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our supper disgusting his nostrils。 'And on this fare we cannot thrive。
We have nothing save the bottle of 〃pain… killer；〃 which will not fill
emptiness； so we must bend to the yoke of the unbeliever and become
hewers of wood and drawers of water。 And there be good things in this
place； the which we may not have。 Ah； master； never has my nose lied to
me； and I have followed it to secret caches and among the fur…bales of the
igloos。 Good provender did these people extort from the poor whalemen；
and this provender has wandered into few hands。 The woman Ipsukuk；
who dwelleth in the far end of the village next she igloo of the chief；
possesseth much flour and sugar； and even have my eyes told me of
molasses smeared on her face。 And in the igloo of Tummasook； the chief；
there be teahave I not seen the old pig guzzling？ And the shaman
owneth a caddy of 〃Star〃 and two buckets of prime smoking。 And what
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have we？ Nothing！ Nothing！'
〃But I was stunned by the word he brought of the tobacco； and made
no answer。
〃And Moosu； what of his own desire； broke silence： 'And there be
Tukeliketa； daughter of a big hunter and wealthy man。 A likely girl。
Indeed； a very nice girl。'
〃I figured hard during the night while Moosu snored； for I could not
bear the thought of the tobacco so near which I could not smoke。 True；
as he had said； we had nothing。 But the way became clear to me； and in
the morning I said to him： 'Go thou cunningly abroad； after thy fashion；
and procure me some sort of bone； crooked like a goose…neck； and hollow。
Also； walk humbly； but have eyes awake to the lay of pots and pans and
cooking contrivances。 And remember； mine is the white man's wisdom；
and do what I have bid you； with sureness and despatch。'
〃While he was away I placed the whale…oil cooking lamp in the middle
of the igloo； and moved the mangy sleeping furs back that I might have
room。 Then I took apart his gun and put the barrel by handy； and
afterwards braided many wicks from the cotton that the women gather
wild in the summer。 When he came back； it was with the bone I had
commanded； and with news that in the igloo of Tummasook there was a
five…gallon kerosene can and a big copper kettle。 So I said he had done
well and we would tarry through the day。 And when midnight was near I
made harangue to him。
〃'This chief； this Tummasook； hath a copper kettle； likewise a kerosene
can。' I put a rock； smooth and wave…washed； in Moosu's hand。 'The
camp is hushed and the stars are winking。 Go thou； creep into the chief's
igloo softly； and smite him thus upon the belly； and hard。 And let the
meat and good grub of the days to come put strength into thine arm。
There will be uproar and outcry； and the village will come hot afoot。 But
be thou unafraid。 Veil thy movements and lose thy form in the obscurity
of the night and the confusion of men。 And when the woman Ipsukuk is
anigh thee； she who smeareth her face with molasses；do thou smite her
likewise； and whosoever else that possesseth flour and cometh to thy hand。
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Then do thou lift thy voice in pain and double up with clasped hands； and
make outcry in token that thou； too； hast felt the visitation of the night。
And in this way shall we achieve honour and great possessions； and the
caddy of 〃Star〃 and the prime smoking； and thy Tukeliketa； who is a likely
maiden。'
〃When he had departed on this errand； I bided patiently in the shack；
and the tobacco seemed very near。 Then there was a cry of affright in the
night； that became an uproar and assailed the sky。 I seized the 'pain…killer'
and ran forth。 There was much noise； and a wailing among the women；
and fear sat heavily on all。 Tummasook and the woman Ipsukuk rolled on
the ground in pain； and with them there were divers others； also Moosu。
I thrust aside those that cluttered the way of my feet； and put the mouth of
the bottle to Moosu's lips。 And straightway he became well and ceased
his howling。 Whereat there was a great clamour for the bottle from the
others so stricken。 But I made harangue； and ere they tasted and were
made well I had mulcted Tummasook of his copper kettle and kerosene
can； and the woman Ipsukuk of her sugar and molasses； and the other sick
ones of goodly measures of flour。 The shaman glowered wickedly at the
people around my knees； though he poorly concealed the wonder that lay
beneath。 But I held my head high； and Moosu groaned beneath the loot
as he followed my heels to the shack。
〃There I set to work。 In Tummasook's copper kettle I mixed three
quarts of wheat flour with five of molasses； and to this I added of water
twenty quarts。 Then I placed the kettle near the lamp； that it might sour
in the warmth and grow strong。 Moosu understood； and said my wisdom
passed understanding and was greater than Solomon's； who he had heard
was a wise man of old time。 The kerosene can I set over the lamp； and to
its nose I affixed a snout； and into the snout the bone that was like a
gooseneck。 I sent Moosu without to pound ice； while I connected the
barrel of his gun with the gooseneck； and midway on the barrel I piled the
ice he had pounded。 And at the far end of the gun…barrel； beyond the pan
of ice； I placed a small iron pot。 When the brew was strong enough （and
it was two days ere it could stand on its own legs）； I filled the kerosene
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can with it； and lighted the wicks I had braided。
〃Now that all was ready； I spoke to Moosu。 'Go forth；' I said； 'to the
chief men of the village； and give them greeting； and bid them come into
my igloo and sleep the night away with me and the gods。'
〃The brew was singing merrily when they began shoving aside the
skin flap and crawling in； and I was heaping cracked ice on the gun…barrel。
Out of the priming hole at the far end； drip； drip； drip into the iron pot fell
the liquorHOOCH； you know。 But they'd never seen the like； and
giggled nervously when I made harangue about its virtues。 As I talked I
noted the jealousy in the shaman's eye； so when I had done； I placed him
side by side with Tummasook and the woman Ipsukuk。 Then I gave
them to drink； and their eyes watered and their stomachs warmed； till from
being afraid they reached greedily for more； and when I had them well
started； I turned to the others。 Tummasook made a brag about how he
had once killed a polar bear； and in the vigour of his pantomime nearly
slew his mother's brother。 But nobody heeded。 The woman Ipsukuk
fell to weeping for a son lost long years agone in the ice； and the shaman
made incantation and prophecy。 So it went； and before morning they
were all on the floor； sleeping soundly with the gods。
〃The story tells itself； does it not？ The news of the magic potion
spread。 It was too marvellous for utterance。 Tongues could tell but a
tithe of the miracles it performed。 It eased pain； gave surcease to sorrow；
brought back old memories； dead faces； and forgotten dreams。 It was a
fire that ate through all the blood； and； burning； burned not。 It stoutened
the heart； stiffened the back； and made men more than men。 It revealed
the future； and gave visions and prophecy。 It brimmed with wisdom and
unfolded secrets。 There was no end of the things it could do； and soon
there was a clamouring on all hands to sleep with the gods。 They
brought their warmest furs； thei