drew from the breast of his seal-skin coat the
axe and scalping-knife which Adolay had given him, and held them up.

This was a politic move, for it won over almost the entire audience to
the young hunter's views, while looks of ardent admiration were bestowed
on the coveted implements.

"When men find it not easy to get food," resumed Cheenbuk, in the tone
and with the air of a man who has much to say and means to say it, "they
change to some place where hunting is better. When fish become scarce,
they do not remain still, but go to places where the fishing is better.
They always seek for something that is better and better. Is this not
true? Is this not wise?"

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the assembly, assenting.

"Why, then, should not we go to a land where there is much that is far
better than we find here, and live as the Fire-spouters live? Did the
Great Maker of all things intend that we should remain content with
these treeless islands among the ice, when there are lands not very far
away where we may find much of all kinds of things that are far better?
If it is wise to change our hunting and fishing grounds close at hand,
surely it may be wise to change to those that are far away--especially
when we know that they are better, and likely to make us more
comfortable and happy."

This suggestion was such a tremendous innovation on ordinary Eskimo
ideas, such a radical conception of change and upheaval of age-long
habits, that the assembly gazed in awe-struck and silent wonder at the
bold young man, much as the members of Parliament of the last century
might have gazed if any reckless M.P. had dared to propose universal
suffrage or vote by ballot, or to suggest that measures should
henceforth be framed in accordance with the Golden Rule.

"After I had travelled a short way inland," continued Cheenbuk, "I met a
Fire-spouter. He was all alone. No one was with him. He pointed his
spouter at me, and it clicked but would not spout--I don't know why. I
threw my spear. It went straight--as you know it always does--but the
man was quick; he put his head to one side and escaped. Again he
pointed his spouter at me, but again it only clicked. Then I rushed
upon him and caught hold of it before it could spout. We wrestled--but
he was a very strong man, and I could not overcome him--and he could not
overcome me. Our breath came short. The sweat poured down our faces
and our eyes glared; but when we looked steadily