"Cow-cow peeluk, gold peeluk," indifferently, from the medicine man, going back to his pipe in the corner as if not caring for further conversation.
"He means no grub, no gold—or we must give him the supplies first, else we don't get the creek," again interpreted Gibbs.
"To the dogs with the fellow!" cried one.
"He wants the whole cheese."
"Let him keep his creek and be—blessed!"
"Forget it, boys, and come to the Kobuk with me," laughed one.
"Let's give him the calico and beads, but cut out the grub," finally from one of the most generous, while Kuiktuk sat stolidly smoking.
The latter would not compromise. The men hated to part with the supplies, but dreaded far worse to lose the prospect of that good creek said by the native to contain gold. It might prove another Anvil, who could tell? Possibly it was not so far away as the fellow said, Eskimos were never well up in time and distances, and knew nothing of prospectors' methods.
This was what Dunbar argued, and he, being the eldest of the party, was finally allowed his way, and that was to pay the shrewd trader his price, delivering to him the supplies agreed to on the next day before they started out upon their stampede to the creek.
"Then in case the old fellow has lied about the gold," said Gibbs, "we'll hang him to the nearest tree."