Part 13 (2/2)
”I've got it! We'll catch that boat yet!”
”How?” growled the big man, sourly.
”There's a large open skin-boat, an oomiak, down on the beach. We'll hire a crew of Indians to put us across to Uyak.”
”Can't be done,” said Big George, still gruffly. ”It's the wrong season.
You know the Shelikof Straits is a bad place even for steams.h.i.+ps at this time of year. They're like that Pa.s.s up yonder, only worse.”
”But it's only fifty miles across.”
”Fifty miles of that kind of water in an open canoe may be just as bad as five hundred--unless you're lucky. And I ain't noticed anything so d.a.m.ned lucky about us.”
”Well, it's that or nothing. It's our only chance. Are you game?”
”Come on,” cried Big George, ”let's find Petellin!”
When that worthy heard their desire, he uttered a shriek of denial.
”In summer, yes, but now--you can't do it. It has been tried too often.
The Straits is always rough, and the weather is too cold to sit all day in an oomiak, you'd freeze.”
”We'll chance it.”
”No, _no_, NO! If it comes on to storm, you'll go to sea. The tides are strong; you can't see your course, and--”
”We'll use a compa.s.s. Now, you get me enough men to handle that oomiak, that's a good fellow. I'll attend to the rest.”
”But they won't go,” declared the little fat man. ”They know what it means. Why--”
”Call them in. I'll do the talking.” And accordingly the storekeeper went in search of the village chief, shaking his head and muttering at the madness of these people.
”Fingerless” Fraser, noticing the change in Balt and Emerson when they re- entered the store, questioned them as to what had happened; and in reply to his inquiry, Big George said:
”We're going to tackle the Straits in a small boat.”
”What! Not on your life! Why, that's the craziest stunt I ever heard of.
Don't you know--”
”Yes, we know,” Emerson shut him up, brusquely. ”You don't have to go with us.”
”Well, I should say not. Hunh! Do I look like I'd do a thing like that? If I do, it's because I'm sick. I just got this far by a gnat's eyelash, and hereinafter I take the best of it every time.”
”You can wait for the mail-boat.”
”I certainly can, and, what's more, I will. And I'll register myself, too.
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