The Giant of the North: Pokings Round the Pole

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  LEO VISITS FLATLAND AND SEES AS WELL AS HEARS MUCH TO INTEREST HIMTHERE.

  The result of Grabantak's meditation was that, considering the natureand wonderful weapons of the men by whom Amalatok had been reinforced,he thought it advisable to return to his own land, which was not fardistant, for the purpose of adding to the force with which he meant tosubjugate the men of Poloe.

  "We are unconquerable," he said, while conversing on the situation withTeyma, his first lieutenant, or prime minister; "everybody knows that weare invincible. It is well-known that neither white men, nor yellowmen,--no, nor black men, nor blue men,--can overcome the Flatlanders.We must keep up our name. It will not do to let the ancient belief diedown, that one Flatlander is equal to three men of Poloe, or any otherland."

  "The Poloe men laugh in their boots when they hear us boast in thisway," said Teyma gently.

  We draw attention to the curious resemblance in this phrase to our morecivilised "laughing in the sleeve," while we point out that the primeminister, although of necessity a man of war, was by nature a man ofpeace. Indeed his name, Teyma, which signifies peace, had been givenhim because of his pacific tendencies.

  "What! would you not have me defend the Flatland name?" demandedGrabantak, fiercely.

  "No, I would have you defend only the Flatland property," replied theblunt minister.

  "And is not Puiroe my property?" growled Grabantak, referring to thebarren rock which was the cause of war.

  "So is _that_ your property," said Teyma, picking up a stone, "and yet Itreat it thus!" (He tossed it contemptuously into the sea.) "Is thatworth Flatlander blood? would you kill me for _that_? shall Eskimo wivesand mothers weep, and children mourn and starve for a useless rock inthe sea."

  "You always thwart me, Teyma," said Grabantak, trying to suppress aburst of wrath, which he was well aware his fearless minister did notmind in the least. "It is true this island is not worth the shake of apuffin'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 notother tribes say that the old name of the Flatlanders is dead, that thewar-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_!" criedGrabantak, furiously, though unconsciously quoting the chorus of awell-known song.

  "No, _never_," re-echoed Teyma with an emphatic nod, "yet there are manysteps between fighting for a useless rock, and being made slaves."

  "Well then," cried Grabantak, replying to the first part of hislieutenant's remark and ignoring the second, "we must fight to prove ourcourage. As to losing many of our best men, of course we cannot helpthat. Then we must kill, burn, and destroy right and left in Poloeland,to prove our power. After that we will show the greatness of ourforbearance by letting our enemies alone. Perhaps we may evencondescend to ask them to become our friends. What an honour that wouldbe to them, and, doubtless, what a joy!"

  "Grabantak," said Teyma with a look and tone of solemnity whichinvariably overawed his chief, and made him uncomfortable, "you havelived a good many years now. Did you ever make a friend of an enemy bybeating 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."

  "Well, I suppose he had."

  "Of course he had. All fathers have had fathers back and back into themysterious 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 fighting is bad, except what _must_ be. Even what _must_ be isbad--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, fora coast, for a fancy, it is foolish! and when you have got your rock,and recovered your name, and pleased your fancy, do the brave young menthat are dead return? Do the maidens that weep rejoice? Do the mothersthat pine revive? Of what use have been all the wars of Flatland fromLongtime till now? Can you restore the mountain-heaps of kayaks, andoomiaks, and spears, and walrus-lines, from the smoke into which theyvanished! Can you recall the great rivers of whale-oil from the seainto which they have been poured, or the blood of men from the earththat swallowed it? Is not war _always_ loss, loss, loss, and _never_gain? Why cannot we live at peace with those who will, and fight onlywith those who insist on war."

  "Go, Teyma, stop your mouth with blubber," said the chief, rising; "I amweary 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 torespect the men of Flatland."

  "Ay, and to love them too, I suppose," added Teyma with a facetioussneer.

  "Boo!" replied his chief, bringing the conversation to an abrupt closeby walking away.

  In accordance with their chief's resolve, the Grabantak band embarked intheir kayaks next morning, the gale having moderated, and with theintention of obtaining reinforcements, paddled back to Flatland, whichthey reached in a couple of days.

  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 hecould do so with effect, either in the way of adding to their respectfor the white man and his contrivances, or of making his escape.

