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Updated: June 29, 2025
It's not fair to risk her life." "We cannot leave her behind," said Angut, with a perplexed glance at the cowering figure on the sledge. "She could not return to the village on foot. That would be greater risk to her than going on with us." At this point the old woman looked up with a sort of pleasant grin, and croaked "Kannoa is not heavy. Take her with you.
For old Kannoa had not been overburdened with demonstrative affection by the members of her tribe, some of whom had even called her an old witch a name which had sent a thrill of great terror through her trembling old heart, for the doom of witches in Eskimo land in those days was very terrible.
But there is this to be said for the girl: being small, she fell lightly; being rotund, she fell softly; being india-rubbery, she rebounded; and, being young, she took it easily. In a very short time she felt quite safe from pursuit. Then she addressed herself diligently to find out the direction of the Eskimo camp, being filled with desperate anxiety for her old friend Kannoa.
"But why do you say that Kannoa is very ill, Ippe?" she asked; "I have just come from her hut where she was seemingly quite well. Moreover, she has agreed to sup this very night with the mother of Arbalik, and she could not do that if she was ill, for that means much stuffing, because the mother of Arbalik has plenty of food and cooks it very fast."
It was well he did so, for by that time it was nearly dark, and Kannoa had yet to arrange the place for the expected meeting. As the time drew near, the night seemed to sympathise with the occasion, for the sky became overcast with clouds, which obliterated the stars, and rendered it intensely dark. The chief performer in the approaching ceremony was in a fearful state of mind.
"Could we not send Kannoa back with the sledge, and you and I make sail after them on foot?" asked Rooney. Angut shook his head despondingly. "Of no use," he said; "they have the best dogs in our village. As well might a rabbit pursue a deer. No; there is but one course. The land-ice is impassable, but the floes out on the sea seem still to be fast.
They looked quickly at Kannoa, but that ancient's face was absolutely owlish in its gravity, and her little black eyes peered into her pot with a look of intense inquiry that was almost philosophic. Resuming their belief that she was as deaf as a post, or an iceberg, Rooney and Angut proceeded to discuss Ujarak and his probable plans without any regard to her.
It was a beautiful sight to see the livid hue and gaze of horror change into a flush of loving benignity when Kannoa observed who it was that kneeled beside her. "Poor old woman!" shouted Rooney in her ear. "Are you much hurt?" "No; not hurt at all; only squeezed too much. But I'm afraid for Nunaga. I think she got away, but I was bundled, when I last heard her voice."
"He will go to hold converse with his numerous torngaks," whispered old Kannoa to Pussimek. "He will go to visit Okiok, and see the Kablunet, and court Nunaga," thought the jealous and suspicious Ujarak. And Ujarak was right; yet he dared not follow, for he feared the grave, thoughtful man, in spite of his determination to regard and treat him with lofty disdain.
"Huk!" exclaimed old Kannoa, who confined her observations chiefly to that monosyllable and a quiet chuckle. "No," returned Nuna, becoming a little impatient under these frequent interruptions; "they are not dogs at all, but hurses hosses with hard feet like stones, and iron boots on them."
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