Not far away some of the natives, joining in the chorus, began beating drums. The white men hilariously drank from bottles and joined in the merry dances.
"Did I not call the walrus and seal from the sea—as none other? Have I not lured the caribou from their hidden lair? Have I not enticed the birds, the foxes, and the bear by my calls—as none other of the tribes?"
In succession Ootah uttered imitations of the calls of the walrus bulls, the female caribou, and cries of the various birds.
"Have I not held converse with the animals of the land, the birds of the air, and shall I not one day perchance comb the hair of Nerrvik in the sea!"
The drums beat more loudly; the dancers hopped and leaped. The chorus replied:
"Thou lurest the walrus and seal from the sea, thou enticest the caribou, ahmingmah and birds unto thee! Thou hast learned the language of nature, and the happy spirits are kind to thee! Marvellous is thy power, Ootah."
And in the chorus, deep, hoarse, sneeringly ironical rang the words of
Maisanguaq:
"Marvellous is thy power, Ootah," and his low bitter laughter followed.
The white men began to sing as they danced with the chubby women. In couples they rocked to and fro.
"Have I not killed of all the birds of the air, the animals of the land and sea! Have I not observed the customs of the august dead? Have I done aught to bring misfortune to the tribe?"