Red Rooney: The Last of the Crew

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER TEN.

  RED ROONEY BECOMES A SPECTACLE AND THEN A PRESIDENT.

  Late on the evening of the following day the fur-clad hunters arrived attheir village with shouts of rejoicing--hairy and happy--for theybrought with them many a carcass of walrus and seal wherewith toreplenish their wardrobes and larders, and banish hunger and care fromtheir dwellings for a considerable time to come.

  Be not too ready, most refined reader, to condemn those people for theirsomewhat gross and low ideas of enjoyment. Remember that they were "tothe manner born." Consider, also, that "things are not what they seem,"and that the difference between you and savages is, in some veryimportant respects at least, not so great as would at first sightappear. You rejoice in literature, music, fine art, etcetera; but howabout one or two o'clock? Would these afford you much satisfaction atsuch a time?

  "Bah!" you exclaim, "what a question! The animal wants must of coursebe supplied." True, most refined one, but a hunk of bread and a plateof soup would fully suffice for animal needs. Would your refinedpleasures have as keen a relish for you if you had only to look forwardto bread and water between six and nine? Answer, ye sportsmen, howwould you get through your day's work if there were not a gloriousdinner at the end of it? Speak, ye ballroom frequenters, how would youskip, even with the light of brilliant eyes to encourage you, if therewere not what you call a jolly good supper somewhere in the background?Be honest, all of you, and confess--what you tacitly and obviously admitby your actions every day--that our mere animal wants are of vastimportance, and that in our ministering to these the only differencebetween ourselves and the Eskimos is, a somewhat greater variety ofviands, a little less of toil in obtaining them, a little more ofrefinement and cleanliness in the consumption of them, and, perchance, alittle less of appetite.

  We feel impelled thus to claim for our northern brothers someforbearance and a little genuine sympathy, because we have to recordthat their first act on arriving was to fly to the cooking-lamps, andcommence a feast which extended far into the night, and finallyterminated in lethargic repose.

  But this was not the feast to which we have more than once referred. Itwas merely a mild preliminary whet. The hunters were hungry and tiredafter their recent exertions, as might have been expected, and went infor refreshment with a will. They did not, however, forget theKablunet. Eager expectation was on tip-toe, and even hunger wasforgotten for a short time in the desire to see the foreigner; but Okiokhad made up his mind to give them only one glimpse--a sort of moralappetiser--and reserve the full display of his lion until the followingday. Just before arriving at the village, therefore, he called a halt,and explained to the hunters that the Kablunet had been very muchwearied by his recent journey, that he would not permit him to bedisturbed that night; but as he was to dwell with Angut, and was at thattime in his, (Okiok's), hut, they would have an opportunity of seeinghim during his brief passage from the one hut to the other. They were,however, to be very careful not to crowd upon him or question him, andnot to speak at all--in short, only to look!

  This having been settled and agreed to, Okiok pushed on alone inadvance, to prevent Rooney from showing himself too soon.

  Arriving at his town residence, the Eskimo found his guest asleep, asusual, for the poor seaman found that alternate food and repose were thebest means for the recovery of lost vigour.

  Nuna was quietly cooking the seaman's next meal, and Nunaga was mendingone of his garments, when Okiok entered. Both held up a warning fingerwhen he appeared.

  "Where is Tumbler?" he asked softly, looking round.

  "Gone to the hut of Pussimek to play with Pussi," replied the wife; "wecould not keep him quiet, so we--"

  She stopped and looked solemn, for Rooney moved. The talking had rousedhim. Sitting up, he looked gravely first at Nunaga, then at her mother,then at her father, after which he smiled mildly and yawned.

  "So you've got back, Okiok?"

  "Yes, Ridroonee. And all the hunters are coming, with plenty to eat--great plenty!"

  The women's eyes seemed to sparkle at these words, but they saidnothing.

  "That's a good job, old boy," said the seaman, rising. "I think I'll goout and meet them. It will be dark in a short time."

  Here Okiok interposed with an earnest petition that he would not go outto the people that night, explaining that if he were to sit with themduring supper none except the gluttons would be able to eat. The restwould only wonder and stare.

  Of course our seaman was amenable to reason.

  "But," he said, with a humorous glance, "would it not be good for them--especially for the gluttons--to be prevented from eating too much?"

  It was evident from the blank look of his visage that Okiok did notunderstand his guest. The idea of an Eskimo eating too much had neverbefore entered his imagination.

  "How can a man eat too much?" he asked. "Until a man is quite full heis not satisfied. When he is quite full, he wants no more; he can_hold_ no more!"

