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Updated: September 10, 2025
On being consulted, old Mangivik, who was generally credited with being weather-wise and intelligent, gave it as his opinion that, as the things from the white man's kayak were all ready packed on the sledges, and the weather was very warm, and the days were growing long, and the ice and snow were melting fast, the sooner they set out the better.
Suddenly Mangivik became rather excited. "Woman," he said earnestly to his wife, who stood beside him, "do you see who steers the kayak? Look, your eyes are better than mine." "No. I do not." "Look again!" cried Anteek, pushing forward at that moment. "He is not a Fire-spouter. He is one of us! But the one in front is a Fire-spouter woman. Look at the man! Don't you know him?"
"But does any one think they will believe that?" said Aglootook with something of scorn in his looks and tone. "Will the Fire-spouters not accept the girl and roast Cheenbuk, and then meet us with their spouters and kill many of us, even though we should beat them at last?" "It is my opinion there is something in that," remarked Mangivik.
Go to the Whale River if you will, but don't fight with any one that is my advice, and my hair is grey." "It is white, old man, if you only saw it," murmured Anteek, with native disrespect. He was too good-natured, however, to let his thoughts be heard. "Come, Oolalik," said Mangivik, "you are a stout and a wise young man, let us hear what you have got to say."
He therefore quietly assumed the post of steersman in the oomiak, which contained Madam Mangivik, Nootka, the easy-going Cowlik, the gentle Rinka, Adolay, and a variety of children and babies. The young man Oolalik, in defiance of immemorial custom, also took a seat and a paddle in that oomiak out of pure hospitality of course, and for the sole purpose of keeping their guest company.
"The kayak is indeed that of a Fire-spouter," said old Mangivik, shaking his grey head, "but I don't think any Fire-spouter among them would be such a fool as to run his head into our very jaws." "I'm not ready to agree with you, old man," began Gartok. "No; you're never ready to agree with any one!" growled Mangivik parenthetically.
Unfortunately for his purpose, there happened to be blowing at the time a gentle nor'-west breeze, which, in its direct course towards them, had to pass over the igloe that belonged to Mangivik, and the humble-minded Attim, keen of scent, recognised something there that caused him suddenly to cock his ears and tail, open his eyes, and give vent to a sharp interrogative yelp!
"He always comes first to see me when he has anything to tell," remarked Mrs Mangivik, with a laugh, "and from the noise he makes I think he has something to tell to-day." If noise was the true index of Anteek's news he evidently was brimful, for he advanced shouting at the top of his voice.
"Why do the young men wish to go there?" asked Mangivik. "To get food, and wood for our spear-handles and sledges, and berries, and to have a good time. Perhaps also to fight a little with the Fire-spouters." The youth glanced furtively at Mangivik as he concluded. "To get food, and wood, and berries is good," observed the old man; "but why fight with the Fire-spouters? We cannot conquer them."
He did not however forsake his people, but frequently visited old Mangivik and his mother at Waruskeek, and the old folk sometimes returned the visit by spending a few months on the banks of the Ukon River. Anteek also elected to stay with the men-of-the-woods, being unable to forsake Cheenbuk, and of course young Uleeta remained with him.
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