“Ha—ha—ha—ha!”
“He—he—he!”
“Oh—ho—ho—ho!”
HE STOOD WITH CHATTERING TEETH AND DRIPPING LOCKS.
Sight of the poor chap slopping around shivering and trying to pull his wet shirt over his head at last touched a soft spot in Guninana’s heart. She shut Taptuna up, gave Noashak a poke to make her stop, and turned to Kak.
“Go, you two, and gather driftwood. Don’t you see our walrus needs a fire?”
They dashed away with a chuckle and a shout, while Taptuna worked off his humor unlashing the load. They would have to stay here a couple of days to dry out their things, but that would be a rest for Noashak, so no one minded. Kak built a dandy bonfire; his father lugged their goods up on top of the bank into the sunshine. Okak, wearing borrowed clothes, pitched the tent, and Guninana cooked breakfast. Considering they were, in a sense, shipwrecked on a barren spot where none of them had the least desire to linger, they made a wonderfully jolly camping party of it. Okak got a good deal of teasing about his bath; but as he was the best tempered man in the world, when not frightened or worried, he laughed at himself, enjoyed their jokes, cracked others, and even showed a slight spirit of vainglory over having done something to bring him into such prominence. Kak marveled at this and stored it in his memory for Akpek.
“Wouldn’t it make a wolf laugh!” he said to his parents later. “Poor old Okak doesn’t know he’s a joke!”
“Perhaps it is better to be a joke than not to be noticed at all. Every man cannot expect to excel in this publicity business as you do. Okak has never been a hero,” Taptuna replied, winking at Guninana.