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Updated: May 12, 2025
"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.
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."
Okiok was naturally a straightforward and brusque man. It will not therefore surprise any one to be told that he began his interview with "Kunelik, your son Ippegoo is a lanky fool!" "He is," assented Kunelik, with quiet good-humour. "He has given himself," continued Okiok, "spirit and body, to that villain Ujarak." "He has," assented Kunelik again. "Where is he now?" "I do not know."
"If you know not, how do you know that it comes?" asked Kunelik, who was slightly alarmed by the wild manner and unusual, almost dreadful, gravity of her boy. "It is useless to ask me, mother. I do not understand. My mind cannot take it in, but but it comes." "Yes; when is it coming?" asked Kunelik, who knew well how to humour him. "How can I tell?
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."
"I would be more thankful," said Ippegoo, with a woe-begone expression, "if we had saved even a spear; but what can we do without food or weapons?" "Do? my son," said Kunelik; "can we not at least keep up heart? Who ever heard of any good coming of groaning and looking miserable?" "Right you are, old girl," cried Rooney, giving the mother of Ippegoo a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Then he goes on his knees every night before lying down, and every morning when he rises, and speaks to himself." "Why?" cried every one in blazing astonishment. "I know not," replied Nuna, "and he does not tell." "He must be a fool," suggested Kunelik. "I suppose so," returned Nuna, "yet he does not look like a fool."
"He dreams!" had almost slipped from the lips of Kunelik, but she caught it in time. Certainly these primitive people availed themselves of the permission to use their eyes; nay, more, they also used their eyebrows and indeed their entire faces, for, the lips being sealed, they not only drank in Rooney, so to speak, with their eyes, but tried to comment upon him with the same organs.
Being much fatigued with his recent exertions, Red Rooney turned into Okiok's hut, to the great sorrow of the women and children, who had gathered from all parts of the village to gaze at and admire him. "He is real and alive!" remarked Kunelik in a low voice. "And Nuna is not a liar," said the mother of Arbalik. "Yes; he is tall," said one. "And broad," observed another.
In these circumstances, she had seized the first motherly tail that came within her reach, and followed it home. It chanced to belong to Kunelik, so she dropped down and slept beside her. "You know, my dear little seal?" said Okiok in surprise. "Yes, me knows. When I was 'sleep, a big man comes an' stump on my toes not much, only a leetle. Dat wokes me, an' I see Ujiyak.
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