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She imagined herself being tossed through the air in the arms of the tornarssuit. At the same time she became vividly aware of the desperate struggle nearby. Subconsciously she realized Maisanguaq and Ootah were engaged in a fight to the death. In the darkness she sensed them moving away from her.
"Yet there is doubt in thy voice, Sipsu!" "Yea, to be truthful with thee, Maisanguaq, there is dispute among the spirits. I cannot determine what they say." He bent his head as if listening. Then he asked: "Doth Ootah not go that Annadoah may have food?" Maisanguaq nodded assent. "And the tribe?" Maisanguaq again nodded.
O happy, happy waters, I return to Annadoah with food and fuel for winter say Ootah meuilacto would wed Annadoah. Tell her Ootah calls her Mamacadosa!" The others, although disappointed in being outwon, in spontaneous recognition of his superior feat, chimed a chorus of congratulations. Suddenly Maisanguaq gleefully pointed a significant finger to the sky. "Pst!" he said.
A great quantity was cast to the ravenous dogs. Two more walrus were lumberingly drawn to the ice; the first sledge load and two hunters started shoreward; soon the second sledge was loaded. Ootah and Maisanguaq remained to dress the third beast. Like scorpions in the hands of the mighty tornarssuit the wind now steadily beat upon the ice. The two men were almost lifted from their feet.
"Long fingers, short hunt; long nose short life," remarked Maisanguaq, sententiously. Attalaq, happy in his conquest, was broad enough to be generous. He declared that Papik should never want as long as he could shoot the arrow. Generous-hearted, many of the others joined in and bits of blubber were soon offered the lonely Papik, as he sat, nursing his frozen members, in his house.
A thin spiral thread of black smoke rose from the taper. In the dim light the leering face of Sipsu appeared like the face of the great demon himself. His small half-closed eyes blazed through their slits. "The spirits are wrathful. The tribe is forgetful. What wilt thou have?" Maisanguaq, with unconcealed hesitation, placed a bit of blubber before the magician. "The last I have," he mumbled.
He steeled himself, for he knew Maisanguaq was strong, he knew the ice was treacherous; he waited for the man to strike. "My heart warms for Annadoah; so doth thine: therefore, thou or I must die." Maisanguaq's deep voice sounded hoarse through the storm. "As thou sayest," Ootah replied, "but why?"
"Speak," Maisanguaq demanded. "Hast thou not the power?" "Did I not once go to the bottom of the sea to Nerrvik, she who rules over the sea creatures? Hath she not only one hand, and is she not powerless to plait her hair? Doth she not obey me? For did I not plait her hair? Did I not carry wood for weapons to the spirits of the mountains? And have they not answered for nigh a thousand moons?"
Finally he fell to the floor in a writhing paroxysm. "Pst!" Maisanguaq's eyes lighted. Outside he heard the sharp barking of dogs. "Huk! Huk!" Ootah's voice called. Others joined in the clamor. The entire tribe seemed to wake as from a sleep of the dead. "He starts for the mountains," said Maisanguaq. "Thinkest thou the spirits will strike?" Sipsu opened his eyes and glared wildly at Maisanguaq.
"May Ootah's eyes close, may the lids swell; may they burn with fire." "May he never see the light of day may he never aim the arrow may his harpoons strike forever in the darkness!" Maisanguaq replied rancorously. "May the wrath of the spirits descend upon him!" "May he never speak may Annadoah never hear his voice," chorused Maisanguaq.