"Ahningnetty! Ahningnetty!" he hailed a chubby maiden who, breaking from the arms of one of the white men, was seen running toward her shelter.
"What wouldst thou, Papik?" she called.
"Papik would speak with thee. Ookiah (winter) comes, and his teeth are sharp. They will bite thee with pangs of hunger, and the meat Papik brings will make joyful Papik's wife."
Ahningnetty, summoning some of the other maidens, surveyed Papik's load of blubber.
"Truly, as he saith, there is little food, and happy will be Papik's wife," said one.
"But when thy blubber is gone with what shalt thou provide her?" asked
Ahningnetty.
"Perchance the bears will come," Papik said. "And skillful is Papik's hand with the lance."
"But thy hand is long, Papik, and long fingers soon lose their skill."
Ahningnetty dubiously shook her head.
"But thou art chubby—yea," said Papik admiringly—"thou art fat as the mother bears after a fat summer, and thy body is warm; it giveth heat; Papik would give thee food, and thou shalt keep him warm during the long winter."