They smiled in answer, and in response to a question that Bobby rather timidly addressed to him he surprised them by answering in English. It was broken and imperfect but easily understandable. They learned afterward that he had picked it up from the traders who came to his country for seals and fur, and of course his trip with the circus had added considerably to his knowledge of the language.
The boys’ evident interest seemed to please him and he unbent a good deal from the habitual reticence common with his people. They learned from him that he was homesick and longing to be back in his native land.
“Too hot here,” he told them among other things. “Want snow. Plenty ice up Baffin Land. Ice houses. Everything ice. That good for Eskimo.”
“Ice and snow,” murmured Fred. “I wonder—”
“Look out!” suddenly yelled Bobby. And then he made a quick move toward the Eskimo and pushed him back.
Bobby had seen a tent pole swaying. Some guy ropes had broken and the big pole was coming down directly where the Eskimo stood. It struck the ground with a thud, missing Chief Takyak by a few inches.
“Great Caesar!” cried Billy. “Look at that, will you!”
“A close call for Takyak,” remarked Fred.
Some circus men came running forward, to ascertain if anybody had been hurt, and to hoist the pole into place again. The Eskimo chief was startled but speedily regained his composure.
“Boy push me just in time,” he said, with a queer little smile. “No push out of way, big pole maybe kill old Takyak.”