  "That says a good deal for Eskimo digestion," thought our hero, but ashe knew no native word for digestion, he only laughed and expressed hisreadiness to act as his host wished.

  Just then the noise of cracking whips and yelping dogs was heardoutside.

  "Remain here," said Okiok; "I will come again."

  Not long after the hospitable man's exit all the noise ceased, but theseaman could hear murmuring voices and stealthy footsteps gatheringround the hut. In a few minutes Okiok returned.

  "Angut is now ready," he said, "to receive you. The people will look atyou as you pass, but they will not disturb you."

  "I'm ready to go--though sorry to leave Nuna and Nunaga," said thegallant Rooney, rising.

  The sounds outside and Okiok's words had prepared him for some displayof curiosity, but he was quite taken aback by the sight that met hiseyes on emerging from the tunnel, for there, in absolute silence, withwide expectant eyes and mouths a-gape, stood every man, woman, and childcapable of motion in the Eskimo village!

  They did not stand in a confused group, but in two long lines, with aspace of four or five feet between, thus forming a living lane,extending from the door of Okiok's hut to that of Angut, which stood notfar distant.

  At first our seaman felt an almost irresistible inclination to burstinto a hearty fit of laughter, there seemed something so absurdly solemnin this cumulative stare, but good feeling fortunately checked him; yethe walked with his host along the lane with such a genuine expression ofglee and good-will on his manly face that a softly uttered but universaland emphatic "Huk!" assured him he had made a good first impression.

  When he had entered the abode of Angut a deep sigh of relief escapedfrom the multitude, and they made up for their enforced silence bybreaking into a gush of noisy conversation.

  In his new abode Red Rooney found Angut and old Kannoa, with a blazinglamp and steaming stove-kettle, ready to receive him.

  Few were the words of welcome uttered by Angut, for Eskimos are notaddicted to ceremonial; nevertheless, with the promptitude of one everready to learn, he seized his visitor's hand, and shook it heartily inthe manner which Rooney had taught him--with the slight mistake that heshook it from side to side instead of up and down. At the same time hepointed to a deerskin seat on the raised floor of the hut, where Kannoahad already placed a stone dish of smoking viands.

  The smile which had overspread Rooney's face at the handshaking fadedaway as he laid his hand on the old woman's shoulder, and, stoopingdown, gazed at her with an expression of great tenderness.

  Ah! Rooney, what is there in that old wrinkled visage, so scarred bythe rude assaults of Time, yet with such a strong touch of pathos in theexpression, that causes thy broad bosom to swell and thine eagle eyes tomoisten? Does it remind thee of something very different, yetwonderfully like, in the old country?

  Rooney never distinctly told what it was, but as he had left a much--loved grandmother at home, we may be permitted to guess. From that hourhe took a tender in
terest in that little old woman, and somehow--fromthe expression of his eye, perhaps, or the touch of his strong hand--theold creature seemed to know it, and chuckled, in her own peculiar style,immensely. For old Kannoa had not been overburdened with demonstrativeaffection by the members of her tribe, some of whom had even called heran old witch--a name which had sent a thrill of great terror through hertrembling old heart, for the doom of witches in Eskimo land in thosedays was very terrible.

  Next day, being that of the great feast, the entire village bestirreditself with the first light of morning. Men and women put on their bestgarments, the lamps were kindled, the cooking-kettles put on, andpreparations generally commenced on a grand scale.

  Awaking and stretching himself, with his arms above his head and hismouth open, young Ermigit yawned vociferously.

  "Hah! how strong I feel," he said, "a white bear would be but a baby inmy hands!"

  Going through a similar stretch-yawny process, his brother Norrak saidthat he felt as if he had strength to turn a walrus inside out.

  "Come, boys, turn yourselves out o' the house, and help to cut up themeat. It is not wise to boast in the morning," said Okiok.

  "True, father," returned Norrak quietly, "but if we don't boast in themorning, the men do it so much all the rest of the day that we'll haveno chance."

  "These two will be a match for you in talk before long," remarked Nuna,after her sons had left.

  "Ay, and also in body," returned the father, who was rather proud of hiswell-grown boys. "Huk! what is Tumbler putting on?" he asked inastonishment.

  "The dress that the Kablunet made for him," said Nunaga, with a merrylaugh. "Doesn't it fit well? My only fear is that if Arbalik sees him,he will pierce him with a dart before discovering his mistake."

  "What are you going to begin the day with?" asked Nuna, as she stirredher kettle.

