Part 16 (1/2)

While they were gone, the six who had gone to slaughter the bear came back, bringing the hide and a considerable quant.i.ty of the meat. Bits were distributed among the crowd, and eaten raw and reeking as if a delicacy. We _chymoed_ the bear-skin from them for a bar of iron.

In about an hour a great _ta-yar-r-r-ing_ from the sh.o.r.eward bespoke the embarkation of the _ladies_; and, with our gla.s.ses, we could make out a large boat coming off, surrounded by _kayaks_.

”That's the _oomiak_,” said Kit. ”Looks like quite a barge.”

”Don't lose your hearts now,” laughed the captain. ”Should hate to have an elopement from my s.h.i.+p here.”

”I think Wade is in the most danger,” said Raed. ”He's very susceptible to Northern beauties. We must have an eye to him.”

”Beware, Wade!” cried Kit. ”Don't be led astray! Steel your heart against the seductive charms of these Husky belles! Remember how the hopes of your family are centred! What would your mother say? Your father would be sure to disinherit you! How would your sisters bear it?”

”Hold on, fellows!” exclaimed Wade. ”This isn't quite fair, nor honorable,--making fun of ladies behind their backs.”

”Right, sir!” cried Raed. ”Spoken like a true son of the South! Ah!

you did always outrank us in gallantry. No discount on it. Had your heads been as true as your hearts, the result might have been different. But here come the ladies. We must do our prettiest to please 'em, or we are no true knights. By the by, we resemble the wandering knight-errants not a little, I fear.”

”Only their object was adventure, while ours is science,” added Kit.

”Scientific knights!” laughed Wade. ”Well, the world moves!”

The _oomiak_ was now within fifty yards.

”Let's give 'em a salute!” exclaimed Kit. ”Roll the ball out of the howitzer!”

”Oh! I wouldn't; it may scare 'em,” said Raed.

”No, it won't. Where's a match?”

_Bang_ went old bra.s.sy out of the stern.

It did startle them, I fancy. Something very much like a feminine screech rose in the _oomiak_. It was quickly hushed up, though, with no fainting, but any quant.i.ty of _heh-heh-ing_ and _yeh-yeh-ing_ from the fat beauties.

”Now give 'em two more from the muskets--two at a time--when they come under the side!” shouted Kit. ”Hobbs, you and Don first!

Ready!--fire!”

Crack, crack!

”Now Weymouth and Corliss!”

Crack, crack!

”There! I now consider their arrival properly celebrated. And here they are under the bows! Pipe the side for the ladies, captain!”

”Bless me!” exclaimed Raed; ”how are we to get 'em aboard? Can't climb a line, I don't expect.”

”Wouldn't do to give 'em the ratlines!” exclaimed Kit; ”might entangle their pretty feet. What's to be done, captain?”

”I--give--it--up!” groaned Capt. Mazard. ”Hold! I have it: the old companion-stairs,--the ones we had taken out. They are stowed away down in the hold.”

”Just the thing!” cried Raed; ”the very essence of gallantry!”