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twg_000012589300 | He suddenly grasped his foe round the waist with one arm. Next moment the Grabantaks saw what the most imaginative among them had never till then conceived of--Koyatuk's soles turned to the sky, and his head pointing to the ground! The moment following, he lay flat on his back looking upwards blankly. The huk! hi! ho! ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589301 | be conceived, but cannot be described. Some of the men burst into laughter, for anything ludicrous is irresistible to an Eskimo of the very far north. A few were petrified. Others there were who resented this indignity to the heir-apparent, and flourished their spears in a threatening manner. These last Grabantak quiet... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589302 | stern parent, but also afforded him some amusement. He said it was an insult that must be avenged. Oddly enough he made use of an expression which sounded curiously familiar to Leo's ears, as translated by Anders. "The insult," said Grabantak, "could only be _washed out in blood_!" Strange, that simple savages of the f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589303 | ridiculous doctrine. We had imagined that it was confined entirely to those further south, whose minds have been more or less warped by civilised usage. A ring was immediately formed, and poor Leo now saw that the matter was becoming serious. He was on the eve of fighting an enforced duel in Oblooria's service. While t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589304 | lists, and Koyatuk, having recovered, was engaged in converse with his father, Leo whispered to Anders-- "Perhaps Oblooria has no objection to be the wife of this man?" But the poor girl had very strong objections. She was, moreover, so emphatic in her expressions of horror, and cast on her champion such a look of entr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589305 | been more than mortal had he refused her. It was very perplexing. The idea of killing, or being killed, in such a cause was very repulsive. He tried to reason with Grabantak about the sin of injuring a defenceless woman, and the abstract right of females in general to have some say in the selection of their husbands, b... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589306 | was inexorable. "Is the Kablunet afraid?" he asked, with a glance of scornful surprise. "Does he _look_ afraid?" returned Leo, quietly. Koyatuk now stepped into the middle of the ring of warriors, with a short spear in his right hand, and half-a-dozen spare ones in his left, whereby Leo perceived that the battle before... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589307 | a mere "exchange of shots," for the "satisfaction of honour." There was evidently no humbug about these Eskimos. Two men mounted guard over Anders and Oblooria, who, however, were allowed to remain inside the ring to witness the combat. A warrior now advanced to Leo and presented him with a small bundle of spears. He t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589308 | the giver, and laid them down at his feet without selecting one. Then he stood up, and, crossing his arms on his breast, gazed full at his opponent, who made a hideous face at him and flourished his spear. It was quite evident that the Eskimos were perplexed by the white youth's conduct, and knew not what to make of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589309 | it. The truth is that poor Leo was almost beside himself with conflicting emotions and uncertainty as to what he ought to do. Despite all that had taken place, he found it almost impossible to persuade himself that he was actually about to engage in mortal combat. He had not a vestige of angry feeling in his heart agai... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589310 | man whom he was expected to fight with to the death, and the extraordinary nature of the complex faces that Koyatuk was making at him tended to foster the delusion that the whole thing was a farce--or a dream. Then the knowledge that he could burst through the ring, get hold of his rifle, and sell his life dearly, or, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589311 | perhaps, cause the whole savage tribe to fly in terror, was a sore temptation to him. All this, coupled with the necessity for taking instant and vigorous action of some sort, was enough to drive an older head distracted. It did drive the blood violently to the youth's face, but, by a powerful effort of self-restraint,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589312 | perfectly still, like a living statue, facing the Eskimo. At last Koyatuk became tired of making useless faces at his rival. Suddenly poising his spear, he launched it. Had Leo's eye been less quick, or his limbs less active, that spear had laid him low for ever. He had barely time to spring aside, when the weapon pass... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589313 | side and his left arm, grazing the latter slightly, and drawing blood which trickled to the ends of his fingers. There could be no further doubt now about the nature of the fight. Catching up a spear from the bundle at his feet he was just in time to receive the Eskimo, who sprang in on him with the intention | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589314 | of coming at once to close quarters. His rush was very furious; probably with a view to make it decisive. But the agile Leo was equal to the occasion. Bending suddenly so low as to be quite under his opponent's desperate thrust, he struck out his right leg firmly. Koyatuk tripped over it, and ploughed the land for some... