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Updated: May 18, 2025
"But name the liars and stupid ones, mother," urged Nunaga, who, being a dutiful child, and anxious to carry out her father's wishes to the letter, stuck to her point. "Tell Issek, then, the mother of Arbalik, to come," returned Nuna, making a wry face. "If she is not stupid, she is wicked enough, and dreadful at lies.
"If this is true, how comes it that Ippegoo is here first? No doubt the legs of the simple one are the best part of him, but every one knows that they could not beat the dogs of Angut." "Issek is wise," said Kunelik pleasantly, "almost too wise! but no doubt the simple one can explain." "Speak, my son." "Yes, mother, I can explain.
"But tell me," cried Issek, the stern mother of Arbalik, "what does the Kablunet say the people eat in his own land?" "They eat no whales," said Nuna; "they have no whales." "No whales!" exclaimed Pussimek, with a `huk' of surprise! "No; no whales," said Nuna "and no bears," she added impressively. "Eat grass!" exclaimed the mother of Arbalik. "So he says, and also beasts that have horns "
But observing that Nuna and her daughter did not share their alarm, they soon recovered, and when Rooney at last sat up and began to look grave, they evidently felt somewhat ashamed of themselves. Pussimek at last seized the mother of Ippegoo by the legs, and with a strong pull extracted her from the tunnel. Issek, being thus set free, quickly made her exit.
He had done his best to conceal matters, with which Angut, he said, had nothing to do; but somehow that wonderfully wise man had seen, as it were, into his brain, and at once became suspicious. Looking back, he saw that Angut had already harnessed the dogs to his sledge, and was packing the Kablunet upon it "All lies," interrupted Arbalik's mother, Issek, at this point.
They were also in that cheerful frame of mind which results from what they correctly referred to as being stuffed; besides, much fun was expected from the contest. Lest our readers should anticipate similar delight, we must repeat that Eskimos are a simple folk, and easily pleased. "Won't it be a tussle?" remarked Issek, who marched in the centre of a group of women.
There was a huk of approval at this explanation, which was given in a slightly exulting tone, and with a glance of mild defiance at Arbalik's mother. But Issek was not a woman to be put down easily by a simpleton. She at once returned to the charge. "No doubt Ippegoo is right," she said, with forced calmness, "but he has talked of a message to Okiok.
"Where is your husband, Nuna?" asked the sailor, sitting down on a walrus skull. "Out after seals." "And Nunaga?" "Visiting the mother of Arbalik." The seaman looked thoughtfully at the lamp-smoke for a few moments. "She is a hard woman, that mother of Arbalik," he said. "Issek is not so hard as she looks," returned Mrs Okiok; "her voice is rough, but her heart is soft."
The mother of Ippegoo, fearing he had divined her thoughts, was overwhelmed, and tried to hide her blushing face behind Issek. "They don't believe me," said the seaman in a low voice to Okiok. "Of course they don't. You might as well tell us that the world is round, when we see that it is flat!" Rooney sighed. He felt depressed.
I dare say the wife of Okiok would like to hear what that message is." "Huk! That is true," said Nuna quickly. "And," continued Issek, "Ippegoo speaks of the suspicions of Angut. What does he suspect? We would all like to know that." "Huk! huk! That is also true," exclaimed every one. "My son," whispered Kunelik, "silence is the only hope of a fool. Speak not at all."
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