At that moment, the son of the household entering, Mrs. Eskimo, as Billy called her, served the lunch and there was no more conversation in that particular igloo for several minutes to come.
Then Kapje, as though still smarting from his failure of the morning, turned to the boys, a deeper frown wrinkling his forehead.
“You see them seal this morning?” he asked, and the boys nodded.
“That way, lots of time,” went on the Eskimo, as though it were a relief to tell his grievance to someone. “Seal, he scared. You get spear ready for him an’—poof—he gone, like that. Too much hunt. Other time, kill ’em easy. Now, see you come too quick. Seal hunt no like old days.” And here the man shook his head and looked so mournful the boys had all they could do to keep from laughing.
After lunch they noticed with delight that the snow had stopped and the sun was attempting to smile weakly through the heavy storm clouds.
At the sight Bobby charged back into the igloo to tell Kapje the good news and urge him to start with them right away to find Mooloo. Still the Eskimo shook his head.
“In the morning we start,” he said and something in his tone convinced Bobby that there would be no changing his mind on this point. “Then we reach Mooloo before dark. Start now—no can do.”
So, burning with impatience, the boys were forced to spend another night in the igloo.
First thing in the morning they were up, garbed once more in their snug fur clothing, ready to start on the journey.
After a hearty breakfast, they shook hands warmly with Mrs. Eskimo, who beamed broadly upon them and wished them good luck.