"Yes; it would be a rather hard job for them alone," said Wade.
Shug-la-wina came peeping into the tent with an inquiring look.
"Oomiak-sook!" Kit said, pointing off to the sea.
He yeh-yehed, and went away.
"We must make it up to these poor people all we can," said Kit.
"We'll make them such a present as they never saw before!" Raed exclaimed.
It was already growing light. We pulled down our tent to get out the oomiak-mast; and mustering the men, all of them, got the oomiak on the mast-pole and the oars, as before, and carried it back to the shore. There was no resistance now. They were all yeh-yeh-ing and heh-heh-ing. This took about an hour. We then carried our own boat down in the same way. The whole population followed us. By this time it was broad daylight. The storm had slackened to a few straggling flakes. There lay "The Curlew," stern to the shore, headed to the wind, off five or six hundred yards. We could not resist the temptation of jumping into the boat and pulling out to her instantly. How beautiful she looked to us! Why, I do believe we could have imitated poor little Wutchee and Wunchee, standing back there on the snowy ledges, and licked the schooner all over! We came up under the side. Such a cheer! Capt. Mazard's honest, brave face glowing with pleasure, and all the rest of the crew hearty with rough affection! 'Twas a sight to do a fellow's eyes good.
"Boys, this is hunky!"
"Well, ain't it, captain?"
"You're all there, aren't ye? Well, how do you do?" helping us over the rail. "You don't look as if you had starved."