Kak (kark) was a bright, happy Eskimo boy. One morning, Kak"s father said to him, "While I am watching the seal-hole to-day, you may take the sledge to the dead whale and bring some of the flesh I cut up yesterday. "Kak was very happy at the chance of taking the sledge out by himself. He was soon hitching the two dogs to their traces.
"Why are you taking father"s snow-knife? " called his sister, Noashak.
"Just in case I stay all night and need it to build a house, " said Kak, swelling with pride.
"Pooh! " said his sister. "The whale is not far away. Father said that you could make two trips. ""Two trips ! "said Kak. "I shall make four trips! "Letting go the dogs, he sprang for the sledge with a "Yi-yi-yip ! " Both dogs gave a bound, and they were off.
It was wonderful to ride along the track, over the hard snow, to the whale. Once there, Kak had to work hard, piling the big, rough pieces of frozen meat on tothe sledge. When he came back, Noashak ran to meet him, and Kak gave her a ride on top of the meat. Twice more he went back to the whale, and, just as it was growing dark, he proudly brought home his third load.
He called to Noashak, "You said "two loads". I have brought three. ""Three ! That"s nothing ! " cried Noashak. "You said that you could bring four. You are too much afraid to go back for another load now. "Kak did not like this. "I am not afraid, " he shouted. And once more he swung his team round and dashed off, leaving his sister gazing after him.
By the time Kak reached the whale, night was coming on. He heard the howl of the wolves far off. He thought, too, of the big white bear, and his hands began to shake. The night grew blacker, and the wind grew colder. Great shapes seemed to be moving across the snow. He would stay no longer. "Hok! Hok! " he called to the dogs. Then they all dashed off home.
All at once the sledge slipped. Turning upside down, it sent Kak flying heels over head.
The dogs stopped, and Kak was soon on his feet again, shaking the snow from his furry clothes. He looked round, trying to see his home. Alas, his heartsank, for he had missed the track! Then, as he sat on the sledge, wondering what to do, his eyes fell upon the snow-knife.
Jumping up, he led the dogs along until he found some hard snow. Then he set to work to build his first snow house. He cut out with his knife blocks of hard snow, and placed them in a ring, making them slope a little inwards. On top of them he placed another row, and then another, going up and round all the time. It was hard work. Kak worked like a man, and the little beehive house was at last roofed in.
He made a hole in the wall, so that he could crawl out for blocks to finish the house. When it was ready he scrambled in, pulling the dogs after him. Then he closed the hole with a block of snow. One small hole was left in the door block, and another in the roof, to let in fresh air. Then Kak lay down on the sledge-rug with a furry dog on each side of him, and was soon fast asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw the yellow sunlight shining through the roof of his house. Then he heard a sound of knocking. A second later, the door block fell in, and Kak saw poking through it-his father"s face!
"Ha! ha! " said Kak"s father. "This is a fine house,with no proper door and tunnel into it! It is a good thing I came to dig you out. But I suppose you want to stay here now. ""No, I want to go home, " said Kak. And, as his father moved back from the opening, the dogs tumbled out with Kak on top of them, all snowy and furry, and glad to be free.
As Kak sat on the sledge eating a nice, raw, frozen fish, he laughed at his funny little house. It was far from being round and smooth like the houses his father built. "But it did stand up, " he said, "and it saved us frombears and wolves, and from being frozen. "
When he reached home, Kak was a real hero. Never again did Noashak tease him about being afraid of anything.
by V. SteFansson and Violet ItWin.
About the Author.-VilhJalmur SteFansson was born in Canada in 1879. His parents had come to Canada from Iceland. He made several journeys through Arctic lands and lived for many years with the Eskimos. He has written several books about his journeys and the Eskimos.
About the Story.-What do you learn about the Eskimos from the story? What food is eaten? How do they travel? How are they dressed? How do they build their snow huts? What wild animals are their enemies?
