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Updated: June 5, 2025
"We must now prepare to meet the men of Poloe, whether they come as friends or foes. Let the young men arm. I go to consult with our chief." "You must not consult with Grabantak," said Leo firmly. "He lies limp. His backbone has no more strength than a piece of walrus line. His son must act for him at present."
"Ask him from what direction these birds come," said Leo, pulling out his pocket-compass and expecting that Grabantak would point to the south; but the chief pointed to the north, then to the south, then to the east, and then to the west! "What does he mean? I don't understand him," said Leo. "The birds come from everywhere from all round.
"He is an Eskimo," replied Grabantak, with a sudden air of solemnity in his manner, "whose first forefather came in the far past longtime, from nobody knows where; but this first forefather never had any father or mother. He settled among the Eskimos and taught them many things. He married one of their women, and his sons and daughters were many and strong.
Pulling his own nose by way of a friendly token, Leo smiled benignantly in the chief's face, and opened the bundle before him. It is needless to say that delight mingled with the surprise that had hitherto blazed on the visage of Grabantak. "Come here, Anders, and bring the other bundle with you. Tell this warrior that I am very glad to meet with him."
"We have nothing to fear," said Leo, observing that Oblooria was much agitated; "tell her so, Anders; we are sure to find a sheltered creek of some sort on the other side." "I fear not the rocks or storm," replied the Eskimo girl to Anders. "It is Grabantak, the chief of Flatland, that I fear." "Grabantak!" exclaimed Anders and Leo in the same breath. "Grabantak is coming with his men!"
Suddenly one of the Eskimos was seen to drop his paddle and point with both hands to the sky, uttering at the same time a cry of surprise and alarm. There was no mistaking the cry. Every paddle ceased to dip, and every eye was turned to the sky. Of course every voice gave forth a howl! "A mystery!" shouted Grabantak. "An evil spirit!" cried Koyatuk. "A new kind of bird!" roared Teyma.
As Amalatok had arrived that very day on a visit from Poloeland with his prime minister and several chiefs, and Grabantak was residing on the spot, with a number of chiefs from the surrounding islands, who had come to behold the famous Kablunets, there was a sort of impromptu gathering of the northern clans which lent appropriate dignity to the wedding.
His chief work, however, was to act the unwonted, and, we may add, unexpected work of a lawgiver. This duty devolved on him thus: When Grabantak recovered health which he was very long in doing his spirit was so far subdued that he agreed somewhat sulkily, it is true to all that his prime minister had done while he held the reins of government.
"No, but I can pick off a dozen of them, one after another, with my good rifle, and then the rest will fly. Grabantak will fall first, and his best men after him." This was no idle boast on the part of Leo. He knew that he could accomplish what he threatened long before the Eskimos could get within spear-throwing distance of his boat.
On nearing their victim, Grabantak and Koyatuk checked their speed and got their spears ready. A few minutes later and a dozen of the followers were up and prepared to act, but they all held back all except the excitable Anders while the chief and his son glided cautiously towards the fish, one on either side.
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