United States or South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"You are a wise man, Mozwa," said MacSweenie, when the Indian had explained his views to him in the united smoke of their pipes 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.
That night MacSweenie had the central hall of his fort lighted up, and called together a united council of the Indians and Eskimos.
"I will be thinkin'," said MacSweenie to Mowat, "that it will be 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."
That night, however, the party encamped round the hearths of the deserted village. 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 delightful period styled the Indian summer, our friend MacSweenie and his inseparable henchman Mowat sauntered down to the beach in front of the new fort.
"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 MacSweenie. It was found that Nazinred 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!
At this point MacSweenie broke in with, "Yes, my friends, an' there iss a goot many more people here besides Cheenbuk that wants to be made happy.
The last words were spoken in a hoarse whisper, for they had just turned the bend of the river, and MacSweenie 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. Mowat, though naturally sluggish, was quick in action when circumstances required him to be so.
"We will need two pit-saws," remarked the practical Orkney-man in a meditative tone. "No doubt, no doubt," returned MacSweenie, "and a grindstone too. Do you remember what that man Nazinred said when he came here on his last trup, that the Indians about his country would be fery pleased to see traders settle among them?
Then, indeed, MacSweenie, dropping the role of leader, assumed that of bon camarade; and Mowat, descending from the dignity of steersman, enlarged upon his experiences in other days; and Bartong, still retaining his dignity however, relaxed his anxious frown and listened with an air of intelligent appreciation that charmed every speaker, and induced the belief that he could cap every anecdote 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.
Meanwhile the men of the establishment had been variously employed, cutting and hauling firewood, attending the nets, etcetera, 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.
Word Of The Day