Part 37 (1/2)
”Why, we all know what I mean,” replied Kit.
”But I want to hear it stated,” insisted Raed.
”Well, then, there is a majority in favor of the temporary occupation and control of yonder island,--a measure justified by our necessity.”
”You have put it very mildly,” remarked Raed. ”I should give it in very different terms. Kit, I am disgusted with this movement. I can't give it any sympathy whatever.”
”You are not going to _secede_, I hope,” sneered Wade.
”I am not,” said Raed, turning in a pa.s.sion. ”I am, I hope, too good a patriot to be a secessionist, much less a _rebel_.”
For a moment they looked straight at each other. Wade's eyes snapped, and his hands clinched.
”Here, here!--come, none of that!” exclaimed Kit, ”or I'll thrash both of you. Wade, you are to blame. You said the first unkind thing. You ought to ask his pardon.”
”He needn't do that,” said Raed. ”I was to blame as well as he.”
”Well, that's magnanimous!” exclaimed Wade, suddenly relenting.
”Beg'e' pardon, old fellow! I _was_ to blame.”
And we all laughed, in spite of the qualms sticking in our throats.
CHAPTER XIV.
We set up a Military Despotism on ”Isle Aktok.”--”No Better than Filibusters!”--The Seizure of the Oomiak.--The Seal-Tax.--A Case of Discipline.--_Wutchee_ and _Wunchee_.--The Inside of a Husky Hut.--”Eigh, Eigh!”--An Esquimau Ball.--A Funeral.--Wutchee and Wunchee's Cookery.--The Esquimau Whip.
”Raed, will you act as leader, or captain?” Kit asked.
”I decline,” was the reply. ”It is hardly fair to ask me, I think.
That honor--if you look upon it as such--is clearly yours.”
”Very well, then. All hands launch the boat!”
It was done.
”Load in the walrus-hides.”
They were rolled up and thrown in.
”s.h.i.+p the _spider_ too.”
I carried it aboard.
”Now each man spend fifteen minutes attending to his musket! Get off all rust! See that the locks move easily! Load them, and fix the bayonets!”
This done, we called Guard, and embarked; not forgetting to take our dipper of salt, the walrus-tusks, and Wade's broken bayonet.