readin' o' the
marriage service over them may impress them
favourably, an' help in the caause of peace and
goot-will. It shall be tried, whatever, so you
had better go an' get your fuddle in order, an'
send the cook to me."

That night MacSweenie had the central hall
of his fort lighted up, and called together a united
council of the Indians and Eskimos,

" My fruends," he said, after passing the pipe of
peace round among the former, and offering it to
the latter, who each took a whiff" out of courtesy,
"this is a great night, for we hev met to join
ourselves together in a bond of friendship which
I trust will not soon be broken. — Tell them that,
Tonal'."

When the interpreter had done his duty,
Cheenbuk was asked to translate it into the
Eskimo tongue. The process was rather slow,
but as natives and traders alike had plenty of
time on their hands, and the proceedings were a
great novelty, no one felt impatient.

Then MacSweenie continued :

" We pale-faces, as you call us, believe that our

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

403

God, our Maniton, takes a great interest in all
our affairs, from the least to the greatest, and in
the book in which some of us hev written down
our prayers, wo ask, among many other things,
that 'there may be peace in our time.' (For
myself, I may give my opecnion that the prayer
would hev seemed less selfish if it had run
'peace in all time' — but that iss by the way,
whatever). — Now, Tonal', go ahead."

Donald went ahead, but he took the liberty of
omitting what he deemed the irrelevant com-
mentary.

"Peace, then, iss the thing that I am drivin'
at, — peace and goot-will between the pale-faces
and the men o' the woods and the men-of-the-
ice also. There are many things that make for
peace. The first an' most important thing iss
goot feelin'. Another thing is trade — commerce,
barter, or exchange. (I don't see how the Eskimo
will translate these words. Tonal', but he will hev
to do his best.) Then there iss common sense;
and, lastly, there is marriage. Now, I hev said
my say, for the time, whatever, and Nazinred
will continoo the discourse."

Thus directly appealed to, our Indian rose, and,
looking calmly round on the assembly, said —

" Every word that our white father has said is

true ; and a great many more Avords that he has

not said are also true."

2c2

404

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

" Waugh ! " from the Red men, who evidently
regarded the last remark as a self-evident pro-
position.

Dispensing with the services of Mowat, Nazinred
turned to the Eskimos and acted the part of
his o>v^n interpreter. They received his words
with an emphatic " Hoi ! " as if they were equally
clear on the subject of the last Avords being in-
disputable.

"Our white father has said," continued the
chief, "that the first and most important thing
in producing peace is good feeling. That is true.
It was good-feeling in my child that led her
to save the life of Cheenbuk. It was good
feeling in Cheenbuk that made him care for my
child, and treat her well, and bring her back here
to her mother and her tribe. It was good feeling
in the Eskimos that made them kind to the
Indian chief, and receive him hospitably, when
they might have taken his scalp and kept his
daughter. It is good feeling, very strong good
feeling, that makes the young Eskimo wish to
make Adolay his squaw, and it is the same good
feeling that now makes Nazinred willing that he
should have her,"

" Hoi ! " exclaimed the Eskimos at this point,
with evident satisfaction, and "Ho!" exclaimed
the Indians, with equally evident surprise, for it
was contrary to all their notions of propriety that

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

405

an Indian chiefs daughter should wed an eater-
of-raw-flesh! However, they said nothing more,
and after gazing a few moments at each other in
silent solemnity, they turned their eyes again on
Nazinred.

Changing his tone somewhat, that wily Red man
went on in a persuasive manner to expatiate on
the advantages of peace m general, and of peace
with the Eskimos in particular. He also enlarged
on the great comforts to be derived from trade —
which could be carried on with the white traders
on the one hand and the Eskimos on the other, so
that, between the two, the men-of- the- woods could
not fail to obtain a double benefit. As to common
sense being favourable to peace, he did not quite
understand what his white father meant by that,
for there was only one kind of sense among the
Dogribs — though perhaps there might be two or
three kinds where the traders came from! But
in regard to marriage, there could be no doubt of
his opinion on that point, seeing that he was
going to give his daughter to Cheenbuk. Having
finished what he had to say, Nazinred sat down,
after expressing a desire to hear the opinions of
his people on these matters.

For some time nothing was said, and it seemed
as if the Indians were not quite sure of their own
minds, when Magadar arose suddenly.

" Braves," he began, in his brusque manner, " I

406

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

like fair-play. If Cheenbuk is going to carry
oft" ono of our maidens, it seems to mo reasonable
that an Eskimo maid should be left in her place.
There is one of their girls who is named Cowlik.
I am willing to take Cowlik and make her my
squaw. Waugh ! "

Magadar sat down with the prompt air of a
man who has conferred a favour at great personal
sacrifice.

Then Mozwa rose and delivered himself of an
oration full of wise remarks and poetical allusions,
in which ho backed his friend Nazinred. After
him came Cheenbuk, who said that he was much
gratified by the speeches of Mozwa and Nazinred;
that from the latter he had learned his first lesson
of good-feeling towards the men-of-the-woods, on
the day when he strove with him on the banks of
the Groygoose River; that his second lesson was
taught him by Adolay — a lesson that he would
never forget and could never repay, for she had
not only saved his life but made him happy.

