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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 Uleeta, who is " "That is a lie!" cried Gartok, springing up and looking fierce. "Old Uleeta is, as you all know, my mother.
"I do not know," repeated Gartok, "but I do know that if the Maker of all is good, as I have heard say, then I have not done His work here for you know, everybody knows, I have been bad!" Cheenbuk was much perplexed, for he knew not "how to minister to a mind diseased." "I have often wondered," he said at last, "why it is that some things are wrong and some right.
"We shall not be long of coming back," said Gartok as he was about to leave his mother, old Uleeta, who was in the crew of one of the oomiaks. "I wish I saw you safe back, my son," returned the woman, with a shake of her head, "but I fear the Fire-spouters." "I don't fear them," returned the young man boastfully, "and it does not matter much what you fear."
"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, we could not make them spout." "That is a lie!" exclaimed Gartok, with the simple straightforwardness peculiar to the uncivilised.
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 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 he had received from the Fire-spouter's bullet.
When the firing ceased and the flotilla was well out of range, Gartok laid down his paddle and bound up his wounded limb with some scraps of seal-skin; 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.
The dignity of his office did not forbid his condescending to the frivolities of recreative amusement. Gartok was also there, but, alas! 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.
To do them justice, they did not grumble much at their fate, but entertained each other with a running commentary on the events of the day. "And that is strange news that my old mother tells me," resumed Gartok, after a short pause in the conversation. "Cheenbuk must have given the Fire-spouters sore heads from the way he gripped them." "I wish I had been there," growled Ondikik.
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. "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 want your advice."
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