“I brought no one,” he said at last, “because I want you and your family to return with me to the village. You know it is only two days distant, and we can take the seal and the bear with us. We are going to have a great feast and games.”
“Did you not say the people were starving?” asked Okiok, with a look of gentle surprise.
“They were starving,” returned Ujarak quickly; “but two walruses and four seals were brought in yesterday and my torngak has told me that he will point out where many more are to be found if I consult him on the night of the feast. Will you come back with me?”
Okiok glanced at the Kablunet.
“I cannot leave my guest,” he said.
“True, but we can take him with us.”
“Impossible. Do you not see he is only bones in a bag of skin? He must rest and feed.”
“That will be no difficulty,” returned the wizard, “for the feast is not to be held for twice seven days. By that time the Kablunet will be well, and getting strong. Of course he must rest and be well stuffed just now. So I will go back, and say that you are coming, and tell them also what you have found—a Kablunet. Huk!”
“Yes; and he speaks our language,” said Okiok.
“That was not our language which he spoke when I came in.”