?" repeated the Captain with a puzzled look, "why, it's
boiling water--steam." Here he tried to give a clear account of the
nature and power and application of steam, but, not being gifted with
capacity for lucid explanation, and the mind of Anders being
unaccustomed to such matters, the result was that the brain of Chingatok
was filled with ideas that were fitted rather to amaze than to instruct
him.

After making the tour of the vessel, the party again passed the engine
hatch. Chingatok touched the interpreter quietly, and said in a low,
grave tone, "Tell Blackbeard," (thus he styled the Captain), "to let the
Power yell again!"

Anders glanced up in the giant's grave countenance with a look of amused
surprise. He understood him, and whispered to the Captain, who smiled
intelligently, and, turning to his son, said--

"Do it again, Benjy. Give it 'em strong."

Never before did that lad obey his father with such joyous alacrity. In
another instant the whistle shrieked, and the escape-valve hissed ten
times more furiously than before. Up went the Eskimo--three feet or
more--as if in convulsions, and away went Eemerk to the stern, over
which he dived, swam to the floe, leaped on his sledge, cracked his
whip, and made for home on the wings of terror. Doubtless an evil
conscience helped his cowardice.

Meanwhile Chingatok laughed, despite his struggles to be grave. This
revealed the trick to some of his quick-witted and humour-loving
companions, who at once burst into loud laughter. Even Oblooria
dismissed her fears and smiled. In this restored condition they were
taken down to the cabin and fed sumptuously.

That night, as Chingatok sat beside his mother, busy with a seal's rib,
he gradually revealed to her the wonders he had seen.

"The white men are very wise, mother."

"So you have said four times, my son."

"But you cannot understand it."

"But my son can make me understand," said Toolooha, helping the amiable
giant to a second rib.

Chingatok gazed at his little mother with a look of solemnity that
evidently perplexed her. She became restless under it, and wiped her
forehead uneasily with the flap at the end of her tail. The youth
seemed about to speak, but he only sighed and addressed himself to the
second rib, over which he continued to gaze while he masticated.

"My thoughts are big, mother," he said, laying down the bare bone.

"That may well be, for so is your head, my son," she replied