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Having exhausted their appetites and their information, Fred and Tom were told that, during their absence, a bear and two seals had been shot by Meetuck, the Esquimaux interpreter, whom they had taken on board at Uppernavik; and they were further informed that the ice was in motion to the westward, and that there was every probability of their being released by the falling tide.
"Surely you are taking us too much off to the right, Meetuck," said Fred; "we are getting farther away from the ship." "No fee. Be win' too 'trong. We turn hup 'long shore very quick, soon ha!"
"Ah, then, Meetuck!" said O'Riley, shaking his head as they examined their prize, "ye're a hard-hearted spalpeen, ye are, to kill a poor little baby like that in cowld blood. Well, it's yer natur', an' yer trade, so I s'pose it's all right." The weight of this bear, which was not of the largest size, was afterwards found to be above five hundred pounds, and her length was eight feet nine inches.
Meetuck held a tin kettle over the flame, till the snow, with which it was filled, melted and became cold water, and then gradually heated until it boiled; and all the while he employed himself in masticating a lump of raw walrus flesh, much to the amusement of Fred, and to the disgust, real or pretended, of O'Riley.
"Bad luck to ye!" cried O'Riley, "won't ye spaak?" "No rod muss go bock," replied Meetuck, turning the dogs in the direction whence they had come, and resuming his place on the sledge.
Catch hold of the tail-line, Meetuck! All right!" "Hall right!" yelled the Esquimaux, as he let go the dogs and sprang upon the sledge.
In half an hour they came within range, and Fred, after debating with himself for some time as to the propriety of taking the first shot, triumphed over himself, and, stepping back a pace, motioned to the Esquimaux to fire. But Meetuck was an innate gentleman, and modestly declined, so Fred advanced, took a good aim, and fired.
How say you, Meetuck, shall we take to it again when we get through this place?" "Faix, then, well niver git through," said O'Riley, pointing to the end of the chasm, where a third iceberg had entirely closed the opening. The Esquimaux pulled up, and, after advancing on foot a short way to examine, returned with a rueful expression on his countenance. "Ha! no passage, I suppose?" said Fred.
They were clad from head to foot in Esquimaux costume, and now bore as strong a resemblance to polar bears as man could attain to. Meetuck was the pattern and the chief instrument in effecting this change.
"Come, come, my lads!" he cried, "enough o' this. That's not the morning work, is it? I'm glad to find that your new dresses," he added with a significant smile, "make you fond of rough work in the snow; there's plenty of it before us. Come down below with me, Meetuck; I wish to talk with you."
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