  Now, as has been said or hinted, although Grabantak's son, Koyatuk, wasa stout and tall man, he was not gifted with much brain. He possessedeven less of that substance than his father, whose energy and power ofmuscle, coupled with indomitable obstinacy, enabled him to hold thereins of government which were his by hereditary right. Besides being afearless man, Grabantak was respected as a good leader in war. ButKoyatuk had neither the energy of his father, nor his determination. Hewas vacillating and lazy, as well as selfish. Hence he was not afavourite, and when, after landing at Flatland, he endeavoured to renewhis claim to Oblooria, neither his father nor the people encouraged him.The timid one was therefore left with Leo and Anders, who immediatelyfitted up for her a separate screened-off apartment in the hut which wasassigned to them in the native village.

  Even Koyatuk's mother did not befriend her son on this occasion. Merkuthad her own reasons for proving faithless to her spoilt boy, whom onmost occasions she favoured. Knowing his character well, the sturdywife of Grabantak had made up her mind that Koyatuk should wed a youngintelligent, and what you may call lumpy girl named Chukkee, who wasvery fond of the huge and lazy youth, and who, being herselfgood-natured and unselfish, would be sure to make him a good wife.

  After one or two unavailing efforts, therefore, and a few sighs, theheir-apparent to the throne of Flatland ceased to trouble Oblooria, anddevoted himself to his three favourite occupations--hunting, eating, andrepose.

  "Misser Lo," whispered Anders, on the first night after landing, as theybusied themselves with the partition above referred to, "we 'scapes fromdis here land very easy."

  "How, Anders?"

  "W'y, you's on'y got wait for nort' 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 thistribe, and it seems to me that if we were to remain for a time andincrease our influence, we might induce Grabantak to give up this war onwhich he seems to have set his heart. I have great hopes of doingsomething with Teyma. He is evidently a reasonable fellow, and has muchpower, I think, with the chief--indeed with every one. Pity that he isnot to succeed Grabantak instead of that stupid Koyatuk. Besides, now Iam h
ere I must explore the land if possible. It is a pity no doubt toleave our friends, even for a short time, in ignorance of our fate, butwe can't help that at present. Light the lamp, Anders, and let's seewhat we're about."

  The summer was by that time so far advanced that the sun descended aconsiderable way below the horizon each night, leaving behind a sweetmellow twilight which deepened almost into darkness inside the Eskimohuts. These latter, like those already described, were made of stone,and the small openings that served for windows did not let in much lightat any time.

  The hut which had been assigned by Grabantak to his prisoners--orvisitors, for as such he now seemed to regard them--was a large roomyone, made chiefly of clay. It stood on a little mound a hundred yardsor so apart from the main village of Flatland, and was probably one ofthe 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 of thefloor was raised about eight inches, thus forming the "breck," whichserved for a lounge by day, and a couch by night. Its furniture ofskins, cooking-lamp, etcetera, was much the same as that of the Eskimohuts already described, except that the low tunnel-shaped entrance wasvery long--about twelve feet. Light was admitted by a parchment-coveredhole or window, with several rents in it, as well as by variousaccidental 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! andOblooria was devoting herself to the lamp, from which various charmingsounds and delicious smells emanated--as well as smoke--this northernresidence looked far more cheerful and snug than the luxurious dwellersin civilised lands will readily believe.

  "I wonder," said Leo, looking up from his book after a prolongedsilence, "I wonder what strange sounds are those I hear."

  "P'r'aps it's de vint," said Anders, puffing a cloud from his lips insleepy contentment, and glancing upwards.

  When he and Leo looked at the roof of the hut it shook slightly, as ifsomething had fallen on it.

  "Strange," muttered Leo, reverting to his notebook, "it did not looklike wind when the sun went down. It must be going to blow hard."

  After a few minutes of silence Leo again looked up inquiringly.

  "Dere's anoder squall," said Anders.

  "More like a sneeze than a squall. Listen; that is a queer patteringsound."

  They listened, but all was silent. After a minute or so they resumedtheir occupations.

