“I—I—feel f–funny.”
“Never mind that,” said Kajo. “It’s always the way at first. When I first tried it I—”
He was cut short by Ippegoo suddenly rising, dropping the pipe, clapping one hand on his breast, the other on his mouth, and rushing into the bushes where he disappeared like one of his own puffs of smoke. At the same moment Rooney and Okiok appeared on the scene, laughing heartily.
“You rascal!” said Rooney to Kajo, on recovering his gravity; “you have learned to drink, and you have learned to smoke, and, not satisfied with that extent of depravity, you try to teach Ippegoo. You pitiful creature! Are you not ashamed of yourself?”
Kajo looked sheepish, and admitted that he had some sensations of that sort, but wasn’t sure.
“Tell me,” continued the seaman sternly, “before you tasted strong drink or tobacco, did you want them?”
“No,” replied Kajo.
“Are you in better health now that you’ve got them?”
“I—I feel the better for them,” replied Kajo.
“I did not ask what you feel,” returned Rooney. “Are you better now than you were before? That’s the question.”