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Updated: June 5, 2025
Poor Oblooria walked beside them with her head bowed down, shrinking as much as possible out of sight. Everybody was so taken up with the strange white man that no one took any notice of her. No sooner was the boat laid down than Leo taking one of the bundles of trinkets stepped up to Grabantak, whom he easily distinguished by his air of superiority and the deference paid him by his followers.
Besides being a fearless man, Grabantak was respected as a good leader in war. But Koyatuk had neither the energy of his father, nor his determination. He was vacillating and lazy, as well as selfish. Hence he was not a favourite, and when, after landing at Flatland, he endeavoured to renew his claim to Oblooria, neither his father nor the people encouraged him.
"There, Anders," said the victor, turning round as he pointed to his prostrate foe, "surely Grabantak's son has got enough of blood now to wipe out all the insults he ever received, or is likely to receive, from me." Grabantak appeared to agree to this view of the case.
The spies rolled off the hut with considerable noise and fled, while the sentinel resuming his spear and position, tried to look innocent. While he was explaining to Anders why he was there, Grabantak himself walked up, accompanied by his lieutenant.
Of course Amalatok made reprisals; attacked a small island belonging to Grabantak, and did as much general mischief as he could. The paltry islet about which the war began was not worthy either of attack or defence!
"These Eskimos reverence age and are respectful to women," whispered Leo to Alf, "so we may not call them savages." The old chief spoke last, summing up the arguments, as it were, on both sides, and giving his reasons for favouring war. "The island is of no use," he said; "it is not worth a seal's nose, yet Grabantak wishes to tear it from us us who have possessed it since the forgotten times.
He tried to reason with Grabantak about the sin of injuring a defenceless woman, and the abstract right of females in general to have some say in the selection of their husbands, but Grabantak was inexorable. "Is the Kablunet afraid?" he asked, with a glance of scornful surprise. "Does he look afraid?" returned Leo, quietly.
He also took a great fancy to Chingatok, who begged of Alf to read to the chief of Flatland some of the strange and new ideas contained in his little book. Alf willingly complied, and for hours these northern savages sat in rapt attention listening to the Bible story. "My son," said Grabantak one evening to Chingatok, "if we are henceforth to live in peace, why not unite and become one nation?"
The success, however, was not decided. On the whole, the result was rather disappointing, but Amalatok was brave and high-spirited, as some people would say. He was not going to give in; not he! He would fight as long as a man was left to back him, and bring Grabantak to his knees or die! Either event would, of course, have been of immense advantage to both nations.
He said it was an insult that must be avenged. Oddly enough he made use of an expression which sounded curiously familiar to Leo's ears, as translated by Anders. "The insult," said Grabantak, "could only be washed out in blood!" Strange, that simple savages of the far north should hold to that ridiculous doctrine.
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