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Updated: September 28, 2025
"I would not object to be fatter," replied the wife of Simek, with perfect good-humour, for Eskimos, as a rule, do not take offence easily. "Stuff, stuff," murmured Kannoa, nodding her old head contemplatively; "that's what I'm fond of; stuff stuff stuff." "All your stuffing will never make you fat," said the stern and rather cynical mother of Arbalik.
Meanwhile, as there was a lead of open water to the northward as far as they could see, the youth Arbalik had been despatched with a small sledge and four of the strongest dogs along the strip of land-ice, or "ice-foot," which clung to the shore.
She paid no attention to Kannoa's reply which, to do her justice, was very mild for, at the moment, Arbalik himself rose to address the assembly.
"Remain here, and spear plenty of birds; or go where you will." Having thus graciously given the youth free permission to do as he pleased which Arbalik received with inward scorn, though outward respect he left the cave, followed meekly by his satellite. After walking in silence till well out of earshot of the expert young hunter, the wizard said in solemn tones
"Where is your husband, Nuna?" asked the sailor, sitting down on a walrus skull. "Out after seals." "And Nunaga?" "Visiting the mother of Arbalik." The seaman looked thoughtfully at the lamp-smoke for a few moments. "She is a hard woman, that mother of Arbalik," he said. "Issek is not so hard as she looks," returned Mrs Okiok; "her voice is rough, but her heart is soft."
"A beast!" exclaimed Pussimek, who had never before seen or heard of scarlet ribbon. "Saw you ever a beast so very red?" said the wife of Okiok doubtfully. "It is no beast," remarked the mother of Ippegoo; "it is only a bit of sealskin dyed red." "No sealskin ever fluttered like that," said the mother of Arbalik sternly. "It is something new and beautiful that some one has lost. We are lucky.
"But why do you say that Kannoa is very ill, Ippe?" she asked; "I have just come from her hut where she was seemingly quite well. Moreover, she has agreed to sup this very night with the mother of Arbalik, and she could not do that if she was ill, for that means much stuffing, because the mother of Arbalik has plenty of food and cooks it very fast."
"Huk! what is Tumbler putting on?" he asked in astonishment. "The dress that the Kablunet made for him," said Nunaga, with a merry laugh. "Doesn't it fit well? My only fear is that if Arbalik sees him, he will pierce him with a dart before discovering his mistake." "What are you going to begin the day with?" asked Nuna, as she stirred her kettle.
The wizard appeared to be slightly annoyed, but had completely dissembled his feelings when the young man walked up. "Have the hunters found no seals?" asked Ujarak. "Yes, plenty," answered Arbalik cheerily, for he had a good deal of his old uncle's spirit in him, "but you know variety is agreeable. Birds are good at a feast.
On hearing of the plot that seemed to be hatching, that jovial hunter at once ordered his sledge to be got ready, and started off, with two stalwart sons and his nephew Arbalik, for Moss Bay, to warn Nunaga of her enemy's intentions, and to fetch her home. But alas! for even the best laid of human plans.
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