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I I think it has come now," said the youth, growing paler, or rather greener; "I think I feel it in my breast. Ujarak said the torngak would come to-day, and to-night I am to be changed!" "Oho!" exclaimed Kunelik, with a slight touch of asperity, "it's a torngak that is to come, is it? and Ujarak says so? Don't you know, Ippe, that Ujarak is an idiot!"
Cheery little Kunelik and her mild son did their best to comfort her, but without success, for she knew well the determined character of the man who had probably carried off her children. "Has she not come back?" demanded Simek, appearing, like an infuriated Polar bear, at the inside opening of the passage to Okiok's mansion. "No," gasped Nuna.
"Mother," gasped the youth, turning to the natural repository of all his cares and troubles, "he is coming!" "Who is coming, my son?" asked Kunelik, in a quiet, soothing tone, for the pleasant little woman, unlike most of the others, was not easily thrown into a state of agitation. "The Kablunet," cried Ippegoo. "Where, when, who, how, which, what?" burst simultaneously from the gaping crowd.
His mission was to reach the village, and fetch Nuna, Pussimek, Kunelik, Sigokow, and his own mother, in one of the oomiaks or women's boats when open water should permit. It was while our Eskimos were thus idly waiting for their wives, that the before-mentioned southern Eskimos arrived, and met them with every demonstration of friendliness and good-will.
"Oh, but it is not Kannoa's body that is ill," said Ippegoo quickly; "it is her mind that is ill very ill; and nothing will make it better but a sight of Nunaga. It was Ujarak that told me so; and you know, mother, that whatever he says must be true somehow, whether it be true or not." "Ujarak is a fool," said Kunelik quietly; "and you are another, my son."
Kunelik bestowed an inquiring glance upon her boy. The lad protested fervently that his head was yet in its proper position. "But," he added, "the mother of Oki no, the grandmother of Okiok is sick very sick and I am to go and fetch the mother of no, I mean the daughter of of Okiok, to see her, because because "
"Yes, mother, and she is also griggy." We may remark in passing that it is impossible to convey the exact meaning of the Eskimo word which we have rendered "griggy." Enough to say, once for all, that in difficult words and phrases we give as nearly as possible our English equivalents. "And Kunelik," said Nuna, continuing to enumerate her guests; "I like the mother of Ippegoo.
"We have kayaks oomiaks in my country, which are big enough to carry three or four times as many people as you have in this village." Another roar of laughter greeted this statement. "Isn't he a good liar?" whispered Arbalik's mother. "And so grave about it too," replied Kunelik. Red Rooney stopped.
We must again remind the reader here that the Eskimos are a simple as well as straightforward folk. They say what they mean and mean what they say, without the smallest intention of hurting each other's feelings. "And, mother," continued the son, scarce noticing her remark, "I want you to prepare for a journey." Kunelik looked surprised. "Where to, my son?" "It matters not just now.
Meanwhile Ippegoo went careering over the ice, plying his long-lashed whip with the energy of a man who had pressing business on hand. Arrived at the village, he sought his mother's hut. Kunelik, as his mother was named, was seated therein, not exactly darning his socks, but engaged in the Eskimo equivalent mending his waterproof boots.
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