Among the Esquimaux; or, Adventures under the Arctic Circle
Page 24
CHAPTER XXIII
IN THE CAVERN
That which the astonished visitors looked upon was a pile of wood atone side of the cavern big enough to build a roaring fire that wouldlast for hours. This place must have formed the headquarters of Docakwhen indulging in the occasional hunts that are anything but popularamong the coast natives.
The Esquimau did not carry lucifer matches with him, but, on the otherhand, he was not forced to use the primitive means common amongsavages. He possessed a flint and tinder such as our forefathers usedand are still popular in some parts of the world.
But Rob and Fred did not exhaust their supply of matches in trying toscorch the bear steak on the iceberg, and when everything was ready tostart the blaze they did so with little trouble. The smoke botheredthem at first, but it gradually wound its way through the opening, sothat breathing became quite comfortable.
Docak cooked the tongues with a skill born of long experience. Therewas just the faintest trace of musk, but not enough to interfere withthe vigorous appetites, which could afford to disregard trifles. Themeal proved to be what he had promised--one of the most grateful theyhad ever eaten.
There was a good deal left after the supper was finished, and this waslaid aside for future contingencies, since the experience of theirapproach to this spot taught them to be prepared for an extendeddeprivation of food. Indeed, the native Esquimau sometimes goes fordays, apparently with no craving in that direction, though it must bethere all the same. When he finally secures nourishment, he stuffsprodigiously--so much so indeed that a civilized person would die ofgluttony. He calmly waits, however, until able to hold a little more,when he resumes cramming the food down his throat, keeping it up untilat last he is satisfied. Then he sleeps, hour after hour, and, onwaking, is ready to resume his frightful gormandizing.
By the time the meal was finished the long Arctic night began closingin. Looking through the crevice on the side, and the entrance, theysaw that the day was fast fading. The air was as clear as crystal andvery cold. The boys had no extra garments to bring with them, butDocak, despite his cumbrous suit, carried the fur of a polar bear thathe had shot a couple of years before. This was not only warm, but hadthe advantages over many pelts of being vermin proof.
When traveling over the snow Docak had a way of using this extragarment, like a shawl, so that his arms were free. It was now spreadupon the solid rock, and, though it was not extensive enough to wrapabout the forms of the four, it furnished a couch for all, as they laywith their bodies near together, and it was most welcome indeed.
It might seem that our friends ran an imprudent risk in venturing thisfar from the coast without snow-shoes; for, in the event of a thaw,the work of traveling the thirty miles would tax their endurance tothe utmost. The snow was several feet deep on a level, and was driftedin places as high as a house. Who could make his way through insteadof over this?
But all misgivings on that score were ended by Docak telling hisfriends there would be no thaw for days, weeks, and, perhaps, not formonths. It was more likely to be the other way.
The surface, as I have intimated, was as easily walked upon as thefloor of a house. So long as it remained thus there was no need ofsnow-shoes or anything like artificial help.
The fire made it so cheerful and the warmth was so pleasant that itwas decided to keep it going for an hour or two, and then let it dieout after they fell asleep. There would be considerable fuel left formorning, and the blaze was not really necessary, unless the weathershould take one of those appalling plunges during which a red-hotstove seems to lose all power.
As was Docak's custom, when staying in an inclosed place like this, hesauntered out doors before lying down to slumber, in order to take alook at the weather and the surroundings. The life of the Esquimauxmakes them wonderfully skillful readers of impending changes oftemperature. Signs which are invisible to others are as intelligibleto them as the pages of a printed book to us.
The native remained absent a considerable while, until his friendsbegan speculating as to the cause.
"Maybe he has caught sight of another of those musk oxen, and wants tobring him down," suggested Rob.
"There is no call to do that when so many of them lie on the frozenground, where they will keep for months unless the wolves find them."
"They'll be pretty certain to do that," continued Rob; "but then hemay have caught sight of a bull, and both may want to try a race bystarting in opposite directions and seeing which can travel firstaround the world."
"That would be a sight worth seeing," Fred hastened to say, "unless hefell down and bawled for some one to come to his help, after firinghis gun and missing the game by about a rod."
Jack Cosgrove looked wonderingly at his young friends, puzzled to knowwhat this curious talk meant. To him there was no sense in it. Rob andFred thought they had ventured as far upon forbidden ground as wasprudent, so they veered off.
While they were talking Docak reappeared. His feet were heard on thecrust of the snow for several seconds before he was visible, for therewas no call to guard against noise.
As he straightened up in the cavern he stood a moment withoutspeaking. Then, stepping to the wood, he threw a number of sticks onthe blaze, causing an illumination that made the interior as light asday.
Jack was better acquainted with the native's moods than the boys couldbe expected to be, and the first sight of the honest fellow'scountenance by the added light told him he was troubled oversomething. Evidently he had made some unpleasant discovery.
"He'll let me know what it is," concluded the sailor, deeming it bestnot to question him; "I can't imagine what would make him feel souneasy, but he's got something on his mind--that's sartin."
Docak was on the point of speaking more than once, but some impulseled him to close his lips at the moment the all-important matter wasabout to become known. He probably would have kept it to himselfaltogether had not a question of Rob given him an opportunity tooinviting to be resisted.
"Which course will we take to-morrow, Docak?"
"Dat way--we trabel fast as can, too."
The astonishment of the three may be understood when they saw himpoint directly toward his own home--that is, in the direction of theseacoast, and over the course they had just completed.
Their purpose when they set out was to penetrate at least double thedistance in the interior, and now he declared for a withdrawal.
Not only that, but the manner of the native proved that he consideredthe crisis imminent, and that no time was to be lost in carrying outhis unexpected decision.
Jack knew him so well that he was right in deciding that his hesitancyof manner was caused by his doubt whether he should insist upon hisfriends starting at once, or allow them to defer it until morning.
"What's the trouble, Docak?" asked the sailor, now that the subjectwas broached; "I never saw you look so scared--"
At that moment the dismal cry of a wolf reached their ears, quicklyfollowed by others. The gaunt creatures that seem born ravenouslyhungry, and always remain so, had scented the rich feast that awaitedthem on the plateau, and were hurrying thither from all directions.Soon nothing would be left but the bones of the game brought down bythe rifles of the hunters.
Rob and Fred naturally concluded the moment these sounds wereidentified that it was because of them the native was frightened, hehaving discovered them before the rest; but Jack knew it was from someother reason. He saw nothing alarming in the approach of a pack ofwild animals. The four were well armed, they had a fire, were in acavern, and could stand off all the wolves in Greenland for a time atleast.
"No, it isn't that," muttered the sailor; "but if he doesn't choose totell I sha'n't coax him."