At this point MacSweenio broke in with, " Yes,
my fruends, an' there iss a goot many more people
here besides Cheenbuk that wants to bo made
happy. For instance, there's the young bravo
Alizay an' that pleasant craitur Idazoo that's
thinkin' about marriage just now ; an' there 's
Magadar and Cowlik, and Oolalik and Nootka,
and Ondikik and Rinka, and Antcck and young

A ROMANCE OF THE ICE-WORLD

407

Uleota ; an' I 'm not sure that there may not bo
some more of you in the same case. If so, all
right; the more the merrier. Ay, ye may look
surprised, my friends, but I 've got a way o' findin'
out those things that is not known to every wan.
— Now, Tonal', ijif them that as best ye can, and
look sherp, for there iss more to come.

" Now, my fruends, I want to explain to ye that
when white people get married they go through
a kind of ceremony, an' put gold rings on the
weemen's fingers — by way o' makin' it all ship-
shape an' secure, you know. Now, I understand
how to go about this matter, an' we hev plenty
o' brass curtain-rings in the store that 's as goot
as gold any day — in this country, whatever. So
if it iss agreeable to the chiefs and the braves
around me, I 'ra quite willin' to marry ye all off
at the same time, and will gif ye as nmch baccy
as ye can smoke in Avan night; an' we'll hev a
glorious feast on the back o't, an' a dance that '11
keep my fuddler's fingers goin' as long as they
can wag. — Now, Tonal', if ye tell them all that,
ye 're a cliverer man than I take yc for."

Whether Mowat told them all that as faith-
fully as might bo desired we cannot tell, but he
addressed himself to the task Avith a genial
fluency that at all events had the desired effect,
for after Nazinred had translated it to the
Eskimos, it was found that they, as well as

408

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

tho Indians, wore quite disposed to fall in with tho
eccentric trader's views. Arrangements were ac-
cordingly made without delay for carrying them
into execution.

Of course tho xadics concerned had no objections
to oft'er ; and it is generally believed to this day,
in those regions, that the interest aroused by tho
promised ceremonial, not to mention the brass
curtain-rings, as well as the tobacco, and the foast
and fiddle, had much to do with tho ready as -ent
of all parties to this somewhat violent innovai n
on ancient custom.

Be this as it may, tho wholesale wedding even-
tually took place; tho feast camo off; Tonal'
Mowat charmed tho souls of the Eskimos with
his violin, even more p- werfully than ho had
charmed those of the Indians; and Aglootook,
almost carried out of himself with delight, volun-
teered an oration in which he reminded his
hearers that he had told them that something
would certainly happen.

They all heartily admitted the fact, and solemnly
proclaimed him tho most wonderful magician in
the land.

From that day to this, as far as we know, no-
thing has occurred to interrupt the flow of kindly
intercourse that was at this time established. The
Eskimos returned to their icy fastnesses laden
with some of the wealth of the white traders.

A ROMANCE OK TflE lOE-WORLU

409

Dnt ovory si)rin«( they caino back to barter for
inoro of it, as well as for the purpose of seeing the
friends whom they had left l)ehind thein.

For Checnbuk, being unable to tear himself
away from Nazinrcd, took up his permanent abode
at the fort as one of the hunters to the establish-
ment. Ho did not however forsake his peoi)lo,
but frequently visited old Mangivik and his
mother at Waruskeek, and the old folk some-
times returned the visit by spending a few months
on the banks of the Ukon River. Antcek also
elected to stay with the mon-of-the-woods, being
unable to forsake Checnbuk, and of course young
Uleeta remained with him. Every year Nootka
found it quite impossible to exist without seeing
her brother Checnbuk in his own home, and
having a satisfactory gossip with her dear friend
Adolay. As Oolalik agreed with Nootka in all
things, there was no difficulty in arranging
the matter. In the course of time Cheenbuk's
youngsters and Nootka's progeny insisted on
keeping up the intercourse that had been so
auspiciously bcgim, and even the easy-going Cowlik
became uneasy unless the fire-eating Magadar went
with her occasionally to Waruskeek,

As for the unselfish and tender-hearted Rinka,
she of course returned with Ondikik to the realms
of ice, and made that fortunate savage happy.
Indeed, she made every one happy who came

410

THE WALRUS HUNTERS

within her benign influence, and if the truth had
been spoken out by every one, we suspect it would
have been found that to her attractive powers was
due much of the enthusiasm for intercommunica-
tion that existed between the Red men and the
walrus-hunters, for the principle still holds good,
in savage not less than in civilised lands, that
" love is the fulfilling of the law."

THE END.

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Or, Dethroned by Fire and Water. A Tale of the Southern Hemisphere.

TWICE BOUGHT:
A Tale of the Oregon Gold-Fields.

THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE.

MY DOGGIE AND L

PHILOSOPHER JACK:
A Tale of the Southern Seas.

THE RED MAN'S REVENGE.

SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE.

Letters to Periwinkle From South Africa. A Record of Personal

Experience and Adventure.

BATTLES WITH THE SEA;
Or, Heroes of the Lifeboat and the Rocket.

Price 3s. 6d. each.
TALES OF ADVENTURE BY FLOOD, FIELD, AND MOUNTAIN.

TALES OF ADVENTURE;
Or, Wild Work in Strange Places.

TALES OF ADVENTURE ON THE COAST.

With numerous Illustrations. Crown 8vo,
THE KITTEN PILGRIMS;
Or, Great Rattles and Grand Victoriks

2s.

LONDON : JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.