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Updated: May 16, 2025
"For the Fire-spouters," continued Gartok, disregarding the growl, "are afraid of nothing. Why should they be when they can spout wounds and death so easily?" Poor Gartok spoke feelingly, for his wounded leg had reduced his vigour considerably, and he was yet only able to limp about with the aid of a stick, while his lieutenant Ondikik was reduced to skin and bone by the injury to his back.
As he spoke Raventik was seen sweeping into view from behind a point in the middle of the most rapid part of the river, and plying his long paddle with the intense energy of one whose life depends on his exertions. The Eskimos on the knoll gazed in breathless anxiety. A few minutes later the canoe of Magadar swept into view. "The Fire-spouters!" exclaimed Ondikik. "Three men in it!" cried Gartok.
With the stoicism of a bold hunter, however, he uttered no cry, but continued to wield his paddle as well as he could. The other ball had pierced the back of his lieutenant Ondikik. He also, with the courage of a savage warrior, gave no sign at first that he was wounded.
At this Ondikik groaned whether at the contemptibly obvious character of the idea, or at ideas in general, or in consequence of pain, we cannot tell. "You said, mother, that Cheenbuk gave them a good deal of trouble?" "Ay, he gave them sore hearts and sore bodies." "They deserved it! what right had they to come with their fire-spouters to attack us?"
To do them justice, they did not grumble much at their fate, but entertained each other with a running commentary on the events of the day. "And that is strange news that my old mother tells me," resumed Gartok, after a short pause in the conversation. "Cheenbuk must have given the Fire-spouters sore heads from the way he gripped them." "I wish I had been there," growled Ondikik.
The dignity of his office did not forbid his condescending to the frivolities of recreative amusement. Gartok was also there, but, alas! only as a spectator, for his wound was not sufficiently healed to permit of his engaging in any active or violent work. His fellow-sufferer Ondikik sat beside him.
They call him Ondikik, and he would hev kicked altogether if it had not been for the nursin' so they say o' that nice little craitur they call Rinka, or something like that. The other case is that lively stripling Anteek. He's scarcely more than a boy yet, but young Uleeta, as they call the girl, seems to think that no great objection.
This was such a horrible idea that the old woman became unusually grave. "These Fire-spouters are worse than white bears," she said, "for these never torture other beasts, though they often kill them." "True, mother. Now I wish you would go away and leave my leg alone. Ondikik there needs your help. Go to him and hurt him as much as you please. I won't grumble."
They were gravely debating this point in front of the snow stores, when Ondikik came up and asked when it was likely that a start would be made for home, as he styled their old winter village. "Go and ask Mangivik. When he gives the order I'm ready," said Cheenbuk.
"Raventik must have found our enemies," said Gartok to Ondikik, his lieutenant, as he led his men up the slope. "That is certain," returned Ondikik, "and from the noise they are making, I think the Fire-spouters are many. But this is a good place to fight them." "Yes, we will wait here," said Gartok.
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