Gold-bearing creeks and rivers were little thought of by the Eskimos. Their use for gold was small. Given an igloo, a boat, fishing and hunting tackle, and they were happy and satisfied; but the white man should be taught to let the wives of the Eskimos alone, and that, too, right early.
All this, and a great deal more, passed through the mind of the shaman.
On the evening of the third day after the arrival of the miners, while all sat smoking before the fire, Kuiktuk decided to act.
Taking his pipe from his mouth he pulled himself slowly together as if about to speak.
"Say, Kuiktuk, old man, what is it? Can you tell us where to find the yellow stuff we look for?" keenly inquired Dunbar.
The Eskimo slowly nodded.
"Is it far from here?"
A shake of the head in reply.
"How far? Where?" eagerly asked the men in a breath.
He pointed in a southeasterly direction.