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Updated: June 12, 2025
Despite his energy, and desperate though the situation was, Gartok could not overcome the depressing influence of pain and haemorrhage. He fell gradually behind the others, each of whom was too anxious about his own safety to think much of his comrades.
The dying Eskimo raised his eyes to Cheenbuk's face in astonishment; then he turned them to the starry host, as if he almost expected an immediate answer. "Do you think He hears us?" he asked in a faint voice, for the strength of his feelings and the effort at conversation had exhausted him greatly. "I will trust Him," answered Cheenbuk. "I will trust Him," repeated Gartok.
"I'm glad I was not there," returned Gartok. "I could not have saved him from so many, and it would not have been pleasant to go into slavery if not to torture and death. Poor Cheenbuk! he was ever against war yet war has been forced on him. I fear we shall never see him again. Hoi! my leg is bad.
All the kayaks were well out of gunshot range when the shore was reached, except one which lagged behind. At this one the Indians discharged several volleys, but without effect, and soon after, it also was beyond range. The little vessel which thus lagged behind belonged to the unfortunate Gartok, whose leg, it will be remembered, was wounded by one of the balls discharged by Alizay.
When they came close up the indecision became more pronounced, and it rose on its hind-legs ready to defend itself. Gartok now halted when within five or six yards of the animal, which was anxiously turning its head from side to side, while the other two ran close up. The plan was that usually followed by Eskimos in similar circumstances.
At the same time Cheenbuk ran forward towards its left side, while Gartok went straight towards it at a slow walk, by way of further distracting its attention. As the three hunters approached from different directions, their prey seemed a good deal disconcerted, and looked from one to the other as if undecided how to act.
Then, as one after another of the canoes came into view, "Four! six! ten of them, and three men in each!" "And all with fire-spouters!" gasped the lieutenant. "Come," exclaimed Gartok, "it is time for us to go!"
"I have never been your enemy. We will be friends from this time on." Gartok closed his eyes for a few seconds, but did not speak. Then he looked up again earnestly. "No," he said, with more of decision in his tone; "we shall neither be friends nor enemies. I am going to the country where all is dark; from which no sound has ever come back; where there is nothing."
For some time they sat in profound silence, and Gartok closed his eyes as if he were falling asleep. The silence was broken by a distant sound. It was the approach of Anteek with the sledge. He had found the runaway dogs anchored fast between two masses of ice where the sledge had got jammed.
"But we do want fighting," retorted Gartok firmly; "we want the pretty coloured things that the Fire-spouters sew on their clothes and shoes; also the iron things they have for cutting wood; and we want the spouters, which will make us more than a match for them in war; and we can't get all these things without fighting."
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