haven't got one yet--that Ujarak's torngak--told him in a vision
that a visit to the lands of the far-south would do her good, would
remove the pains that sometimes stiffen her joints, and the cough that
has troubled her so much. So you will incline her to obey. Go, tell
her to prepare for a journey; but say nothing more, except that I will
call for her soon, and take her on my sledge. Away!"

The peremptory tone of the last word decided the poor youth's wavering
mind. Without a word more he ran to the place where his dogs were
fastened, harnessed them to his sledge, and was soon driving furiously
back to the Eskimo village over the frozen sea, while the wizard
returned to the place where the hunters of his tribe were still busy
hauling in the carcases of seals and other game, which they had
succeeded in killing in considerable numbers.

Approaching one of the band of hunters, which was headed by the jovial
Simek, and had halted for the purpose of refreshment, Ujarak accosted
them with--

"Have the young men become impatient women, that they cannot wait to
have their food cooked?"

"Ha! _ha_!" laughed Simek, holding up a strip of raw and bloody seal's
flesh, with which he had already besmeared the region of his mouth and
nose; "Yes, we have become like women; we know what is good for us, and
take it when we need it, not caring much about the cooking. My young
men are hungry. Must they wait till the lamps are lighted before they
eat? Come, Ujarak, join us. Even an angekok may find a bit of good fat
seal worth swallowing. Did you not set them free? You deserve a bit!"

There was a spice of chaff as well as jollity in the big Eskimo's tone
and manner; but he was such a gushing fellow, and withal so powerful,
that the wizard deemed it wise not to take offence.

"It is not long since I fed," he replied, with a grim smile; "I have
other work on hand just now."

"I also have work--plenty of it; and I work best when stuffed full."

So saying, Simek put a full stop, as it were, to the sentence with a
mass of blubber, while the wizard went off, as he said, to consult his
torngak as to state affairs of importance.

Meanwhile Ippegoo went careering over the ice, plying his long-lashed
whip with the energy of a man who had pressing business on hand.

Arrived at the village, he sought his mother's hut. Kunelik, as his
mother was named, was seated therein, not exactly darning his socks, but
engaged in the Eskimo