  "With a feed," replied Okiok, glancing slyly at his better half.

  "As if I didn't know that!" returned the wife. "When did Okiok ever doanything before having his morning feed?"

  "When he was starving," retorted the husband promptly.

  This pleasantry was received with a giggle by the women.

  "Well, father, and what comes after the morning feed?" asked Nunaga.

  "Kick-ball," answered Okiok.

  "That is a hard game," said the wife; "it makes even the young men blowlike walruses."

  "Ay, and eat like whales," added the husband.

  "And sleep like seals," remarked Nunaga.

  "And snore like--like Okioks," said Nuna.

  This was a hard hit, being founded on some degree of truth, and setOkiok off in a roar of laughter.

  Becoming suddenly serious, he asked if anything had been seen the daybefore of Ujarak the angekok.

  "Yes, he was in the village in the evening," replied Nuna as shearranged the food on platters. "He and Ippegoo were found in the greencave yesterday by the Kablunet. He was out about the ice-heaps, andcame on them just as Tumbler saved Pussi, and Ippegoo saved them both."

  "Tumbler saved Pussi!" exclaimed the Eskimo, looking first at hisdaughter and then at his wife.

  "Yes; Pussi was tumbling over an ice-cliff," said Nunaga, "and Tumblerheld on to her."

  "By the tail," said Nuna. "So Ippegoo rushed out of the cave, and savedthem both. Ujarak would have been too late. It seems strange to methat his torngak did not warn him in time."

  "Torngaks must be very hard-hearted," said Okiok, with a look and toneof contempt that he did not care to conceal. "But what were they doingin the cave?"

  "Who knows?" replied Nuna. "These two are always plotting. Ridrooneesays they looked as if worried at having been discovered. Come,fall-to. You must be strong to-day if you would play kick-ball well."

  Okiok glanced with a look of care upon his brow at Nunaga, shook hishead gravely once or twice in silence, and began breakfast.

  After the meal was over he sallied forth to join in the sports, whichwere soon to begin. Going first to the hut of Angut, he found the mostof his countrymen and women surrounding Red Rooney, who, having finishedbreakfast, was seated on a sledge conversing with Angut and Simek, andothers of the chief men of the tribe. All the rest were gazing andlistening with greedy eyes and ears.

  "Hi! Okiok," exclaimed the sailor heartily, as he rose and held out hishand, which his former host shook heartily, to the great surprise anddelight of the crowd; "have you joined the gluttons, that you take solong to your morning feed? or have you slept longer than usual, to makeyou a better match for the young men?"

  "No; I was in dreamland," answered the Eskimo, with profound gravity,which his countrymen knew quite well was pretended; "and I met a torngakthere, who told me that the Kablunet needed much sleep as well as food,and must not be roused by me, although other fools might disturb him."

  "How kind of the torngak!" returned Rooney. "But he was not polite, forif he spoke to you of `other' fools, he must have thought of you as_one_ fool. Was he your own torngak?"

  "No; I have no torngak. He was my grandmother's. And he told me thatthe Kablunet was a great angekok, and would have a torngak of his ownsoon. Moreover, he said the games must begin at once--so come along,Ippegoo."

  As he spoke, Okiok caught the slender youth in his powerful arms, laidhim gently on his back, flung some snow in his face, and then ran away.

  Ippegoo, entering at once into the spirit of the fun, arose and gavechase. Excelling in speed as much as his opponent did in strength, theyouth soon overtook him, managed to trip him up, and fell on the top ofhim. He was wildly cheered by the delighted crowd, and tried to punishOkiok; but his efforts were not very successful, for that worthy putboth his mittened hands over his head, and, curling himself up like ahedgehog, lay invulnerable on the ice. Poor Ippegoo had not strengtheither to uncoil, or lift, or even move his foe, and failed to find acrevice in his hairy dress into which he might stuff snow.

  After a few minutes Okiok straightened himself out, jumped up, andscurried off again over the ice, in the direction of the berg of thegreen cave, followed by the entire village.

  It was on a level field of ice close to the berg referred to that thegame of kick-ball was to be played. As Rooney was not yet strong enoughto engage in rough play, a pile of deerskins was placed on a point ofthe berg, slightly higher than the heads of the people, and he wasrequested to mount thereon. There, as on a throne, he presided over thegames, and became the gazing-stock of the tribe during the intervals ofplay. But these intervals were not numerous or prolonged, for most ofthe players were powerful men and boys, so thoroughly inured, by thenature of their lives, to hardship and vigorous action in every possibleposition of body that their muscles were always in the condition ofthose of a well-trained athlete. Even Ippegoo, with all his naturaldefects of mind and body, was by no means contemptible as a player, inthose games, especially, which required agility and powers of endurance.

