All now gathered about the policeman, listening to his story of how he had captured the Eskimo. Dick and Sandy were principally interested in the appearance of this native of the polar regions. They found him to be about Sandy’s height, with light brown skin, and Chinese-like eyes. The hood of his caribou shirt had been pushed back and a heavy thatch of straight black hair was revealed. The Eskimo’s cheekbones were high like an Indian’s and his skin was very oily looking. Constable Sloan, who had been detailed on the expedition principally because of his special knowledge of the Eskimos in their native haunts, was endeavoring to carry on a conversation with the sullen fellow.
“He won’t talk much,” the Constable turned to Corporal McCarthy. “Says his name is Mukwa and that four families of Eskimos are about a day’s march from here, on the shores of a bay somewhere near Cape Richards. Swears he hasn’t seen any white men, and claims he’s an outcast of his tribe. I don’t believe all he says. I believe he could speak English if he wanted to.”
“Well, we’ll have to hold him anyway,” declared the Corporal. “The fellow seems to be hostile, and maybe he’ll talk after a while. If everything’s ship-shape we’ll mush on before it gets too late.”
Constable Sloan’s thirty-foot dog whip cracked out over the team and the dogs set off, yelping eagerly. Corporal McCarthy took up the rear with the Eskimo captive. There was little talking, since every member of the expedition realized he must save his wind for the gruelling miles that must be covered before they made camp.
Though at that time of year there was no darkness at night, Dick and Sandy felt that it was long past evening before Corporal McCarthy called a halt. There was not enough vegetation for a campfire to be built, but the policemen were forearmed with small oil stoves, for heat and cooking. It was not long before the dogs were secured for the night, and the boys were hovering in the doorway of their tent over a bubbling pot of tea.
“Tomorrow we ought to see an Eskimo village,” Dick said, trying to keep his teeth from chattering.
“It’ll be a great experience,” Sandy rejoined, “but the farther we go the more I wonder just why we are up here. Uncle Walter tried to cover up everything under that sham about him thinking we ought to see the Eskimos, but they don’t send the King’s men up here for sight seeing.”
Dick studied a moment, then replied: “I haven’t wanted to say anything until I was sure, but I believe now that I have it figured out right. You know Corporal Thalman was sent up here a year ago to bring in a murderer. The fellow was reported to be part Eskimo. Fred Mistak by name. I think the two officers with us are looking for Corporal Thalman and Mistak. They intend to leave us in some winter camp with plenty of meat and fuel, while they do the dangerous business.”
Sandy sniffed. “I’d like to see them keep me out of the fun.”
“I feel that way too,” agreed Dick, blowing on a cup of hot tea, “but we mustn’t be stubborn about it. It’s best that we mind our own business.”