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589315 | with his hands, head, and knees. Considerably staggered in mind and body by the fall, he sprang up with a roar, and turned to renew the attack. Leo was ready. The Eskimo, by that time mad with pain, humiliation, and rage, exercised no caution in his assault. He rushed at his rival like a mad bull. Our Englishman saw hi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589316 | opportunity. Dropping his own spear he guarded the thrust of his adversary's with his right arm, while, with his left fist, he planted a solid blow on Koyatuk's forehead. The right fist followed the left like the lightning flash, and alighted on Koyatuk's nose, which, flat by nature, was rendered flatter still by art. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589317 | flattery to assert that he had any nose at all after receiving that blow. It was reduced to the shape of a small pancake, from the two holes in which there instantly spouted a stream of blood so copious that it drenched alike its owner and his rival. After giving him this double salute, Leo stepped quickly aside to let | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589318 | him tumble forward, heels over head, which he did with the only half-checked impetuosity of his onset, and lay prone upon the ground. "There, Anders," said the victor, turning round as he pointed to his prostrate foe, "surely Grabantak's son has got enough of blood now to wipe out all the insults he ever received, or i... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589319 | from me." Grabantak appeared to agree to this view of the case. That he saw and relished the jest was obvious, for he burst into an uproarious fit of laughter, in which his amiable warriors joined him, and, advancing to Leo, gave him a hearty slap of approval on the shoulder. At the same time he cast a look of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589320 | amused scorn on his fallen son, who was being attended to by Merkut. It may be observed here that Merkut was the only woman of the tribe allowed to go on this war-expedition. Being the chief's wife, she had been allowed to do as she pleased, and it was her pleasure to accompany the party and to travel like the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589321 | warriors in a kayak, which she managed as well as the best of them. Grabantak now ordered his men to encamp, and feed till the gale should abate. Then, calling Leo and the interpreter aside, he questioned them closely as to the condition of the Poloese and the numbers of the white men who had recently joined them. Of c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589322 | Leo made Anders give him a graphic account of the preparations made by his enemies to receive him, in the hope that he might be induced to give up his intentions, but he had mistaken the spirit of the Eskimo, who merely showed his teeth, frowned, laughed in a diabolic manner, and flourished his spear during the recital... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589323 | warlike arrangements. He wound up by saying that he was rejoiced to learn all that, because it would be all the more to his credit to make his enemy go down on his knees, lick the dust, crawl in his presence, and otherwise humble himself. "But tell him, Anders," said Leo, earnestly, "that my white brothers, though few ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589324 | are very strong and brave. They have weapons too which kill far off and make a dreadful noise." Grabantak laughed contemptuously at this. "Does the Kablunet," he asked, "think I am afraid to die--afraid of a noise? does he think that none but white men can kill far off?" As he spoke he suddenly hurled his spear at a gu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589325 | which, with many others, was perched on a cliff about thirty yards off, and transfixed it. "Go to the boat, Anders, and fetch my rifle," said Leo in a low tone. When the rifle was brought a crowd of Eskimos came with it. They had been closely observing their chief and the stranger during the conference, but remained at... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589326 | respectful distance until they saw something unusual going on. "Tell the chief," said Leo, "to look at that peak with the solitary gull standing on it." He pointed to a detached cone of rock upwards of two hundred yards distant. When the attention of the whole party was concentrated on the bird in question, Leo took a ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589327 | fired. Need we say that the effect of the shot was wonderful? not only did the braves utter a united yell and give a simultaneous jump, but several of the less brave among them bolted behind rocks, or tumbled in attempting to do so, while myriads of sea-fowl, which clustered among the cliffs, sprang from their perches ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589328 | into the air. At the same time echoes innumerable, which had lain dormant since creation, or at best had given but sleepy response to the bark of walruses and the cry of gulls, took up the shot in lively haste and sent it to and fro from cliff to crag in bewildering continuation. "Wonderful!" exclaimed Grabantak in ope... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589329 | he beheld the shot gull tumbling from its lofty perch, "Do it again." Leo did it again--all the more readily that another gull, unwarned by its predecessor's fate, flew to the conical rock at the moment, and perched itself on the same peak. It fell, as before, and the echoes were again awakened, while the sea-birds caw... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589330 | violently than ever. The timid ones among the braves, having recovered from their first shock, stood fast this time, but trembled much and glared horribly. The chief, who was made of sterner stuff than many of his followers; did not move, though his face flushed crimson with suppressed emotion. As to the sea-birds, cur... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589331 | they came circling and wheeling overhead in clouds so dense that they almost darkened the sky--many of them swooping close past the Eskimos and then shearing off and up with wild cries. An idea suddenly flashed into Leo's head. Pointing his rifle upwards he began and continued a rapid fire until all the bullets in it, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589332 | expended. The result was as he had expected. Travelling through such a dense mass of birds, each ball pierced we know not how many, until it absolutely rained dead and wounded gulls on the heads of the natives, while the rocks sent forth a roar of echoes equal to a continuous fire of musketry. It was stupendous! Nothin... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589333 | had occurred in the Polar regions since the world first became a little flattened at the poles! Nothing like it will happen again until the conjunction of a series of similar circumstances occurs. The timid braves lost heart again and dived like the coneys into holes and corners of the rocks. Others stood still with ch... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589334 | for a moment. But it was only for a moment. Recovering himself he uttered a mighty shout; then he yelled; then he howled; then he slapped his breast and thighs; then he seized a smallish brave near him by the neck and hurled him into the sea. Having relieved his feelings thus he burst into a fit of laughter such | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589335 | as has never been equalled by the wildest maniac either before or since. Suddenly he calmed, stepped up to Leo, and wrenched the rifle from his grasp. "I will do that!" he cried, and held the weapon out at arms-length in front of his face with both hands; but there was no answering shot. "Why does it not bark?" he | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589336 | demanded, turning to Leo sternly. "It will only bark at my bidding," said Leo, with a significant smile. "Bid it, then," said the chief in a peremptory tone, still holding the rifle out. "You must treat it in the right way, otherwise it will not bark. I will show you." Having been shown how to pull the trigger, the chi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589337 | tried again, but a sharp click was the only reply. Grabantak having expected a shot, he nervously dropped the rifle, but Leo was prepared, and caught it. "You must not be afraid of it; it cannot work properly if you are afraid. See, look there," he added, pointing to the conical rock on which another infatuated gull ha... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589338 | Grabantak looked earnestly. His timid braves began to creep out of their holes, and directed their eyes to the same spot. While their attention was occupied Leo managed to slip a fresh cartridge into the rifle unobserved. "Now," said he, handing the rifle to the chief, "try again." Grabantak, who was not quite pleased ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589339 | afraid, seized the rifle and held it out as before. Resolved to maintain his reputation for coolness, he said to his followers in imitation of Leo:-- "Do you see that gull?" "Huk!" replied the warriors, with eager looks. Leo thought of correcting his manner of taking aim, but, reflecting that the result would be a miss... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589340 | refrained. Grabantak raised the rifle slowly, as its owner had done, and frowned along the barrel. In doing so, he drew it back until the butt almost touched his face. Then he fired. There was a repetition of previous results with some differences. The gull flew away from the rock unhurt; one of the braves received the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589341 | thigh and ran off shrieking with agony, while the chief received a blow from the rifle on the nose which all but incorporated that feature with his cheeks, and drew from his eyes the first tears he had ever shed since babyhood. That night Grabantak sat for hours staring in moody silence at the sea, tenderly caressing h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589342 | and meditating, no doubt, on things past, present, and to come. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. LEO VISITS FLATLAND AND SEES AS WELL AS HEARS MUCH TO INTEREST HIM THERE. The result of Grabantak's meditation was that, considering the nature and wonderful weapons of the men by whom Amalatok had been reinforced, he thought it advis... