FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138  
139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   >>   >|  
or a few moments in speechless wonder. "I am not an old man," said Cheenbuk at length in a solemn tone, "but I have seen most of the wonderful things in this world, yet have I never seen a track like that!" He pointed to the track in question, and turned a look of blazing inquiry on Anteek. "And I am not an old boy," returned the other, "but I too have seen a good many of the wonderful things of this world, yet have I never even dreamed of the like of that!" It will doubtless strike the reader here, as an evidence that Eskimos are under similar delusions to the rest of the human family, that these two referred to that world of theirs as equivalent to the world at large! "What can it be?" murmured Cheenbuk. "The very biggest bear that ever was, come to frighten the wisest people that ever lived, out of their wits," suggested Anteek. The face of the elder Eskimo underwent a sudden change, and an intelligent expression flitted over it as he said-- "I know now--I remember--I guess. You have often heard me talk of the Fire-spouters, Anteek? Well, the snow where they live is very deep and soft--not at all like the snow here, except when our snow is new-fallen--so that they cannot travel in the cold time without great things on their feet. That,"--pointing downward--"must be the track of those great things, and there must be a Fire-spouter not far off." "Perhaps a number of Fire-spouters--a war-party," suggested Anteek, becoming excited. "I think not, for there is only one track." "But they may have walked in a row--behind each other." "That is true. You notice well, Anteek. You will be a good hunter soon." He stooped as he spoke, to examine more carefully the track, which was indeed none other than that made by the snow-shoes of Nazinred on his weary and well-nigh hopeless journey over the frozen sea. "Look here, Cheenbuk," cried the boy, whose excitement was increasing. "Is there not here also the track of a dog, with a strange mark on each side of it, as if it were drawing two lines as it went along?" "You are right again, boy. There is here the track of a dog, but there is only one man. Come, we will follow it up." Jumping on the sledge again, the Eskimo cracked his whip and set the dogs off at full gallop. For some time they advanced, looking eagerly forward, as if expecting every minute to come in sight of the man and dog who had made the tracks, but nothing appeared for som
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138  
139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Anteek
 

things

 

Cheenbuk

 

spouters

 

suggested

 
Eskimo
 
wonderful
 

Nazinred

 
walked
 

notice


examine

 

hunter

 
excited
 

stooped

 
carefully
 

hopeless

 
gallop
 
advanced
 

sledge

 

cracked


eagerly

 

forward

 

tracks

 

appeared

 

expecting

 

minute

 

Jumping

 

increasing

 

strange

 

excitement


frozen

 
follow
 

number

 

drawing

 

journey

 
similar
 

delusions

 
Eskimos
 

doubtless

 
strike

reader
 

evidence

 
family
 
murmured
 

biggest

 

referred

 
equivalent
 

dreamed

 
length
 

solemn