  The sounds were, however, no mystery to those who were in the secret ofthem. Knowing the extreme curiosity of his countrymen, Grabantak hadplaced a sentinel over his guests' hut, with orders to let no one gonear it. The sentinel entered on his vigil with that stern sense ofduty-unto-death that is supposed to animate all sentinels. At first theinhabitants of Flatland kept conscientiously away from the forbiddenspot, but as the shades of night toned down the light, some of themcould not resist drawing near occasionally and listening with distendedeyes, ears, and nostrils, as if they expected to drink in foreign soundsat all these orifices. The sentinel grasped his spear, steeled hisheart, and stood in front of the door with a look of grand solemnityworthy of the horse-guards.

  At last, however, the sentinel's own curiosity was roused by the eagerlooks of those--chiefly big boys--who drew ever nearer and nearer.Occasional sounds from the hut quickened his curiosity, and the strangesmell of tobacco-smoke at last rendered it unbearable.

  Slowly, sternly, as if it were part of his duty to spy, he moved to thetorn window and peeped in. He was fascinated at once of course. Aftergazing for five minutes in rapt admiration, he chanced to withdraw hisface for a moment, and then found that nine Eskimos had discovered nineholes or crevices in the hut walls, against which their fat faces werethrust, while at least half-a-dozen others were vainly searching forother peep-holes.

  A scarcely audible hiss caused the rapt nine to look up. A terriblefrown and a shake of the official spear caused them to retire down theslope that led to the hut.

  This was the unaccountable "squall" that had first perplexed Leo and hiscomrade.

  But like tigers who have tasted blood, the Flatlanders could not now berestrained.

  "Go!" said the sentinel in a low stern voice to the retreatingtrespassers, whom he followed to the foot of the slope. "If you come upagain I will tell Grabantak, who will have you all speared and turnedinto whale-buoys."

  The boys did not appear to care much for the threat. They wereobviously buoyed up with hope.

  "Oh! do, _do_ let us peep! just once!" entreated several of them insubdued 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 ofBenjamin Vane in all respects except colour and costume--the first beingdirty yellow and the latter hairy.

  The sentinel frowned worse than ever.

  "The Kablunets," said another of the band, entreatingly, "shall hearnothing 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 andnoiseless toe. He returned immediately with a rich, odorous, steamingpiece of blubber in his hand. It was a wise stroke of policy. Thesentinel had been placed there without any reference to the fact that hehad not had his supper. He was ravenously hungry. Can you blame himfor lowering his spear, untying his eyebrows, and smiling blandly as theheld out his hand?

  "Just one peep, and it is yours," said the counterpart, holding themorsel 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 theygazed in silent wonder to their hearts' content.

  "Well, that beats everything," said Leo, laying down his book andpencil, "but I never did hear a gale that panted and snorted as this onedoes. I'll go out and have a look at it."

  He rose and crawled on hands and knees through the tunnel. The spiesrolled off the hut with considerable noise and fled, while the sentinelresuming his spear and position, tried to look innocent.

  While he was explaining to Anders why he was there, Grabantak himselfwalked up, accompanied by his lieutenant. They were hospitablyentertained, and as Oblooria had by that time prepared a savoury mess,such as she knew the white men loved, the chief and Teyma condescendedto sup with their captive-guests.

  Leo had not with him the great cooking machine with which his uncle hadeffected so much in Poloeland, but he had a tin kettle and a couple ofpannikins, with some coffee, sugar, and biscuit, which did good servicein the way of conciliating, if not surprising, the chief of Flatland.

  Both he and his lieutenant, moreover, were deeply interested in Anders'sproceedings with the pipe.

  At first they supposed he was conducting some religious ceremony, andlooked on with appropriate solemnity, but, on being informed of themistake, Grabantak smiled graciously and requested a "whiff." Hereceived one, and immediately made such a hideous face that Anders couldnot restrain a short laugh, whereupon the chief hit him over the headwith his empty pannikin, but, after frowning fiercely, joined in thelaugh.

  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 thegroup which belonged to Amalatok, but with more islands in it; that mostof these islands were flat, and covered with lakes, large and small, inwhich were to be found many animals, and birds as numerous almost as thestars.

  "Ask him from what direction these birds come," said Leo, pulling outhis pocket-compass and expecting that Grabantak would point to thesouth; but the chief pointed to the north, then to the south, then tothe 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 tobreed," said the chief, spreading his hands round him and pointing inall directions. "Then, when the young are strong and the cold seasonbegins, they spread the wing and go away there--to _every_ place--allround."

