oat. They cannot kill
bears; perhaps they cannot kill seals or walruses, and they ask us to
help them to travel--to show them the way! They can do nothing. They
must be led like children. My advice is to kill them all, since they
are so useless, and take their goods."

This speech was received with marks of decided approval by those of the
party who were in the habit of siding with Eemerk, but the rest were
silent. In a few moments Chingatok said, in a low, quiet, but
impressive tone: "The Kablunets are not foolish or ignorant. They are
wise--far beyond the wisdom of the Eskimos. It is Eemerk who is like a
walrus without brains. He thinks that his little mind is outside of
everything, and so he has not eyes to perceive that he is ignorant as
well as foolish, and that other men are wise."

This was the severest rebuke that the good-natured Chingatok had yet
administered to Eemerk, but the latter, foolish though he was, had
wisdom enough not to resent it openly. He sat in moody silence, with
his eyes fixed on the ground.

Of course Oolichuk was decidedly in favour of joining the white men, and
so was Ivitchuk, who soon brought round his hesitating friend Akeetolik,
and several of the others. Oblooria, being timid, would gladly have
sided with Eemerk, but she hated the man, and, besides, would in any
case have cast in her lot with her mother and brother, even if free to
do otherwise.

The fair Tekkona, whose courage and faith were naturally strong, had
only one idea, and that was to follow cheerfully wherever Chingatok led;
but she was very modest, and gave no opinion. She merely remarked: "The
Kablunets are handsome men, and seem good."

As for Toolooha, she had enough to do to attend to the serious duties of
the lamp, and always left the settlement of less important matters to
the men.

"You and yours are free to do what you please," said Chingatok to
Eemerk, when the discussion drew to a close. "I go with the white men
to-morrow."

"What says Oblooria?" whispered Oolichuk when the rest of the party were
listening to Eemerk's reply.

"Oblooria goes with her brother and mother," answered that young lady,
toying coquettishly with her sealskin tail.

Oolichuk's good-humoured visage beamed with satisfaction, and his flat
nose curled up--as much as it was possible for such a feature to curl--
with contempt, as he glanced at Eemerk and said--

"I have heard many tales from Anders--the white man's mouth