"Have you reindeer? Did you walk all the way?"
"No, we have no reindeer; we came in a boat. You will find it along the shore."
"How far?"
"About an hour's walk I should say."
The Samoyede gave an order, and two of the men at once left the circle, got into a canoe, and paddled away.
"The strangers will stay here for a day or two. We have plenty of milk and fish."
Luka nodded. "We are in no hurry to go on. We have plenty of time to reach the Petchora before the winter sets in."
The Samoyede spoke to one of the women, and she set to work to clear out one of the tents. The chief got up and walked away, and the conference was evidently over. Three hours later they saw the canoe reappear at the mouth of the river with the boat towing behind it. The Samoyedes gathered on the shore to examine it, evidently surprised at its form and size, which differed entirely from their own, which were little craft capable of holding two at most. They tasted the water at the bottom of the boat and found it to be fresh. The stove for cooking spoke for itself, and as there was firewood, meat, flour, and some rough furs, there seemed all that was necessary for a journey. When they returned the chief asked Luka:
"Is that Ostjak canoe?"