  "Anders," said Leo impressively, "do you know I think we have actuallyarrived at the immediate region of the North Pole! What the chief saysalmost settles the question. This, you see, must be the warmest placein the Polar regions; the central spot around the Pole to whichmigratory birds flock from the south. If voyagers, crossing the Arcticcircle at _all_ parts, have observed these birds ever flying _north_, itfollows that they _must_ have some meeting-place near the Pole, wherethey breed and from which they depart in autumn. Well, according toGrabantak, _this_ is the meeting-place, therefore _this_ must be nearthe Pole! How I wish uncle were here!"

  Leo had been more than half soliloquising; he now looked up and burstinto a laugh, for the interpreter was gazing at him with an expressionof blank stupidity.

  "You's kite right, Missr Lo," he said at last, with a meek smile, "kiteright, no doubt; only you's too clibber for _me_."

  "Well, Anders, I'll try not to be quite so clibber in future; but askGrabantak if he will go with me on an expedition among these islands. Iwant very much to examine them all."

  "Examine them all!" repeated the chief with emphasis when this wastranslated; "tell the young Kablunet with the hard fist, that thesunless time would come and go, and the sun-season would come again,before he could go over half my lands. Besides, I have more importantwork 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 latepugilistic achievements, felt strongly inclined to use his fists onGrabantak's skull when he mentioned his sanguinary intentions, butrecalling Alf's oft-quoted words, "Discretion is the better part ofvalour," he restrained himself. He also entered into a long argumentwith the savage, in the hope of converting him to peace principles, butof course in vain. The chief was thoroughly bent on destroying hisenemies.

  Then, in a state of almost desperate anxiety, Leo sought to turn himfrom his purpose by telling him about God the Father, and the Prince ofPeace, and, pulling out his Bible, began to read and make Andersinterpret such passages of the Word as bore most directly on hissubject. While acting in this, to him, novel capacity as a teacher ofGod's Word, Leo more than once lifted up his heart in brief silentprayer that the Spirit might open the heart of the savage to receive thetruth. The chief and his lieutenant listened with interest andsurprise. Being savages, they also listened with profound respect tothe young enthusiast, but Grabantak would not give up his intention. Heexplained, however, that he meant first to go to the largest and mostcentral island of his dominions, to make inquiry there of the Man of theValley what would be the best time to set out for the war.

  "The Man of the Valley!" asked Leo, "who is that?"

  "He is an Eskimo," replied Grabantak, with a sudden air of solemnity inhis manner, "whose first forefather came in the far past longtime, fromnobody knows where; but this first forefather never had any father ormother. He settled among the Eskimos and taught them many things. Hemarried one of their women, and his sons and daughters were many andstrong. Their descendants inhabit the Great Isle of Flatland at thepresent day. They are good and strong; great hunters and warriors. Thefirst forefather lived long, till he became white and blind. His powerand wisdom lay in a little strange thing which he called `buk.' How itmade him strong or wise no one can tell, but so it was. His name wasMakitok. When he died he gave _buk_ to his eldest son. It was wrappedup in a piece of sealskin. The eldest son had much talk with his fatherabout this mystery-thing, and was heard to speak much about theKablunets, but the son would never tell what he said. Neither would heunwrap the mystery-thing, for fear that its power might escape. So hewrapped it up in another piece of sealskin, and gave it to his eldestson, telling him to hand it down from son to son, along with the nameMakitok. So _buk_ has grown to be a large bundle now, and no oneunderstands it, but every one has great reverence for it, and theMakitok now in possession is a great mystery-man, very wise; we alwaysconsult him on important matters."

  Here was food for reflection to Leo during the remainder of that night,and for many hours did his sleepless mind puzzle over the mystery ofMakitok, the Man of the Valley.

  This sleepless condition was, not unpleasantly, prolonged by the soundsof animal life that entered his oven-like dwelling during great part ofthe night. Evidently great numbers of the feathered tribes were movingabout, either because they meant to retire at dissipatedly late, or hadrisen at unreasonably early, hours. Among them he clearly distinguishedthe musical note of the long-tailed duck and the harsh scream of thegreat northern diver, while the profound calmness of the weather enabledhim to hear at intervals the soft blow and the lazy plash of a whitewhale, turning, it might be, on his other side in his water-bed on theArctic Sea.

  Following the whale's example, Leo turned round at last, buried his facein a reindeer pillow, and took refuge in oblivion.