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"How, boy?" returned the Captain, who had been gazing eagerly in all directions while they talked, "it is impossible for me to say how. All that I can speak of with certainty as to our future movements is, that the road by which we have come to the top of this cliff will lead us to the bottom again, where Toolooha is preparing for us an excellent supper of bear-steaks and tea.
Perhaps it is needless to remind the reader that Chingatok and his mother conversed in their native tongue, which we have rendered as literally as possible, and that the last two words were his broken English for "North Pole!" "Nort Pole!" repeated Toolooha once or twice contemplatively. "Well, he may search for nothing if he will, but that he cannot find."
This is the white man's big canoe." Dropping the old woman's hand as he spoke, Chingatok darted into the open air with the agility of a Polar bear, and Toolooha followed with the speed of an Arctic hare.
Meantime the Captain, with the Winchester repeater, was endeavouring but vainly, owing to the motions of the giant, and the swaying of the boat to get a shot at the beast, while Toolooha, with an axe, was coquetting with a somewhat timid cow near the stern. At last an opportunity offered.
Behind came the sledge of Chingatok, which, besides being laden with bear-rugs, sealskins, junks of meat, and a host of indescribable Eskimo implements, carried himself and the precious persons of Toolooha and Tekkona. Next came the sledge of the laughter-loving Oolichuk, with the timid Oblooria and another woman.
"Tell me more," she said, laying her hand affectionately on the huge arm of Chingatok, who had fallen into a contemplative mood, and, with hands clasped over one knee, sat gazing upwards. Before he could reply the heart of Toolooha was made to bound by a shriek more terrible than she had ever before heard or imagined.
"And Blackbeard says," continued the giant, regardless of the questions propounded, "that it spins round upon this Nort Pole, which he says is not a real thing, but only nothing. I asked Blackbeard How can a world spin upon nothing?" "And what said he to that?" demanded Toolooha quickly. "He only laughed. They all laughed when the brainless walrus put my question.
"Anders," he said, turning abruptly to the interpreter, "ask Chingatok what he thinks. Can we pass this barrier, and, if not, what would he advise us to do?" It was observed that the other Eskimos drew near with anxious looks to hear the opinion of their chief. Toolooha and Tekkona, however, seemed quite devoid of anxiety.
Perhaps the interpreter could not explain. He is not a smart man, that interpreter. He resembles a walrus with his brain scooped out. He spoke much, but I could not understand." "Could not understand?" repeated Toolooha, with an incredulous look, "let not Chingatok say so. Is there anything that passes the lips of man which he cannot understand?"
"Then Blackbeard is a liar," said Toolooha quietly, though without a thought of being rude. She merely meant what she said, and said what she meant, being a naturally candid woman. "That may be so, mother, but I think not." "How can the world float without wings?" demanded the old woman indignantly. "If it spinned should we not feel the spinning, and grow giddy?"
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