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Updated: September 27, 2025
His face twisted with jealous rage as he heard Annadoah calling to the speeding Ootah. His narrow eyes glittered vindictively. Turning on his heel he entered Sipsu's dwelling place. Sipsu sat on the floor near his oil lamp. When Maisanguaq entered he did not stir.
"Thy axe!" he shouted. Maisanguaq passed the axe. Ootah grappled for it in the darkness. "Hold the harpoon," he directed. Mechanically Maisanguaq groped for the harpoon and held it while Ootah, with his one free hand, lifted the axe and drove it into the ice. With the other hand he still gripped the unconscious woman. Her hair swished about his legs in the howling wind.
Then he rose to his feet, and in a low voice uttered the secret formulas whereby, in the depths of the sea, the result of his labor should take the form of an artificial walrus. Maisanguaq stood by, silent, evil exultation shining in his eyes. While the Sipsu was moaning his spell over the pile of bones, Maisanguaq turned and left the tent.
Sinking to the earth he rubbed Annadoah's hands and breathed with eager and enraptured transport into her face. He called her name. Presently she stirred. "Ootah," she murmured. "It is very dark very dark I wonder . . . whether . . . it will soon . . . be spring." He chafed her hands. For a lucid moment she nestled to him and in a terrified voice whispered "Maisanguaq where is he?"
He laughed harshly. Maisanguaq impatiently repeated his question: "Can Sipsu invoke the great curse? Ha, what dost thou mean? Art thou a fool? Have not many died upon the word of Sipsu, Sipsu whose spirits never desert him! Harken! Did not Sipsu go unto the mountains in his youth? Did he not hear the hill spirits speaking? Did he not carry food to them, and wood and arrow points for weapons?
Softly they all muttered the magic formulas to prevent themselves from being seen: "Nunavdlo sermitdlo-akorngakut-tamarnuga!" In the rear, his eyes evilly alight, Maisanguaq followed. As they approached the herd they scattered. Along the edge of the floe lay about twenty monstrous animals, steam rising from their nostrils as they snorted in their slumber.
"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.
He felt it tugging at the line while he unknotted the tangle. While he was doing this Maisanguaq saw the beast rise to the surface of the water not far from Ootah and describe a quick circle about his kayak. Before he realized it, the leather line had wrapped itself about his chest and under his arms. It took but a minute for the animal to circle the boat then it plunged.
Out on the sea he saw the kayaks of his departing companions. "Good luck, Maisanguaq, have courage in the chase! Remember Annadoah awaits you all!" Annadoah called blithely and coquettishly after him.
Maisanguaq breathed the wrath of the spirits upon Ootah. He fought with the fierce strength of one insane with jealous, murderous rage. The icy floe rocked beneath them. They slipped to and fro on the treacherous ice. The sharp snow beat their faces. Water washed under their feet.
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