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Page 15
"Load blubber--one tin cup--box black powder."
Arnaluk shook his head. Olafaksoah cuffed him with his fist. The
timid native did not have the courage to resent this brutality.
"What d'ye want, you greedy savage--two boxes matches!"
"Two boxes matches--one box shooting fire--one tin cup."
Still he could not be persuaded to part with the precious meat.
Olafaksoah swore and shook his fists. Fearful of offending the
stranger, the women joined in and shrieked at Arnaluk, urging him to
consent.
Unprotesting, he let them draw away his sled of blubber and tusks. He
had a tin cup, matches and cartridges--which he could not eat.
"Rotten lot," Olafaksoah said to Papik, surveying his single catch of a
young walrus. Papik winced at this reproach.
"Two boxes fire powder," said Olafaksoah. Papik refused. Olafaksoah
browbeat him in a high voice. Finally he kicked him. "One case
needles." He called Papik's mother and chucked her under the chin.
She smiled at him, awed, flattered, half afraid. Papik parted with his
load for a box of ammunition and a few needles. Meanwhile the
bartering went on for the hoarded wealth of the tribe. Eager to
precede one another, 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 wife. Another gave several exquisite fox skins
for a plug of tobacco. When they demanded more biscuits, tobacco or
matches than were offered, Olafaksoah bullied them with threats. Yet
they hung about him, eager for the almost worthless barter, for the
time being valuing a box of crackers and allotments of tea more than
their substantial supply of walrus meat. Finally the leader paused
before Ootah's loaded sledges.
"What'll you take--a gun, fire-powder?"
Ootah shook his head.
Olafaksoah had recourse to his stock-in-trade of oaths, and told his
men to bring a gun, two hatchets, ammunition.
Ootah was still obdurate. The natives' voices arose murmurously, for
they felt it was not well to offend the strangers. During future
seasons they might not come again, as they threatened, with ammunition
and guns. This the natives feared as a calamity.
"Bring some crackers--tea," Olafaksoah paused. Ootah watched Annadoah
nestling near the "white trader." He had forgotten all about the
sledges of meat. He did not hear Olafaksoah. He still continued
shaking his head.
"I'll be liberal with you, son," Olafaksoah indulgently increased his
offer.
Six more boxes of ammunition, more tea and crackers were added to the
pile.
Ootah again mechanically shook his head. Amid all of those about him,
he saw only the face of Annadoah, golden as sunlight and pink as the
lichen blossoms of spring. Through her open _ahttee_, or fur garment,
he saw her breasts as tender as those 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
sound of his harsh, gruff voice. Olafaksoah's brutal masculinity for
the time dominated the shrinking femininity of the girl. Ootah saw
Annadoah beseechingly, almost fawningly, touch the white chief's horny
hand and nestle it close against her cheek.
Olaf, the trader, was oblivious to this.
"Greedy, eh? Well, we need the meat! If we're goin' to stay here to
chance hunting our dogs got to be fed!" More supplies were brought.
Still Ootah did not speak.
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