“Are they bound hand and foot?” demanded Amalatok, savagely.
“No, they are as free as you are. And the Eskimos are unarmed, apparently.”
“Ha! that is their deceit,” growled the chief. “The Flatlanders were always sly; but they shall not deceive us. Braves, get ready your spears!”
“May it not be that Leo has influenced them peacefully, my father?” suggested Chingatok.
“Not so, my son,” said the chief savagely. “Grabantak was always sly as a white fox, fierce as a walrus, mean as a wolf, greedy as a black gull, contemptible as—”
The catalogue of Grabantak’s vices was cut short by the voice of Teyma coming loud and strong over the sea.
“If the men of Poloe come as friends, let them land. The men of Flatland are about to feed, and will share their supper. If the men of Poloe come as foes, still I say let them land. The braves of Flatland have sharpened their spears!”
Teyma threw up both hands as he finished, and all his host followed suit.
For a moment or two the Poloese hesitated. They still feared deception. Then the voice of Leo was heard loud and clear.
“Why do you hesitate? come on, uncle, supper’s getting cold. We’ve been waiting for you a long time, and are all very hungry!”