The Curse of the Viking Grave by Farley Mowat Page B

the surface just enough so that the carioles and sled glided effortlessly over it. It should have been a day for a record run.
    But the day seemed to be full of unexpected halts and setbacks. Twice Zabadees appeared to lose the properroute and made long detours into dead-end bays. Once he halted unexpectedly, seized his rifle, and went off into the bush for an hour in pursuit of what the boys were sure was a nonexistent deer. To make matters worse he insisted on stopping to boil the tea billy every hour or two.
    Peetyuk, who was undisguisedly delighted to find that Angeline had chosen to walk with him at the end of the train, was unperturbed by the slow progress; but Jamie grew increasingly upset. Awasin said nothing, and his face remained expressionless.
    About 3:00 P.M. they left the Putahow system at the east end of Red Sucker Lake and crossed a low ridge to the shores of a new lake which Zabadees, when he was pressed for its name, reluctantly told them was called Dead Men’s Lake. It stretched off to the eastward, and in its center was a small, barren rock island. As they descended toward the lake out of the spruce thickets, Zabadees called a halt to the day’s journey by stopping his sled and unhitching his dogs. In vain Jamie expostulated with him, through a rather uncooperative Awasin. Nothing would persuade Zabadees to continue on. Finally, when Jamie had reluctantly resigned himself to losing the rest of the day, Zabadees pointed negligently to Angeline and, in his sibilant language, muttered a few quick words.
    Awasin’s face betrayed nothing of his inner feelings.
    â€œHe says he wants Angeline to travel with him. He says there are bad spirits in this country, but she is good luck and makes it easier for him to find the way.”
    â€œWell, let her then,” said Jamie in exasperation. “Shemight as well ride as walk. If he believes that stuff about spirits and luck, she might as well make herself useful.”
    Awasin’s face hardened. “She is my sister, not a dog! She does not wish to ride the sled.” Then his expression softened. “I am sorry, Jamie, but it is better if she does not ride with him.”
    â€œWhy not, for heaven’s sake? She’ll have to ride all the way back to Than out Lake with him anyway.”
    Awasin turned away and began to pull the remains of a haunch of caribou off his sled.
    â€œWe are getting short on dog feed,” he said, changing the subject. “I have seen much deer sign today. I think it is as well if we camp here and make a hunt.”
    Peetyuk had listened closely to the conversation, but had said nothing. There was a strange look on his face. It was no longer amiable. Suddenly he turned to Angeline.
    â€œThat fellow speak bad you?” he asked abruptly. “I think he make trouble with you. Eema —yes?”
    Angeline shook her head so violently that her long hair whirled gleaming in the fading sunlight. “There is nothing wrong, Peetyuk. Come, help me gather wood. Or, please, will you cut some ice for tea water?”
    Puzzled and annoyed, Jamie watched the pair walk away. “Girls!” he muttered almost viciously. Then he shrugged his shoulders and began to unload his cariole.
    Zabadees sat motionless on his sled. His black eyes followed Angeline with an intentness which might have explained many things to Jamie, if he had been acute enough to observe and understand. But Jamie was too wrapped up in the driving urge to put distance between himself andKasmere Lake to be alert to the interplay between the Chipeweyan and the Crees.
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    It was a calm night, touched with the first signs of the spring thaw, and so they did not bother with the travel tent but simply climbed into their sleeping robes. No one was particularly tired and they began talking about the country they were passing through. Peetyuk told a story about how the Eskimos had once tried to establish contact with a white trader who had a