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"I suppose you mean Kajo, you unnatural jellyfish." Kajo did not condescend to say what he meant, but continued to eye the Kablunet with lofty disdain, though the effect of his expression was marred by his attention being distracted by Pussi and Tumbler, whose faces were fiery red, owing to fits of suppressed laughter. "Get up now, you old rascal," said Rooney.
The first effect of the last draught seemed for the time to have increased the man's powers of action, for, rushing round the circle, he came suddenly upon poor old Kannoa, who chanced to be seated a little apart from the others. Seizing her thin hair, Kajo brandished the knife in front of her throat, and, glaring at the men, gave vent to a wild laugh of triumph.
In my country most if not all of the murders that take place are committed under the influence of strong drink. The Red Indians, who dwell far to the south-west of your lands, call strong drink `fire-water. Your own name `mad waters' is better, I think." Kajo was led forward at this moment, looking very much dejected, and greatly sobered.
Many men in their cups become lachrymose, others silly, and some combative. The fiery liquor had the latter effect on Kajo. Issuing from his place of retirement with a fiendish yell and glaring eyes, he made an insane attack on Angut. That Eskimo, having no desire to hurt the man, merely stepped lightly out of his way and let him pass.
Responsive to the order, the boat shot after the kayak, but they had barely got under weigh when Kajo made a false stroke with the paddle, lost his balance, and disappeared. "I expected that," remarked Okiok, with a laugh. "But the poor man will drown," said Egede anxiously; "he is too drunk to recover himself."
At least I suppose he does, by the expression of his face." There could be little doubt that Rooney was right. Kajo had evidently got over the preliminary stages of incapacity and repugnance long ago, and had acquired the power of enjoying that mild and partial stupefaction sometimes called "soothing influence" which tobacco smoke affords.
"Perhaps he'd blow up or catch fire if he were to try. It might be dangerous!" "See," exclaimed Okiok, in an eager whisper; "he is going to let Ippegoo taste it." Rooney looked on with increased interest, for at that moment Kajo, having had enough, offered the pipe to his friend, who accepted it with the air of a man who half expected it to bite and put the end in his mouth with diffidence.
He was not successful with the first draw, for instead of taking the smoke merely into his mouth he drew it straight down his throat, and spent nearly five minutes thereafter in violent coughing with tears running down his cheeks. Kajo spent the same period in laughing, and then gravely and carefully explained how the thing should be done. Ippegoo was an apt scholar.
"Come, then, embark an' do it," returned Okiok, seizing his arm, and giving it a squeeze to convince him that he was in the hands of a strong man. Kajo staggered towards his little vessel, and, lifting it with difficulty, went down to the beach. He would certainly have fallen and damaged it if Okiok had not stood on one side and Angut on the other to prevent a fall.
"Kajo tells me," added Egede, "that his kayak lies hid in the bushes at no great distance; so he can go with us. He is not too drunk, I think, to manage his light craft." But Egede was wrong, for even while he was speaking Kajo had slipped quietly behind a bush.
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