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"Yea," the old man gasped, "but they say " Maisanguaq's fingers loosened. "What?" he demanded. "That there is . . . some other power . . . which is very strange which " "Yea, yea " "Protecteth Ootah . . . It concerneth . . . Annadoah. I do not wish thy gift. I fear the spirits.
"Methinks thou wilt perhaps join the fishes first, friend Maisanguaq," a familiar voice laughed joyously behind him. Maisanguaq's face became livid with dismay. Had the angakoq failed? And why? Turning, he saw Ootah, not far away, clambering from the water onto the floe. He was unscathed by the mishap the water even had not penetrated his skin garments.
May they wander apart forever seeking and may they never find themselves! May Ootah suffer as never suffered the unhappy dead!" And Maisanguaq's deep voice growled hatefully: "May Ootah's body lie unburied! May he rot upon the earth! May the ravens peck out his eyes! May a murderer drink his blood! May the wolves eat his heart! May the spirit of the fog grow fat upon his entrails!
A joyous cry arose from the hunters as they saw him running to and fro, working his arms to get up circulation. Noting Maisanguaq's scowling face, Ootah twitted him: "Laugh, friend Maisanguaq," he said, "for winter comes and then thy teeth will chatter." Maisanguaq scowled deeply Ootah's blithesome remarks filled him with rancor. "Peace, Maisanguaq.
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?"
Impelled by a warning instinct, Ootah suddenly looked up from his task, and felt rather than saw Maisanguaq near and about to leap upon him. Maisanguaq's eyes dimly glowered in the dark. Ootah rose quickly. Maisanguaq drew back and uttered an exclamation of chagrin. Ootah understood. With rescue possible, Maisanguaq had quickly come to a desperate resolution. The girl lay between them.
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.
About the improvised stakes which secured the sled Ootah whipped the lashings, then he passed them under and over the sled until it was securely pinioned. Very gently he placed Annadoah upon the mass of walrus meat and lashed her body in turn to the sled and about the stakes. With Maisanguaq's assistance he tied the cowering dogs to the harpoons.
Maisanguaq's harpoon went wild. He jealously watched Ootah and struck without skill, carried away by chagrin and rage. Eré made valiant attacks for he, too, thought of Annadoah, but the walrus invariably went skimming from under his blows. Papik's harpoon glanced the backs of half a dozen. Finally it landed. He shouted with glee.
Maisanguaq's lips tightened, his heart leaped, but well he knew that he meant nothing to the maiden, well he knew what little chance he had, and envy filled him, and bitter doubt, for he knew Ootah's prowess, his strength of limb, and braveness of heart.
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