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meanest shack in the village to live in； and the worst of their
leavings to live on。 What struck me at the time as strange was
that they left us strictly alone。 But Moosu explained it。
〃'Shaman SICK TUMTUM；' he said； meaning the shaman； or medicine
man； was jealous； and had advised the people to have nothing to do
with us。 From the little he'd seen of the whalemen； he'd learned
that mine was a stronger race； and a wiser； so he'd only behaved as
shamans have always behaved the world over。 And before I get done；
you'll see how near right he was。
〃'These people have a law；' said Mosu： 'whoso eats of meat must
hunt。 We be awkward； you and I； O master； in the weapons of this
country； nor can we string bows nor fling spears after the manner
approved。 Wherefore the shaman and Tummasook； who is chief； have
put their heads together； and it has been decreed that we work with
the women and children in dragging in the meat and tending the
wants of the hunters。'
〃'And this is very wrong；' I made to answer； 'for we be better men；
Moosu； than these people who walk in darkness。 Further； we should
rest and grow strong； for the way south is long； and on that trail
the weak cannot prosper。'〃
〃'But we have nothing；' he objected； looking about him at the
rotten timbers of the igloo； the stench of the ancient walrus meat
that had been our supper disgusting his nostrils。 'And on this
fare we cannot thrive。 We have nothing save the bottle of 〃pain…
killer；〃 which will not fill emptiness； so we must bend to the yoke
of the unbeliever and become hewers of wood and drawers of water。
And there be good things in this place； the which we may not have。
Ah； master； never has my nose lied to me； and I have followed it to
secret caches and among the fur…bales of the igloos。 Good
provender did these people extort from the poor whalemen； and this
provender has wandered into few hands。 The woman Ipsukuk； who
dwelleth in the far end of the village next she igloo of the chief；
possesseth much flour and sugar； and even have my eyes told me of
molasses smeared on her face。 And in the igloo of Tummasook； the
chief； there be teahave I not seen the old pig guzzling？ And the
shaman owneth a caddy of 〃Star〃 and two buckets of prime smoking。
And what have we？ Nothing！ Nothing！'
〃But I was stunned by the word he brought of the tobacco； and made
no answer。
〃And Moosu； what of his own desire； broke silence： 'And there be
Tukeliketa； daughter of a big hunter and wealthy man。 A likely
girl。 Indeed； a very nice girl。'
〃I figured hard during the night while Moosu snored； for I could
not bear the thought of the tobacco so near which I could not
smoke。 True； as he had said； we had nothing。 But the way became
clear to me； and in the morning I said to him： 'Go thou cunningly
abroad； after thy fashion； and procure me some sort of bone；
crooked like a goose…neck； and hollow。 Also； walk humbly； but have
eyes awake to the lay of pots and pans and cooking contrivances。
And remember； mine is the white man's wisdom； and do what I have
bid you； with sureness and despatch。'
〃While he was away I placed the whale…oil cooking lamp in the
middle of the igloo； and moved the mangy sleeping furs back that I
might have room。 Then I took apart his gun and put the barrel by
handy； and afterwards braided many wicks from the cotton that the
women gather wild in the summer。 When he came back； it was with
the bone I had commanded； and with news that in the igloo of
Tummasook there was a five…gallon kerosene can and a big copper
kettle。 So I said he had done well and we would tarry through the
day。 And when midnight was near I made harangue to him。
〃'This chief； this Tummasook； hath a copper kettle； likewise a
kerosene can。' I put a rock； smooth and wave…washed； in Moosu's
hand。 'The camp is hushed and the stars are winking。 Go thou；
creep into the chief's igloo softly； and smite him thus upon the
belly； and hard。 And let the meat and good grub of the days to
come put strength into thine arm。 There will be uproar and outcry；
and the village will come hot afoot。 But be thou unafraid。 Veil
thy movements and lose thy form in the obscurity of the night and
the confusion of men。 And when the woman Ipsukuk is anigh thee；
she who smeareth her face with molasses；do thou smite her
likewise； and whosoever else that possesseth flour and cometh to
thy hand。 Then do thou lift thy voice in pain and double up with
clasped hands； and make outcry in token that thou； too； hast felt
the visitation of the night。 And in this way shall we achieve
honour and great possessions； and the caddy of 〃Star〃 and the prime
smoking； and thy Tukeliketa； who is a likely maiden。'
〃When he had departed on this errand； I bided patiently in the
shack； and the tobacco seemed very near。 Then there was a cry of
affright in the night； that became an uproar and assailed the sky。
I seized the 'pain…killer' and ran forth。 There was much noise；
and a wailing among the women； and fear sat heavily on all。
Tummasook and the woman Ipsukuk rolled on the ground in pain； and
with them there were divers others； also Moosu。 I thrust aside
those that cluttered the way of my feet； and put the mouth of the
bottle to Moosu's lips。 And straightway he became well and ceased
his howling。 Whereat there was a great clamour for the bottle from
the others so stricken。 But I made harangue； and ere they tasted
and were made well I had mulcted Tummasook of his copper kettle and
kerosene can； and the woman Ipsukuk of her sugar and molasses； and
the other sick ones of goodly measures of flour。 The shaman
glowered wickedly at the people around my knees； though he poorly
concealed the wonder that lay beneath。 But I held my head high；
and Moosu groaned beneath the loot as he followed my heels to the
shack。
〃There I set to work。 In Tummasook's copper kettle I mixed three
quarts of wheat flour with five of molasses； and to this I added of
water twenty quarts。 Then I placed the kettle near the lamp； that
it might sour in the warmth and grow strong。 Moosu understood； and
said my wisdom passed understanding and was greater than Solomon's；
who he had heard was a wise man of old time。 The kerosene can I
set over the lamp； and to its nose I affixed a snout； and into the
snout the bone that was like a gooseneck。 I sent Moosu without to
pound ice； while I connected the barrel of his gun with the
gooseneck； and midway on the barrel I piled the ice he had pounded。
And at the far end of the gun…barrel； beyond the pan of ice； I
placed a small iron pot。 When the brew was strong enough （and it
was two days ere it could stand on its own legs）； I filled the
kerosene can with it； and lighted the wicks I had braided。
〃Now that all was ready； I spoke to Moosu。 'Go forth；' I said； 'to
the chief men of the village； and give them greeting； and bid them
come into my igloo and sleep the