seized it avidly.

"Ootah goeth to the mountains," Maisanguaq said, panting for breath.

The old man sneered bitterly:

"He cannot brave the spirits. No man can live in the mountains. The
breath of the spirits is death."

"Yea, he goeth. He says that he knows where the _ahmingmah_ abound.
The air is still; the moon rises for ten sleeps. By then, so he saith,
he can return with meat."

"No man hath ever ventured there. The shadow of _Perdlugssuaq_ is very
dark."

"Yea, may he smite Ootah!" exclaimed Maisanguaq.

Sipsu laughed harshly.

"Couldst thou cause the hill spirits to strike?" Maisanguaq asked
eagerly.

Sipsu faced Maisanguaq fiercely.

"In my youth I went unto the mountains and I heard the hill spirits
sing. Thereupon I became a great magician. They spoke to me; I was
silent; thereafter, when I called they answered. What wouldst thou?"

Maisanguaq indicated the blubber.

"I would thou call them now; that they release the glaciers, that Ootah
may be carried to his death. I hate Ootah, I would that he die." He
shook his fist.

Sipsu's body quivered from head to foot. "Ootah hath never consulted
my familiar spirits," he rejoined bitterly. "He despiseth them."

Rising from his sitting posture Sipsu seized his drum and began moving
his body. He groaned with extreme pain. By degrees his dance
increased. He improvised a monotonous spirit song. His face grimaced
demoniacally. As his conjuration approached the climax, his voice rose
to a series of shrieks. He shuddered violently; he seemed to suffer
agonies in his limbs. Finally he fell to the floor in a writhing
paroxysm.

"_Pst_!" Maisanguaq's eyes lighted.

Outside he heard the sharp barking of dogs. "_Huk_! _Huk_!" Ootah's
voice called. Others joined in the clamor. The entire tribe seemed to
wake as from a sleep of the dead.

"He starts for the mountains," said Maisanguaq. "Thinkest thou the
spirits will strike?"

Sipsu opened his eyes--and glared wildly at Maisanguaq.

"Speak," Maisanguaq demanded. "Hast thou not the power?"

"Did I not once go to the bottom of the sea to _Nerrvik_, she who rules
over the sea creatures? Hath she not only one hand, and is she not
powerless to plait her hair? Doth she not obey me? For did I not
plait her hair? Did I not carry wood for weapons to the spirits of the
mountains? And have they not answered for nigh a thousand moons?"

"Yet there is doubt in thy voice, Sipsu!"

"Ye