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Of course Captain Vane, Benjy, Alphonse Vandervell, and Butterface accompanied them, but none of the women were allowed to go, as it was expected that the war would be a bloody one. These, therefore, with the children, were left in charge of a small body of the big boys of the tribe, with the old men. The weather was fine, the sea smooth, and the arms of the invading host strong.
In Leo's boat were Butterface, Oolichuk, and Oblooria. How it came to pass that Oolichuk and Oblooria were put into the same boat no one seemed to know, or indeed to care, except Oolichuk himself, who, to judge from the expression of his fat face, was much pleased. As for Oblooria, her mild visage always betokened contentment or resignation save when overshadowed by timidity.
However, we mustn't lose heart. `Nebber say die, as Butterface is fond of remarking." "Yis, Massa, nebber say die, but allers say `lib, to de top ob your bent. Dems my 'pinions w'en dey's wanted. Also `go a-hid. Dat's a grand sent'ment was borned 'mong de Yankees, an' I stoled it w'en I left ole Virginny."
Never before in human experience had such a display of kindly feeling and profound regret been witnessed in similar circumstances. "Let go the tail-ropes!" said Captain Vane in a husky tone. "Let go de ropes," echoed Butterface in a broken voice. The ropes were let go. The kites soared, and the boats rushed swiftly over the calm and glittering sea.
"You'd better give them a taste of dynamite, father," said Benjy that evening, as they all sat round their supper-kettle. "No, no, boy. It is bad policy to fire off all your ammunition in a hurry. We'll give it 'em bit by bit." "Just so, impress them by degrees," said Alf. "De fust warrior was nigh bu'sted by degrees," said Butterface, with a broad grin, as he stirred the kettle.
Moreover, I eats no more dan a babby 'sep wen I's hungry an' I'll foller you, massa, troo tick and tin to de Nort Pole, or de Sout Pole, or de East Pole, or de West Pole or any oder pole wotsomediver all de same to Butterface, s'long's you'll let 'im stick by you."
I'll try to get into it. There is nothing but a neck of ice between us and it, which I think I could cut by charging in under full steam, and there seems a faint gleam of something far ahead, which encourages me. Tell the steward to fetch my glasses, Benjy." "Butterface!" shouted the boy. "Yis, massa." "Fetch the Captain's glasses, please." "Yis, massa."
Benjy, after venting his feelings in a shriek of joyful surprise, seemed to be struck dumb. Anders and Butterface stood still, speechless. As for the Eskimos, they turned with one hideous yell, and fled from the spot like maniacs excepting Chingatok, who, although startled, stood his ground in an attitude expressive of superlative surprise.
It ought to be told that Butterface had suffered rather severely in the recent glissade on the snow-slope, which will account for the gloomy view he took of the future at that time.
As he spoke, a tall spire was seen to slip from its position, topple over, and go crashing down into a dark blue gulf of ice below it. "No chance of success now," said Benjamin Vane, gloomily. "None wotsomediver," muttered Butterface, his broad black visage absolutely elongated by sympathetic despair. For, you must know, as far as his own feelings were concerned, sympathy alone influenced him.
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