Part 28 (1/2)
”Where--where did she go in?” cried Rooney.
”She must have gone under the ice!” gasped the poor girl.
As she spoke a bubble of air rose to the surface. Next moment the seaman cleft the cold black water and disappeared.
Then with a thrill of alarm the Eskimos observed that the great ice-cake which had broken off was being driven sh.o.r.eward by the rising tide, and that the lane of water was rapidly closing.
But they were not kept long in suspense. Another moment, and Rooney appeared with little p.u.s.s.i in his arms. They were instantly seized by Okiok and Angut, and dragged violently out--not much too soon, for only a few seconds after they were rescued the ice closed with a grinding crash, that served to increase the fervency of the ”Thank G.o.d!” with which the seaman hailed their deliverance.
The child was not quite insensible, though nearly so. Rooney seized her in his arms, and ran as fast as he could towards the village, whither the fleet-footed Ippegoo had already been sent to prepare skins and warm food for the reception of rescued and rescuer.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
THE REBELLION OF THE WORM AND THE FALL OF THE WIZARD.
The event which had so suddenly interrupted the singing duel was a matter of secret satisfaction to Ujarak, for he felt that he was no match for Okiok, and although he had intended to fight the battle out to the best of his ability, he knew that his ultimate defeat was so probable that its abrupt termination before that event was a piece of great good-fortune.
Still, his position was unsatisfactory, for, in addition to the fact that his credit as a genuine angekok had been sadly shaken because of Ippegoo's failure, he was well aware that the combat which had been interrupted was only postponed. What was to be done in the circ.u.mstances became, therefore, the urgent question of the hour. In great perplexity he sought out his poor victim Ippegoo--with something of the feeling, no doubt, that induces a drowning man to clutch at a straw--and silently walked with him to a secluded spot near the neighbouring cliffs.
”Ippegoo,” he said, turning round abruptly; ”it is certain that you will never be an angekok.”
”I don't want to be one,” returned the simpleton quietly.
The wizard looked at him in surprise.
”What do you mean?” he asked sharply.
”I mean that if the torngak you were going to get for me is no better than your own, he is a fool, and I would rather not have him.”
This unexpected rebellion of the worm which he had so often twisted round his finger was too much for Ujarak in his then irascible condition. He flew into a violent rage, grasped the handle of his knife, and glared fiercely at his pupil.
Ippegoo returned the look with a quiet smile.
This was perplexing. There are few things more trying to pa.s.sionate men than uncertainty as to how their bursts of anger will be received. As a rule such men are merely actors. No doubt their rage may be genuine, but the manner in which they will display their anger depends very much on who are their witnesses, and what their opponents. Rage which fumes at some trifling insult, and tears off the coat, resolved on fighting, when a timid wife seeks to soothe, is likely to a.s.sume a very different appearance and follow some other course of action when a prize-fighter pulls the nose, and invites it to ”do its worst.”
If Ippegoo had winced, or stood on the defensive, or stepped back, or shown the slightest sign of fear, it is probable that the strong and lawless man would have stabbed him to the heart in the first impulse of his anger, for the poor youth was well acquainted with all his secrets and most of his bad intentions. But the motionless figure and the smiling face not only surprised--it alarmed--Ujarak. It seemed so unnatural. What powers of sudden onslaught might not lie hidden within that calm exterior? what dynamitic capacities of swift explosion might not underlie that fearless expression?
”Ippegoo,” he said, stifling his anger with a painful effort, ”are you going to turn against your best friend?”
”My mother is my best friend,” answered the youth stoutly.
”You are right; I made a mistake.”
”Why does your torngak let you make so many mistakes?”
Again a rush of anger prompted the wizard to sacrifice his quondam pupil, and once more the youth's imperturbable coolness overawed him.
Bad as he was, Ujarak could not kill a smiling victim.
”Ippegoo,” said the wizard, suddenly changing his tone, and becoming intensely earnest, ”I see what is the matter. Angut and the Kablunet have bewitched you. But now, I tell my torngak to enter into your heart, and unbewitch you. Now, do you not feel that he has done it?”