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589343 | which was not far distant, for the purpose of adding to the force with which he meant to subjugate the men of Poloe. "We are unconquerable," he said, while conversing on the situation with Teyma, his first lieutenant, or prime minister; "everybody knows that we are invincible. It is well-known that neither white men, n... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589344 | nor blue men,--can overcome the Flatlanders. We must keep up our name. It will not do to let the ancient belief die down, that one Flatlander is equal to three men of Poloe, or any other land." "The Poloe men laugh in their boots when they hear us boast in this way," said Teyma gently. We draw attention to the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589345 | curious resemblance in this phrase to our more civilised "laughing in the sleeve," while we point out that the prime minister, although of necessity a man of war, was by nature a man of peace. Indeed his name, Teyma, which signifies peace, had been given him because of his pacific tendencies. "What! would you not have ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589346 | name?" demanded Grabantak, fiercely. "No, I would have you defend only the Flatland property," replied the blunt minister. "And is not Puiroe my property?" growled Grabantak, referring to the barren rock which was the cause of war. "So is _that_ your property," said Teyma, picking up a stone, "and yet I treat it thus!"... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589347 | sea.) "Is that worth Flatlander blood? would you kill me for _that_? shall Eskimo wives and mothers weep, and children mourn and starve for a useless rock in the sea." "You always thwart me, Teyma," said Grabantak, trying to suppress a burst of wrath, which he was well aware his fearless minister did not mind in the le... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589348 | true this island is not worth the shake of a puffin's tail; but if we allow the Poloe men to take it--" "To keep it," mildly suggested Teyma, "they have long had it." "Well, to keep it, if you will," continued the chief testily; "will not other tribes say that the old name of the Flatlanders is dead, that the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589349 | war-spirit is gone, that they may come and attack us when they please; for we cannot defend our property, and they will try to make us slaves? What! shall Flatlanders become slaves? no never, never, _never_!" cried Grabantak, furiously, though unconsciously quoting the chorus of a well-known song. "No, _never_," re-ech... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589350 | steps between fighting for a useless rock, and being made slaves." "Well then," cried Grabantak, replying to the first part of his lieutenant's remark and ignoring the second, "we must fight to prove our courage. As to losing many of our best men, of course we cannot help that. Then we must kill, burn, and destroy righ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589351 | Poloeland, to prove our power. After that we will show the greatness of our forbearance by letting our enemies alone. Perhaps we may even condescend to ask them to become our friends. What an honour that would be to them, and, doubtless, what a joy!" "Grabantak," said Teyma with a look and tone of solemnity which invar... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589352 | and made him uncomfortable, "you have lived a good many years now. Did you ever make a friend of an enemy by beating him?" "Of course not," said the other with a gesture of impatience. "Grabantak, you had a father." "Yes," said the chief, with solemn respect. "And _he_ had a father." "True." "And he, too, had a father.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589353 | I suppose he had." "Of course he had. All fathers have had fathers back and back into the mysterious Longtime. If not, where did our tales and stories come from? There are many stories told by fathers to sons, and fathers to sons, till they have all come down to us, and what do these stories teach us? that all | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589354 | fighting is bad, except what _must_ be. Even what _must_ be is bad--only, it is better than some things that are worse. Loss of life, loss of country, loss of freedom to hunt, and eat, and sleep, are worse. We must fight for these--but to fight for a bare rock, for a name, for a coast, for a fancy, it | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589355 | is foolish! and when you have got your rock, and recovered your name, and pleased your fancy, do the brave young men that are dead return? Do the maidens that weep rejoice? Do the mothers that pine revive? Of what use have been all the wars of Flatland from Longtime till now? Can you restore the mountain-heaps of kayak... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589356 | oomiaks, and spears, and walrus-lines, from the smoke into which they vanished! Can you recall the great rivers of whale-oil from the sea into which they have been poured, or the blood of men from the earth that swallowed it? Is not war _always_ loss, loss, loss, and _never_ gain? Why cannot we live at peace with those... