“There’s my friend, dad.”
Taptuna laughed. The ungainly figure waddling about in a ragged suit of old skin clothes made him think of a mangy young musk-ox more than anything else. “That fellow, eh? Well, he looks as if he ought to catch his food by the pailful.”
Kak doubled up with mirth. “Where are you off to?” he shouted between gurgles.
“Wood,” the animated mountain answered gloomily.
“I’ll go along and help if we can have part of the load.”
“Suits me. Follow on.”
Kommana accepted this offer gladly, counting on Kak to fag while he managed the dogs. Besides he loved company. It was rough going and hard pulling at first; but when they got away from the river mouth they turned on to the flat ice and ran about a mile; then they turned in again to the beach.
“All the best wood has been picked up nearer the river, and it is such a beastly nuisance coming so far for it,” the fat boy explained as he sat down on the sleigh to rest.
“What do you want to rest for?” Kak demanded. “You’ve only just got out of bed! Why, we haven’t started yet!”
“Oh, well, I’m tired. I’m always pretty tired.”