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The graceful act is reciprocated, and with interest, both mother and daughter presenting her with such articles of apparel as they can spare, among them the costly scarf they so nearly had to part with in a less satisfactory way. Equally grateful proves Eleparu. Seeing the unfinished boat, and comprehending the design, he lends himself to assist in its execution.
They know their newest adversary to be an American, and at sight of the two intrepid-looking youths standing side by side, with the angry faces of Eleparu and Orundelico in the background, they become sullenly silent, most of them evidently inclined to steal away from the ground.
Strange words from a man who, while giving utterance to them, is industriously masticating a piece of raw seal flesh. Is there a people or nation on earth that does not believe itself superior to some other? Jemmy further declares that the hostile party encountered in Whale-Boat Sound must have been Ailikoleeps; though Eleparu had denied it.
"No, not dead," answers the boy, instantly on his feet again like a rebounding ball, and apparently but little injured. "He take me foul. Let him try once more. Come on, big brute!" And the pigmy places himself in a defiant attitude, fronting an adversary nearly twice his own size. "Stan' side!" shouts Eleparu, interposing. "Let me go at him!"
Then, hastily divesting himself of his blubber mantle, and shouting back to some one in the rear, he is instantly joined by a woman, who in turn cries out: "Yes, Portsmout'! The Ailwalk' akifka!" "Eleparu! Ocushlu!" exclaims Henry Chester, all amazement; Ned Gancy, equally astonished, simultaneously crying out: "York! Fuegia!"
"Indeed so just same. You see, Orundelico?" "Oh, yes!" responds the boy, with a careless toss of head and wave of the cane, as much as to say, "What matters it?" "'Merican ship," further observes the man. "They speak Inglis, same as people here." "Yes, Eleparu," rejoins the boy, "that true; but they different from Inglismen not always friends; sometimes they enemies and fight.
Sailors tell me that when we were in the big war-ship." "Well, it no business of ours," returns Eleparu. "Come 'long." Saying which he leads off, the others following, all three at intervals uttering ejaculations of delighted wonder as objects novel and unknown come before their eyes. Equally wonders the English youth as to who and what they may be. Such queer specimens of humanity!
From Orundelico his guests get to know more of those matters about which his former associate, Eleparu, was so reticent, and as they now learn, with good reason. "York bad fella," he answers, on being questioned, "he rob me after Inglis officer leave us all at Woolya. Took 'way my coat, trousers, tools everything. Yes, York very bad man. He no Tekeneeka; him blubber-eating Ailikoleep."
There are also two other distinct reasons for his doing so. Before proceeding farther, he wishes to obtain more information about the Yapoos, and he needs a fresh supply of provisions that furnished by Eleparu having been neither abundant nor palatable. Orundelico can do better for them, even to providing fresh meat a thing they have not tasted for a long time.
This brings on a climax, the incensed bully, finally losing all restraint of himself, making a dash at his diminutive mocker, and felling him to the pavement with a vindictive blow. "Tit-it-it-take that, ye ugly mim-m-monkey!" is its accompaniment in speech as spiteful as defective. The girl sends up a shriek, crying out: "Oh, Eleparu! Orundelico killed! He dead!"
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