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Updated: June 28, 2025
Being much fatigued with his recent exertions, Red Rooney turned into Okiok's hut, to the great sorrow of the women and children, who had gathered from all parts of the village to gaze at and admire him. "He is real and alive!" remarked Kunelik in a low voice. "And Nuna is not a liar," said the mother of Arbalik. "Yes; he is tall," said one. "And broad," observed another.
"But tell me," cried Issek, the stern mother of Arbalik, "what does the Kablunet say the people eat in his own land?" "They eat no whales," said Nuna; "they have no whales." "No whales!" exclaimed Pussimek, with a `huk' of surprise! "No; no whales," said Nuna "and no bears," she added impressively. "Eat grass!" exclaimed the mother of Arbalik. "So he says, and also beasts that have horns "
"Look out!" cried Rooney in alarm, for, being close to Arbalik in a kayak, he saw that the whale was coming straight at them. It ran on a shoal when close to them, doubled round in terror and whirled its great tail aloft. Right over Arbalik's head the fan-like mass quivered for one moment. The youth did not give it a chance.
Eskimo men deem this an undignified position, and will not usually condescend to work in oomiaks, which are invariably paddled by the women, but Rooney, being influenced by no such feelings, quietly took the steering paddle, and ultimately shamed Arbalik and Ippegoo as well as the sons of Okiok into lending a hand.
Ippegoo and Arbalik, with the sons of Okiok, tried their best to save the two kayaks, for well they knew the danger of being left on the ice without the means of escaping; but the suddenness of the disruption, the width of the various channels they had to leap, and the instability of the masses, compelled them, after much delay, to drop their burdens and save themselves.
"The Great Spirit has forsaken us," said Angut gloomily, as he surveyed the scene. "That He has not," returned the sailor, "whatever may befall." An exclamation from Arbalik drew attention to a particular part of the horizon. "A flat island," said Okiok, after a long earnest gaze; "but we cannot reach it," he added in a low voice. "You know not," said Angut. "The current sets that way, I think."
As he had not at that time quite recovered his full strength, and was himself pretty well fatigued, he was constrained to think pretty steadily of the old woman's resemblance to his grandmother to enable him to hold out! After another mile or so the mother of Arbalik succumbed, whereupon her son put his arm round her waist and helped her on.
Without a word, Arbalik caught up a piece of blubber, and went out of the cave to enjoy his frugal breakfast while acting sentinel. The others, sitting down on their respective bearskins, ate and consulted hastily. The consultation was of little use, for they were utterly helpless, and the breakfast was not much more profitable, for there was far too little of it.
On issuing from the cave, he saw that the fierce robber was the only one captured, and that he was on the point of receiving summary justice, for Simek and Okiok had hold of his arms, while Arbalik and Ippegoo held his legs and bore him to the edge of the cliff. "Now then!" cried Simek. "Stop, stop!" shouted Rooney. "One two heave!" cried Okiok.
The good-natured Arbalik offered him another spear, but Ujarak interposed. "No; Ippegoo must come with me," he said. "I have work for him to do. One who would be an angekok must leave bird-spearing to boys." Then turning to Arbalik "Did you not say that the hunters have found plenty of game?" "Yes, plenty." "I told you so," said the wizard, using a phrase not unfamiliar to civilised ears.
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