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589357 | and fight only with those who insist on war." "Go, Teyma, stop your mouth with blubber," said the chief, rising; "I am weary of you. I tell you, Amalatok shall die; Puiroe shall be mine. The tribes shall all learn to tremble at the name of Grabantak and to respect the men of Flatland." "Ay, and to love them too, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589358 | I suppose," added Teyma with a facetious sneer. "Boo!" replied his chief, bringing the conversation to an abrupt close by walking away. In accordance with their chief's resolve, the Grabantak band embarked in their kayaks next morning, the gale having moderated, and with the intention of obtaining reinforcements, paddl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589359 | On the voyage Leo confined himself strictly to the oars and paddles, being unwilling to let the Eskimos into the secret of the kite, until he could do so with effect, either in the way of adding to their respect for the white man and his contrivances, or of making his escape. Now, as has been said or hinted, although | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589360 | Grabantak's son, Koyatuk, was a stout and tall man, he was not gifted with much brain. He possessed even less of that substance than his father, whose energy and power of muscle, coupled with indomitable obstinacy, enabled him to hold the reins of government which were his by hereditary right. Besides being a fearless ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589361 | good leader in war. But Koyatuk had neither the energy of his father, nor his determination. He was vacillating and lazy, as well as selfish. Hence he was not a favourite, and when, after landing at Flatland, he endeavoured to renew his claim to Oblooria, neither his father nor the people encouraged him. The timid one ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589362 | Leo and Anders, who immediately fitted up for her a separate screened-off apartment in the hut which was assigned to them in the native village. Even Koyatuk's mother did not befriend her son on this occasion. Merkut had her own reasons for proving faithless to her spoilt boy, whom on most occasions she favoured. Knowi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589363 | wife of Grabantak had made up her mind that Koyatuk should wed a young intelligent, and what you may call lumpy girl named Chukkee, who was very fond of the huge and lazy youth, and who, being herself good-natured and unselfish, would be sure to make him a good wife. After one or two unavailing efforts, therefore, and ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589364 | sighs, the heir-apparent to the throne of Flatland ceased to trouble Oblooria, and devoted himself to his three favourite occupations--hunting, eating, and repose. "Misser Lo," whispered Anders, on the first night after landing, as they busied themselves with the partition above referred to, "we 'scapes from dis here l... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589365 | vint, den up kite, launch boat, an'--hup! away." "True, lad, but I don't want to escape just yet." "Not want to 'scape?" "No. You see, Anders, we are now on very friendly terms with this tribe, and it seems to me that if we were to remain for a time and increase our influence, we might induce Grabantak to give | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589366 | up this war on which he seems to have set his heart. I have great hopes of doing something with Teyma. He is evidently a reasonable fellow, and has much power, I think, with the chief--indeed with every one. Pity that he is not to succeed Grabantak instead of that stupid Koyatuk. Besides, now I am here I must explore | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589367 | the land if possible. It is a pity no doubt to leave our friends, even for a short time, in ignorance of our fate, but we can't help that at present. Light the lamp, Anders, and let's see what we're about." The summer was by that time so far advanced that the sun descended a considerable way below the horizon | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589368 | each night, leaving behind a sweet mellow twilight which deepened almost into darkness inside the Eskimo huts. These latter, like those already described, were made of stone, and the small openings that served for windows did not let in much light at any time. The hut which had been assigned by Grabantak to his prisone... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589369 | now seemed to regard them--was a large roomy one, made chiefly of clay. It stood on a little mound a hundred yards or so apart from the main village of Flatland, and was probably one of the chief's private palaces. It was oval in form--like a huge oven-- about fifteen feet in diameter, and six feet in height. One-half ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589370 | the floor was raised about eight inches, thus forming the "breck," which served for a lounge by day, and a couch by night. Its furniture of skins, cooking-lamp, etcetera, was much the same as that of the Eskimo huts already described, except that the low tunnel-shaped entrance was very long--about twelve feet. Light wa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589371 | window, with several rents in it, as well as by various accidental holes in the roof. When the lamp was lighted, and skins were spread on the breck, and Leo, having finished the partition, was busy