The Eternal Maiden

e men's strange kiss of abomination, aroused in Ootah a sense of violation. . . . He heard Annadoah

t. Behind a ridge of ice they landed, drawing their kayaks after them. With skin lassos, harpoons and floats, the party crouched low and crept toward the prey. Thus t

marnuga!" In the rear, his eyes e

steam rising from their nostrils as they snorted in their slumber. There were a half dozen mother walrus

his harpoon. It rose in the air and roared deafeningly. Ootah struck a second time. T

r churned like a boiling cauldron. In a few minutes Ootah had despatched the beast. Standing erect,

earnest. Attacking enraged walrus in these frail skin boats is probably the most dangerous form of hunting in the

each with one arm upraised ready to strike, and with the other manipulating the paddle. Whenever a whiskered

sea-horse dived into the deep. The foaming water became red with blood, and a few snorting, bellowing heads appeared. All about glared enraged, f

eak described on the surface of the water, as an animal raged toward them, th

and his harpoon ready to strike. A feverish desire to make the greatest kill possessed him. Each

ent wild. He jealously watched Ootah and struck without skill, carried away by chagrin and rage. Eré made valiant attacks for he, too, thought of Annadoah, but the walrus invariably went skimming from under his blows. Papik's harpoon

e water-an enraged bellow followed. He withdrew the handle, free of its line and the atta

ed one of its tusks in the skin covering the boat from gunwale to gunwale. To strike it with the harpoon meant that it w

otah, paddling near. "Li

ead!" echoe

e!" the panic stricken man lud

under one tusk. With a terrific jerk of the body, he gave a backward pull-the walrus rose on the water, the kayak was freed of the tusk and s

imals were insane with brute rage. The other natives, alarmed, paddled to a safe distance and watched the unequal

until only an obdurate bull remained. The battle between man and beast continued, finally Ootah let the harpoon fly with full strength. It struck the animal near the heart. Ootah uncoiled the

ea. He felt it tugging at the line while he unknotted the tangle. While he was doing this Maisanguaq saw the beast rise to the surface of the water not far from Ootah and describe a quick circle about his kayak. Before he realized it, the leather line had wrapped itself about his chest and under his arms. It took but a minute for the anim

e tupilak!" Maisanguaq exultantly murmured, his eyes alig

beneath the sea. Ootah's float finally rose. The natives watched breathlessly for the reappearanc

e floats which marked the

to lose her! We shall take Ootah's catch to Annadoah, but Ootah sleeps.

isanguaq nearly f

ishes first, friend Maisanguaq," a fam

me livid with dismay.

d

the water even had not penetrated his skin garments. A joyous cry arose from the hunters as they saw him runn

and then thy teeth will chatter." Maisanguaq scowled de

thinks thou, too, love

r, I hear thee no spit

-come!" Shaking the w

ow his kayak

rung series of kayaks together with strong leather ropes, three skin boats being attached in a catamaran. Taking up the leather floats one by one

so, with all the better chances of success, he believed he might pursue his suit for the hand of Annadoah. With powerful, steady strokes of their paddles the hun

exuberant joy, Ootah sang his love

e air, breathe to her that Ootah's heart hungers for her as starving ahmingmah desire green grass in winter time. O happy, happy wat

cognition of his superior feat, chimed a chorus of congratulations.

" he

e an omen of evil, pas

the summers passed, she remained carefree and to all suitors shook her head. "Become a great chief," she would say. "Win in the games, bring back the musk oxen, then perhaps Annadoah will listen." Each summer the young men pursued the hunt with the hope of becoming chief hunter among the tribesmen. But for three summers Ootah had won signally above them all. To the remote regions of their world the name of Ootah was whispered with awe. Ootah carried off honors in the muscle-tapping and finger-pulling matches; he out-distanced all rivals in kayak races on the sea; he left everyone behind on perilous journeys to the inland mountains. Of ever

village an unexpected sight g

men of the tribe and st

omen of the tribe beat a savage dance on membrane drums, the chubby-bodi

he season's hunt. Their visit meant an untold distribution of wealth among the tribe, for they brought needles, knives, axes, guns, ammunition, and in return secured a fortune in furs and ivor

t to him. Accustomed only to the chaste touching of a maiden's face, the kiss of the white men he instinctively regarded as unnameably unclean. He resented their freedom with the women. But, children of the heart and brain, pr

ors raising flasks to their lips. Then t

d. The hunters replied. Only Ootah remained silent. Disapproving of

at there?"

," Maisang

otah recognized as having been in the region with some

s broke into the fragments

ugh, red-faced whaler, drank again from his flask and

in-hurry up! Gawd, but

they fell to their task and dressed the animals. Meanwhile sleds were brought from the tents and the masses of steaming meat and blubber were loaded. While the natives were thus busily engaged, the half-drunken Ne

away, damn youh!" He lifted his fist above Ootah. His face purpled, Ootah raised his li

ouh defy me, youh damn

drum beaters ceased, the dancers

. He felt a sense of momentary terror. The white men's methods of fighting were unfamiliar to the natives.