  First they had a game of hand-ball. It was very simple. The players,who were not selected, but entered the lists at their own pleasure,divided themselves into two parties, which stood a little apart fromeach other. Then an ordinary hand-ball was tossed into the air byOkiok, who led one of the parties. Simek, the mighty hunter, led theother. These men, although approaching middle age, were still at theheight of their strength and activity, and therefore fitting leaders ofthe younger men in this as well as the more serious affairs of life.

  It seemed to Rooney at first as if Okiok and his band were bent onhaving all the fun to themselves, for they began to toss the ball toeach other, without any regard to their opponents. But suddenly Simekand some of his best men made a rush into the midst of the other partywith shouts and amazing bounds. Their object was to catch or wrest theball from Okiok's party, and throw it into the midst of their ownfriends, who would then begin to amuse themselves with it until theiropponents succeeded in wresting it from them.

  Of course this led to scenes of violent action and wild butgood-humoured excitement.
Wrestling and grasping each other wereforbidden in this game, but hustling, tripping up, pushing, and chargingwere allowed, so that the victory did not always incline either to thestrong or the agile. And the difficulty of taking the ball from eitherparty was much greater than one might suppose.

  For full half an hour they played with the utmost energy, insomuch thatthey had to pause for a few seconds to recover breath. Then, with oneaccord, eyes were turned to the president, to see how he took it.

  Delight filled every bosom, for they saw that he was powerfullysympathetic. Indeed Rooney had become so excited as well as interestedin the game, that it was all he could do to restrain himself fromleaping into the midst of the struggling mass and taking a part. Hegreeted the pause and the inquiring gaze with a true British cheer,which additionally charmed as well as surprised the natives. But theirperiod of rest was brief.

  Simek had the ball at the time. He suddenly sent it with a wild "Huk!hoo-o-o!" whirling into the air. The Kablunet was instantly forgotten.The ball came straight down towards a clumsy young man, who extended hishands, claw-like, to receive it. At that moment lppegoo launchedhimself like a thunderbolt into the small of the clumsy youth's back,and sent him sprawling on the snow amid shouts of laughter, while Norrakleaped neatly in, and, catching the ball as it rebounded, sent it upagain on the same side. As it went up straight and came downperpendicularly, there was a concentric rush from all sides. Ujarakchanced to be the buffer who received the shock, and his big body waswell able to sustain it. At the same moment he deftly caught the ball.

  "Ho! his torngak helps him!" shouted Okiok ironically.

  "So he does," cried the wizard, with a scoffing laugh, as he hurled theball aloft; "why does not your torngak help _you_?"

  There was a loud titter at this, but the laugh was turned in favour ofthe other side when Ermigit caught the ball, and sent it over to theOkiok band, while their leader echoed the words, "So he does," and spunthe ball from him with such force that it flew over all heads, andchanced to alight in the lap of Red Rooney. It could not have landedbetter, for that worthy returned it as a point-blank shot which tookfull effect on the unexpectant nose of Ermigit.

  The spirited lad was equal to the occasion. Although water roseunbidden to his eyes, he caught the ball, and with a shout of laughterflung it into the midst of his own side. Thus the play went on fast andfurious, until both sides were gasping. Then with one consent theystopped for a more prolonged rest--for there was no winning or losing atthis game. Their only aim was to see which side could get hold of theball oftenest and keep it longest until all were exhausted.

  But the fun did not cease although the game did, for another and quietergame of strength was instituted. The whole party drew closer roundtheir president, and many of them mounted to points of vantage on theberg, on the sides of which groups of the women and children had alreadytaken up positions.

  It may be remarked here that the snow-covered ice on which the game ofball had been played was like a sheet of white marble, but not so hard,for a heavy stamp with a heel could produce an indentation, though nomark was left by the ordinary pressure of a foot.

  The competitors in the game of strength, or rather, of endurance, wereonly two in number. One was Okiok's eldest son, Norrak, the other theclumsy young man to whom reference has been already made. The former,although the smaller and much the younger of the two, was remarkablystrong for his age.