making entries in a note-book, and Anders was amusing himself with a tobacco pipe--foolish man! and Oblooria was devoting ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589372 | which various charming sounds and delicious smells emanated--as well as smoke--this northern residence looked far more cheerful and snug than the luxurious dwellers in civilised lands will readily believe. "I wonder," said Leo, looking up from his book after a prolonged silence, "I wonder what strange sounds are those ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589373 | from his lips in sleepy contentment, and glancing upwards. When he and Leo looked at the roof of the hut it shook slightly, as if something had fallen on it. "Strange," muttered Leo, reverting to his notebook, "it did not look like wind when the sun went down. It must be going to blow hard." After a few minutes of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589374 | silence Leo again looked up inquiringly. "Dere's anoder squall," said Anders. "More like a sneeze than a squall. Listen; that is a queer pattering sound." They listened, but all was silent. After a minute or so they resumed their occupations. The sounds were, however, no mystery to those who were in the secret of them.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589375 | his countrymen, Grabantak had placed a sentinel over his guests' hut, with orders to let no one go near it. The sentinel entered on his vigil with that stern sense of duty-unto-death that is supposed to animate all sentinels. At first the inhabitants of Flatland kept conscientiously away from the forbidden spot, but as... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589376 | the light, some of them could not resist drawing near occasionally and listening with distended eyes, ears, and nostrils, as if they expected to drink in foreign sounds at all these orifices. The sentinel grasped his spear, steeled his heart, and stood in front of the door with a look of grand solemnity worthy of the h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589377 | the sentinel's own curiosity was roused by the eager looks of those--chiefly big boys--who drew ever nearer and nearer. Occasional sounds from the hut quickened his curiosity, and the strange smell of tobacco-smoke at last rendered it unbearable. Slowly, sternly, as if it were part of his duty to spy, he moved to the t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589378 | was fascinated at once of course. After gazing for five minutes in rapt admiration, he chanced to withdraw his face for a moment, and then found that nine Eskimos had discovered nine holes or crevices in the hut walls, against which their fat faces were thrust, while at least half-a-dozen others were vainly searching f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589379 | hiss caused the rapt nine to look up. A terrible frown and a shake of the official spear caused them to retire down the slope that led to the hut. This was the unaccountable "squall" that had first perplexed Leo and his comrade. But like tigers who have tasted blood, the Flatlanders could not now be restrained. "Go!" s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589380 | sentinel in a low stern voice to the retreating trespassers, whom he followed to the foot of the slope. "If you come up again I will tell Grabantak, who will have you all speared and turned into whale-buoys." The boys did not appear to care much for the threat. They were obviously buoyed up with hope. "Oh! do, _do_ let | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589381 | us peep! just once!" entreated several of them in subdued but eager tones. The sentinel shook his obdurate head and raised his deadly spear. "We will make no noise," said a youth who was the exact counterpart of Benjamin Vane in all respects except colour and costume--the first being dirty yellow and the latter hairy. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589382 | ever. "The Kablunets," said another of the band, entreatingly, "shall hear nothing louder than the falling of a snow-flake or a bit of eider-down." Still the sentinel was inexorable. The Eskimos were in despair. Suddenly Benjy's counterpart turned and fled to the village on light and noiseless toe. He returned immediat... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589383 | his hand. It was a wise stroke of policy. The sentinel had been placed there without any reference to the fact that he had not had his supper. He was ravenously hungry. Can you blame him for lowering his spear, untying his eyebrows, and smiling blandly as the held out his hand? "Just one peep, and it is yours," said | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589384 | the counterpart, holding the morsel behind him. "My life is in danger if I do," remonstrated the sentinel. "Your supper is in danger if you don't," said the counterpart. It was too much for him. The sentinel accepted the bribe, and, devouring it, returned with the bribers on tiptoe to the hut, where they gazed in silen... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589385 | hearts' content. "Well, that beats everything," said Leo, laying down his book and pencil, "but I never did hear a gale that panted and snorted as this one does. I'll go out and have a look at it." He rose and crawled on hands and knees through the tunnel. The spies rolled off the hut with considerable noise and fled, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589386 | while the sentinel resuming his spear and position, tried to look innocent. While he was explaining to Anders why he was there, Grabantak himself walked up, accompanied by his lieutenant. They were hospitably entertained, and as Oblooria had by that time prepared a savoury mess, such as she knew the white men loved, th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589387 | with their captive-guests. Leo had not with him the great cooking machine with which his uncle had effected so much in Poloeland, but he had a tin kettle and a couple of pannikins, with some coffee, sugar, and biscuit, which did good service in the way of conciliating, if not surprising, the chief of Flatland. Both he ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589388 | moreover, were deeply interested in Anders's proceedings with the pipe. At first they supposed he was conducting some religious ceremony, and looked on with appropriate solemnity, but, on being informed of the mistake, Grabantak smiled graciously and requested a "whiff." He received one, and immediately made such a hid... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589389 | chief hit him over the head with his empty pannikin, but, after frowning fiercely, joined in the laugh. Leo then began to question the chief about the land over which he ruled, and was told that it was a group of islands of various sizes, like the group which belonged to Amalatok, but with more islands in it; that most | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589390 | of these islands were flat, and covered with lakes, large and small, in which were to be found many animals, and birds as numerous almost as the stars. "Ask him from what direction these birds come," said Leo, pulling out his pocket-compass and expecting that Grabantak would point to the south; but the chief pointed to... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589391 | the south, then to the east, and then to the west! "What does he mean? I don't understand him," said Leo. "The birds come from _everywhere_--from all round. They come here to breed," said the chief, spreading his hands round him and pointing in all directions. "Then, when the young are strong and the cold season begins... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589392 | wing and go away there--to _every_ place--all round." "Anders," said Leo impressively, "do you know I think we have actually arrived at the immediate region of the North Pole! What the chief says almost settles the question. This, you see, must be the warmest place in the Polar regions; the central spot around the Pole... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589393 | from the south. If voyagers, crossing the Arctic circle at _all_ parts, have observed these birds ever flying _north_, it follows that they _must_ have some meeting-place near the Pole, where they breed and from which they depart in autumn. Well, according to Grabantak, _this_ is the meeting-place, therefore _this_ mus... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589394 | here!" Leo had been more than half soliloquising; he now looked up and burst into a laugh, for the interpreter was gazing at him with an expression of blank stupidity. "You's kite right, Missr Lo," he said at last, with a meek smile, "kite right, no doubt; only you's too clibber for _me_." "Well, Anders, I'll try not t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589395 | quite so clibber in future; but ask Grabantak if he will go with me on an expedition among these islands. I want very much to examine them all." "Examine them all!" repeated the chief with emphasis when this was translated; "tell the young Kablunet with the hard fist, that the sunless time would come and go, and the su... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589396 | come again, before he could go over half my lands. Besides, I have more important work to do. I must first go to Poloeland, to kill and burn and destroy. After that I will travel with Hardfist." Hardfist, as the chief had styled him in reference to his late pugilistic achievements, felt strongly inclined to use his fis... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589397 | skull when he mentioned his sanguinary intentions, but recalling Alf's oft-quoted words, "Discretion is the better part of valour," he restrained himself. He also entered into a long argument with the savage, in the hope of converting him to peace principles, but of course in vain. The chief was thoroughly bent on dest... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589398 | almost desperate anxiety, Leo sought to turn him from his purpose by telling him about God the Father, and the Prince of Peace, and, pulling out his Bible, began to read and make Anders interpret such passages of the Word as bore most directly on his subject. While acting in this, to him, novel capacity as a teacher of... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012589399 | Word, Leo more than once lifted up his heart in brief silent prayer that the Spirit might open the heart of the savage to receive the truth. The chief and his lieutenant listened with interest and surprise. Being savages, they also listened with profound respect to the young enthusiast, but Grabantak would not give up ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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