The Giant of the North | Page 9

edge of the canal, and, drawing a
knife from his boot, said, "Go away! I can kill you."

Nothing daunted, Anders said he was not afraid, and taking a good
English knife from his bag threw it across the canal.
Eemerk picked it up, and was so pleased that he exclaimed,
"Heigh-yaw! heigh-yaw!" joyously, and pulled his nose several times.
Anders, understanding this to be a sign of friendship, immediately
pulled his own nose, smiled, and threw several trinkets and articles of
clothing to the other natives, who had by that time drawn together in a
group, and were chattering in great surprise at the things presented.
Ivitchuk was perhaps the most excited among them. He chanced to get
hold of a round hox, in the lid of which was a mirror. On beholding
himself looking at himself, he made such an awful face that he dropt
the glass and sprang backward, tripping up poor Oblooria in the act,
and tumbling over her.
This was greeted with a shout of laughter, and Anders, now believing
that friendly relations had been established, went to the boat for a plank
to bridge the chasm. As Leo and Alf assisted him to carry the plank, the
natives again became grave and anxious.
"Stop!" shouted Eemerk, "you want to kill us. What great creature is
that? Does it come from the moon or the sun? Does it eat fire and
smoke?"
"No, it is only a dead thing. It is a wooden house."
"You lie!" cried the polite Eemerk, "it shakes its wings. It vomits fire
and smoke. It has a tail, and wags it."
While speaking he slowly retreated, for the plank was being placed in
position, and the other natives were showing symptoms of an intention
to fly.
Just then a shout was heard landwards. Turning round they saw a
dog-sledge flying over the ice towards them, with Oolichuk flourishing
the long-lashed whip, and the huge form of their leader beside him.
In a few seconds they dashed up, and Chingatok sprang upon the ice.

Without a moment's hesitation he strode towards the plank and crossed
it. Walking up to Anders he pulled his own nose. The interpreter was
not slow to return the salutation, as he looked up at the giant with
surprise, not unmingled with awe. In addition, he grasped his huge
hand, squeezed, and shook it.
Chingatok smiled blandly, and returned the squeeze so as to cause the
interpreter to wince. Then, perceiving at once that he had got
possession of a key to the affections of the strangers, he offered to
shake hands with Leonard and his brother, stooping with regal urbanity
to them as he did so. By this time the Captain and first mate, with
Benjy and several of the crew, were approaching. Instead of exhibiting
fear, Chingatok advanced to meet them, and shook hands all round. He
gazed at Captain Vane with a look of admiration which was not at first
quite accountable, until he laid his hand gently on the Captain's
magnificent beard, and stroked it.
The Captain laughed, and again grasped the hand of the Eskimo. They
both squeezed, but neither could make the other wince, for Captain
Vane was remarkably powerful, though comparatively short of limb.
"Well, you are a good fellow in every way," exclaimed the Captain.
"Heigh, yah!" returned Chingatok, who no doubt meant to be
complimentary, though we confess our inability to translate. It was
obvious that two sympathetic souls had met.
"Come across," shouted Chingatok, turning abruptly to his companions,
who had been gazing at his proceedings in open-mouthed wonder.
The whole tribe at once obeyed the order, and in a few minutes they
were in the seventh heaven of delight and good-will, receiving gifts and
handshakings, each pulling his own nose frequently by way of
expressing satisfaction or friendship, and otherwise exchanging
compliments with the no less amiable and gratified crew of the steam
yacht Whitebear.
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Note. The oomiak is the open boat of skin used by Eskimo women, and
is capable of holding several persons. The kayak, or man's canoe, holds
only one.
CHAPTER THREE.
SHOWS HOW THE ESKIMOS WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE
WHITE MEN.
The Whitebear steam yacht, owned and commanded by Captain Jacob
Vane, had sailed from England, and was bound for the North Pole.
"I'll find it--I'm bound to find it," was the Captain's usual mode of
expressing himself to his intimates on the subject, "if there's a North
Pole in the world at all, and my nephews Leo and Alf will help me.
Leo's a doctor, almost, and Alf's a scientific Jack-of-all-trades, so we
can't fail. I'll take my boy Benjy for the benefit of his health, and see if
we don't bring home a chip o' the Pole big enough to set up