  These two engaged in a singular style of boxing, in which, strange tosay, the combatants did not face each other, nor did they guard or jumpabout. Stripped to the waist, like real heroes of the ring, they walkedup to each other, and the clumsy youth turned his naked back to Norrak,who doubled his fist, and gave him a sounding thump thereon. ThenNorrak wheeled about and submitted to a blow, which was delivered withsuch good-will that he almost tumbled forward. Again he turned about,and the clumsy one presented his back a second time; and thus theycontinued to pommel each other's backs until they began to pantvehemently. At last Norrak hit his adversary such a whack on the rightshoulder that he absolutely spun him round, and caused him to roll overon his back, amid the plaudits of the assembly.

  The clumsy one rose with a somewhat confused look, but was not allowedto continue the battle. There was no such thing as fighting it out "tothe bitter end" among these hilarious Eskimos. In fact, they wereplaying, not fighting.

  At this point Simek approached Rooney with a smiling countenance, andsaid--

  "There is another game of strength which we sometimes play, and it isthe custom to appoint a man to choose the players. Will the Kablunetact this part to-day?"

  Of course our seaman was quite ready to comply. After a few moments'consideration, he looked round, with a spice of mischief in his heart,but a smile on his countenance, and said--

  "What could be more agreeable than to see the striving of two such goodfriends as Angut my host and Ujarak the angekok?"

  There was a sudden silence and opening of eyes at this, for every onewas well aware that a latent feeling of enmity existed between thesetwo, and their personal strength and courage being equally well-known,no one up to that time had ventured to pit these two against each other.There was no help for it now, however. They were bound in honour, aswell as by the laws of the community, to enter into conflict. Indeedthey showed no inclination to avoid the trial, for Angut at once steppedquietly into the space in front of the president, and began to strip offhis upper garments, while Ujarak leaped forward with something of abounce, and did the same.

  They were splendid specimens of physical manhood, both of them, fortheir well-trained muscles lay bulging on their limbs in a way thatwould have gladdened the sculptors of Hercules to behold. But there wasa vast difference in the aspect of the two men. Both were about equalin height and breadth of shoulder, but Angut was much the slimmer andmore elegant about the waist, as well as considerably lighter than hisadversary. It was in the bearing of Angut, however, that the chiefdifference lay. There was a refinement of physiognomy and a grace ofmotion about him of which the other was utterly destitute; and it wasplain that while the wizard was burning to come off victorious, theother was only willing, in a good-humoured way, to comply with thedemands of custom. There was neither daring, defiance, contempt, norfear in his countenance, which wore its wonted aspect of thoughtfulserenity.

  After this description of the champions, we feel almost unwilling todisappoint the reader by saying that the game or trial was the reverseof martial or noble. Sitting down on the hard snow, they linked theirlegs and arms together in a most indescribable manner, and strove toout-pull each other. There was, indeed, much more of the comic than thegrand in this display, yet, as the struggle went on, a feeling ofbreathless interest arose, for it was not often that two such stalwartframes were seen in what appeared to be a mortal effort. The greatmuscles seemed to leap up from arm and thigh, as each made sudden anddesperate efforts--right and left--sometimes pulling and sometimespushing back, in order to throw each other off guard, while perspirationburst forth and stood in beads upon their foreheads.

  At last Ujarak thrust his opponent back to the utmost extent of his longarms, and, with a sudden pull, raised him almost to his feet.

  There was a gasp of excitement, almost of regret, among the onlookers,for Angut was a decided favourite.

  But the pull was not quite powerful enough. Angut began to sink back tohis old position. He seemed to feel that now or never was his chance.Taking advantage of his descending weight, he added to it a wrench whichseemed to sink his ten fingers into the flesh of Ujarak's shoulders; amomentary check threw the latter off his guard, and next instant Angutnot only pulled him over, but hurled him over his own head, and rolledhim like a porpoise on the snow!

  A mighty shout hailed the victory as the wizard arose and retiredcrestfallen from the scene, while the victor gravely resumed his coatand mingled with the crowd.

  Ujarak chanced, in retiring, to pass close to Okiok. Although naturallyamiable,
that worthy, feeling certain that the wizard was playing adouble part, and was actuated by sinister motives in some of his recentproceedings, could not resist the temptation to whisper--

  "Was your torngak asleep, that he failed to help you just now?"

  The whisper was overheard by some of the women near, who could notsuppress a subdued laugh.

  The wizard, who was not at that moment in a condition to take a jestwith equanimity, turned a fierce look upon Okiok.

  "I challenge you," he said, "to a singing combat."

  "With all my heart," replied Okiok; "when shall it be?"

  "To-morrow," said the wizard sternly.

  "To-morrow let it be," returned Okiok, with the cool indifference of anArctic hunter, to the immense delight of the women and others who heardthe challenge, and anticipated rare sport from the impending duel.