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Updated: June 23, 2025
All the lights were now extinguished, for no one is allowed to witness the interview of the unfinished angekok with the torngak, nor to move a finger for fear of disturbing him. The room being now in the state which is described as darkness just visible, Ippegoo began to sing a song, in which all joined.
"Boo!" exclaimed the wizard, varying the expression of his contempt. "It is well that your mother has only a small family." Ippegoo was accustomed to severe backhanders from his patron; he was not offended, but smiled in a pathetic manner as he went out in silence to pick up his weapons. Just as he was returning, Arbalik, nephew to the jovial Simek, appeared upon the scene, and joined them.
"Oh, but it is not Kannoa's body that is ill," said Ippegoo quickly; "it is her mind that is ill very ill; and nothing will make it better but a sight of Nunaga. It was Ujarak that told me so; and you know, mother, that whatever he says must be true somehow, whether it be true or not." "Ujarak is a fool," said Kunelik quietly; "and you are another, my son."
Simek said no more, but backed out faster than he had come in. Ippegoo followed him. "Run, Ippe; tell all the men to get all their sledges and dogs ready, and come here to me." Ippegoo ran off at once, while the energetic hunter rearranged the fastenings of his own sledge and team as if for a long journey. He was thus engaged when Okiok and Angut were seen approaching the village at an easy trot.
"Yes, yes, I know," said Ippegoo, looking anxiously over his shoulder, as if he half expected to see a torngak already approaching him; "I know only too well what I've got to do. Ujarak has been stuffing it into me the whole day till my brain feels ready to burst."
Rooney seized her in his arms, and ran as fast as he could towards the village, whither the fleet-footed Ippegoo had already been sent to prepare skins and warm food for the reception of rescued and rescuer.
A grim smile played for a moment on the visage of the wizard, as he gave the youth a most unmotherly shake, and said, "Yes, my son, I am very sick, and want you to cure me." Ippegoo was wide awake in a moment.
The game at kick-ball which preceded the wedding was admittedly one of the best that had ever been played at that station, partly, no doubt, because the captain and crew of the English ship, headed by Red Rooney, took part in it. Strange to say, the only man who seemed to be at all cast down on that occasion was Ippegoo.
These northern Eskimos did not, at least at the time of which we write, say "thank you" not that there was any want of good feeling or civility among them, but simply because it was not customary to do so. Mrs Okiok then offered some more of the delicacy mentioned to the mother of Ippegoo. "No," said Kunelik, leaning back with a contented air against the wall; "I am pleasantly stuffed already."
"Now, then, Angut, what is the next thing to be done?" asked Rooney, after Ippegoo had left. "Make Ujarak fight his duel," said Angut. "What! the singing duel with Okiok?" "Yes. The people have set their hearts on the thing, and Ujarak will try to escape. He will perhaps say that his torngak has told him to go hunting to-morrow. But our customs require him to keep his word.
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