When he undertook to explain to Oumauk the nature of their trip, the boy was much surprised. He could not understand that his eyes were sick, and that was what made the long night. He had thought all the time that the light in the stone lamp and the light in the sun and moon had gone out, while he was all right. This had been his first fancy, and Eiseeyou had let him keep it, thinking it would be easier to bear in that way.
When he was told that the great doctor at Quebec might again make his eyes see, he became happy for the first time in many months. When in addition to that he was told that he was to go on a great ship far away over the ocean, he was much excited.
"I wish I knew one thing before I go," he said when they were helping him dress for the journey. "I had a bad dream last night. I dreamed that Whitie was in trouble. I saw him in my dream just as I used to. He was on an island eating a seal pup. Then a man came upon the island and scared him away. Then Whitie started to swim but some bad men chased him in a boat that didn't have any sail and they did not paddle it, but it just went and went by itself. Poor Whitie swam and swam just as fast as he could, but they caught up to him and threw a rope and caught him by the neck. Then Whitie fighted and fighted, but they pulled on the rope and choked him. They choked and choked until Whitie was almost dead. Then they pulled him up into another ship as large as a mountain and put him in a great box and he laid down and cried and cried and cried. Then I woke up and I was crying too."
"Have you seen Whitie?" asked the Eskimo boy with tears in his eyes, pulling at Eiseeyou's sleeve.
The Eskimo was dumfounded at this account of Oumauk's dream, for it corresponded almost perfectly to what had happened the day before. Like all Eskimos he was very superstitious, and this had a sort of supernatural appearance to him. So he crossed himself before replying. Then he answered warily.
"Yes, I saw Whitie. He was eating a seal pup. He was all right."
"Is he all right now?" insisted Oumauk, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Yes," replied poor Eiseeyou, "Whitie is all right."