The native sullenly walked on ahead, and finally sat down by the side of the bear.
“You watch him, John,” said Rob. “I’ve got to go on skinning this bear.” So saying, he resumed his work, presently rejoined by Jesse.
The native watched them, but finally began to smile at their clumsiness.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Jesse; “if he’s so smart about this, let’s make him help skin.”
“A good idea!” added Rob. He began to make signs to the Aleut. “Here, you,” said he, “get up and go to work—and keep on your own side of the bear.”
He pointed to the crooked knife which he saw in the native’s belt. The latter, none too well pleased, sulkily arose and began to aid in skinning the bear. It was easy to see that it was not the first work of the kind he had done. He laid the hide off in folds, with long, easy strokes, doing twice as much work as all the other three. After a time the boys stopped their work entirely and stood watching him with admiration. The Aleut paid no attention to this, but went on with his work, once in awhile helping himself to a piece of raw fat. In the course of half an hour or so he had the great robe spread out on the grass, with the difficult work of skinning out the feet all done, and the ears, nose, and all parts of the head skinned out without leaving a slashed spot on the hide.
“This beats doing it ourselves!” said John, who was not especially fond of work.
“We ought to thank him some way,” said Rob. “You know a little Chinook, John; why don’t you talk to him?”
John grinned.