Well, I'll show youh, youh

the treasured mass of blubber threw

of dogs, released from their tethering, came wildly dashing shorewar

ct. He saw the Newfoundlander turn and shout to his companions on the shore. Ootah thought of the saying, "Strike thy enemy when his back is turned." He seized a heavy harpoon handle, made of a great narwhal tusk, and swinging it high struck the Newfoundlander a terrific blow

onto his sleds. Attracted by the attack, the other members

nds him right for being so damned fresh." They surveyed Oo

, with maudlin magnanim

ly, and shook his he

hen they left him lying alone, half sodden, and returned to the shore. Some watched the natives working, while others clasped the native maidens in their ar

. He had been rejected repeatedly, but now-with a load of blubber-h

maiden who, breaking from the arms of one of th

thou, Papik?

s teeth are sharp. They will bite thee with pangs of hunger

of the other maidens, surv

s little food, and happy wil

s gone with what shalt

ngne

," Papik said. "And skillful i

Papik, and long fingers

dubiously sh

er bears after a fat summer, and thy body is warm; it giveth heat; Papik w

a man may admire a slimmer beauty during the summer, when the

s long, Papik," she s

others c

hort life!" In anger Papik struck the offending member, a

her he desired to present the greater portion of the riches he had by his prowess secured. Here was meat to serve them during the long winter, and in that region the catch was a priceless fortune. Surely Annadoah could not refuse him now. He had proved hims

d gathered. He turned to them; he felt a strength, a dignity, an assertion he had neve

ood for the long winter; yea, have I not for many moons sought to

! Thou art the strongest hunter of the

e sang. "Did I not speed the arrow as none oth

of the happy dead playing in the aurora-over the earth as the

orus, began beating drums. The white men hilariousl

not lured the caribou from their hidden lair? Have I not enticed the

the calls of the walrus bulls, the femal

land, the birds of the air, and shall I not one

; the dancers hopped and l

ahmingmah and birds unto thee! Thou hast learned the language of nature,

, hoarse, sneeringly ir

san

r, Ootah," and his low

ey danced with the chubby women.

f the land and sea! Have I not observed the customs of the au

eminence the young men freely yielded

were drawn to the immediate entrance of Annadoah's

treasure from the depths of the sea. Strong is the arm and brave is the hear

ceased dancing. The white me

dden ominous silence on the part of his companions. Some distance away the women

," he sof

e hawk

as my shadow! I bring thee riches! Ootah wo

ame the murmurous sound of voices. Ootah hea

ird in the

Ootah heard the low disquieting sound of a

avily as a dead walr

nt parted and Annadoah stepped forth, her head

"Thou art a boy, thy

hou hast the he

tretch of shore seemed to heave and writhe.

the burning sun, was like tanned leather, hard, wrinkled; his expression was as grim as graven stone. His large blue eyes glittered with the coldness of flint. His hair and long curling m

bout?" he growled. His

taggere

softly, supporting himself on

s, scowling. He critically surveyed the l

ast. It's lucky we got here in time, eh, comrades? What'll you take"-

d, "that is his name. Ha-h

h wi

y strides, passed dow

his men,

g the

o their tents and hurriedly brought out their portions of the preciously preserved skins and ivories of the meagre summer hunt. Clamorous, insistent, they presented these to Olafaksoah. They cluste

one tin cup-bo

him with his fist. The timid native did no

ou greedy savage-t

-one box shooting

aksoah swore and shook his fists. Fearful of offending the stranger,

d of blubber and tusks. He had a tin cup, m

, surveying his single catch of a youn

the natives rushed to and fro, bringing armfuls of ivories and furs from their tents. In exchange for stuff of trifling value the white men secured, by their method of threatening bargaining, loads of blue and white fox skins, caribou hides, and walrus and narwhal tusks which the natives had previously preserved. One man parted with five tusks, worth as many hundred dollars, for two gaudy handkerchiefs for his wi

take-a gun,

hook hi

n-trade of oaths, and told his men to

s not well to offend the strangers. During future seasons they might not come again,

stling near the "white trader." He had forgotten all about the sledges

, son," Olafaksoah indulg

ion, more tea and cracker

of eider-feathered birds. The sight of her melted his heart, the streams of spring were loosened within him. Yet, with an agonized pang, he observed her gaze adoringly and eagerly at the tall stranger's hard face; he saw her quiver at the soun

der, was obli

stay here to chance hunting our dogs got to be fed!"

brightened with amused mirth. He saw the despairing, yearni

I've keel-hauled your Romeo stunt, eh? Want the

eard the vulgar gibes of the white men

n evanescent vision of women dancing with reeling traders. He h

on, an instinctive repugnance akin to the horror a native feels for the dead. All the ardent hopes of his life for many moons had centered upon his bringing the results of

his hands and feet were cold. He felt as though someone were strangling him; he felt giddy, suddenly sick

rd Annadoah's voice, swee

tah heard the man's hard voice and Annadoah's repressed murmurs of mingled pain and delight. The day became black about him. He felt that he must

ead the black gu