Part 2 (1/2)
”There's none to care for him,” said the Captain, ”and the best prospects he have be the poor house”
”Will you leave hiood home, and teach him a bit, and he'll be fine company for me”
”O' course I'll leave he with you, Skipper, and wonderful glad I'll be too that the lad's found a good home,” said the Captain
Then Skipper Ed returned to Ji for a partner, and it strikes me _you'll_ do How'd you like to be _my_ partner? Look me over now, and see what you think of _me_ How'd you like _me_ for a partner?”
Jih tear-stained eyes, but said nothing
”Co down on his haunches that Jiht into his face, ”here we are, you and I, both alone in the world and both wanting partners Can't we splice up a partnershi+p? Share and share alike, you know--you have as much as I, and I have as much as you, and we'll take the fair winds and the contrary winds together, and ether, and use the san on as partners?”
”Yes, sir,” agreed Jimmy
”Good! Good!” exclaimed Skipper Ed ”Here, shake hands on it, partner
Noe're friends to each other, whatever falls, good voyages and poor ones, and there's better luck co for us both, lad, better luck”
And so Skipper Ed and Jimmy Sanderson formed their partnershi+p, and Jimmy, with his own and his father's kits, went ashore with Skipper Ed in Skipper Ed's boat, which he insisted was half Jireement, and the next day the schooner sailed away and left the weeks, Time, as Skipper Ed had predicted, and as he always does, healed Jimmy's sorrow, and he came to look upon Skipper Ed as the finest man and the finest partner in the world, and they two loved each other very much
Abel and his wife and Skipper Ed and his partner lived upon terhbors should And because they had no nearer neighbors than Abraham Moses, an Eskimo ten miles to the southward, and the people of the Moravian Mission and Eskimo settlement at Nain, twenty miles to the northward, the two families were dependent upon one another for human companionshi+p, and therefore the bond of friendshi+p that drew theer
And so it happened that early on thethe return of Abel and Mrs Abel with Bobby, Skipper Ed and Jihbors ho season just closed, and the seal hunting and the trapping seasons which were at hand
Abel was engaged in cutting and shaping the sticks from which he was to build Bobby's little bunk, when he heard Skipper Ed's cheery:
”_Oksunae!_”[A]
”_Oksutingal!_”[A] exclai Skipper Ed's hand and then Jilad to see you, and how have you been?”
[Footnote A: ”_Oksunae_” is the Eski when one is addressed, and, literally translated, ai”_ is addressed to two--”You two be strong” ”_Okiusee”_ to ”]
Abel spoke his native language, for his tongue ard with the few English words he had learned He and Skipper Ed, indeed, always conversed in Eskilish at home when he and Skipper Ed were alone, also understood the Eskiue perfectly
”We're very well,” said Skipper Ed, ”and glad to know you are back We were lonely without you How is Mrs Abel?”
”Well Very well And we have so heartily, could hardly contain hiot a new boat I saw it as we careater surprise than that,” laughed Abel ”It's in the house
Cohted Jimmy ”It's a baby!”
”Co the door open he led thereeting, and brought Bobby forth for introduction
”A boy, and a white one!” exclaiet him?” He took Bobby by the hand, and asked: ”Can you talk, little lad?”
”Yeth, thir,” Bobby ader you do, now! Where did you live before you came here?”