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A beaming expression forthwith took the place of surprise on every face, as it suddenly dawned upon the company that Ridroonee was to be classed with the funny dogs whose chief delight it is to recount fairy tales and other exaggerated stories, with a view to make the men shout, the women laugh, and the children squeak with amusement. "Go on," they cried; "tell us more."
She is quite willing to live or die with Angut and Ridroonee." With a slight smile the Eskimo resumed his place and whip. Rooney patted Kannoa on the head as he sat down beside her, and called her a "brave old girl." Another moment, and the dogs were out on the glassy plain, galloping as well as they could, and yelping as much from fear of the rending and bending ice as the cracking whip.
Instead of replying to this remark, the Eskimo looked earnestly at his friend, and asked "Can Ridroonee tell me why the Great Spirit allows men to do evil?" "No, Angut, no. That is beyond my knowledge.
Then he leaped on his own sledge, and turned to Red Rooney, who was standing by. "Ridroonee," he said, in a somewhat sad tone, "I go to find Nunaga. If I succeed not, you will see me no more." He held out his hand to take farewell in the Kablunet's fashion. "What say you?" exclaimed Rooney, taken by surprise, "Nonsense! see you no Pooh! hold on a bit."
This happily had the effect of stirring up his pride, and made him resolve to strive to do his part creditably. At the door of the hut two dark figures glided swiftly in before him. One he could perceive was Angut; the other he thought looked very like the Kablunet "Ridroonee."
Only this am I sure of that they are, they must be, the wonderful works of the Good Spirit." "But how do you know that?" asked Rooney. Angut looked at his questioner very earnestly for a few moments. "How does Ridroonee know that he is alive?" he asked abruptly. "Oh, as to that, you know, everything tells me that I am alive. I look around, and I see. I listen, and I hear.
"Songs!" shouted Simek, with an excited look; "have you songs? can you sing?" "Well, after a fashion I can," returned Rooney, with a modest look, "though I don't pretend to be much of a dab at it. Are you fond o' singin'?" "Fond!" echoed Simek, with a gaze of enthusiasm, "I love it! I love it nearly as much as I love Pussimek; better, far, than I love blubber! Ho! sing to us, Ridroonee."
"Torngaks must be very hard-hearted," said Okiok, with a look and tone of contempt that he did not care to conceal. "But what were they doing in the cave?" "Who knows?" replied Nuna. "These two are always plotting. Ridroonee says they looked as if worried at having been discovered. Come, fall-to. You must be strong to-day if you would play kick-ball well."
"No, no; he would remain good, whatever you might think," said Angut quickly; "I see. I see. I will try to think as you think the Great Father is good, must be good. And He will prove it some day. Don't you think so, Ridroonee?" "Ay, truly, I think so; I am sure of it. But listen! Do you not hear sounds?"
In the spirit-land Angut and Nunaga, Okiok, Nuna, Simek, and all the Innuit friends, when washed in the blood of Jesus, will again see the face of Ridroonee, and rejoice." This was the first time that Angut had distinctly declared his faith, and it afforded matter for profound satisfaction to Rooney, who grasped and warmly shook his friend's hand.
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