Next day, being that of the great feast, the entire village bestirred itself with the first light of morning. Men and women put on their best garments, the lamps were kindled, the cooking-kettles put on, and preparations generally commenced on a grand scale.
Awaking and stretching himself, with his arms above his head and his mouth open, young Ermigit yawned vociferously.
“Hah! how strong I feel,” he said, “a white bear would be but a baby in my hands!”
Going through a similar stretch-yawny process, his brother Norrak said that he felt as if he had strength to turn a walrus inside out.
“Come, boys, turn yourselves out o’ the house, and help to cut up the meat. It is not wise to boast in the morning,” said Okiok.
“True, father,” returned Norrak quietly, “but if we don’t boast in the morning, the men do it so much all the rest of the day that we’ll have no chance.”
“These two will be a match for you in talk before long,” remarked Nuna, after her sons had left.
“Ay, and also in body,” returned the father, who was rather proud of his well-grown boys. “Huk! what is Tumbler putting on?” he asked in astonishment.
“The dress that the Kablunet made for him,” said Nunaga, with a merry laugh. “Doesn’t it fit well? My only fear is that if Arbalik sees him, he will pierce him with a dart before discovering his mistake.”
“What are you going to begin the day with?” asked Nuna, as she stirred her kettle.