Our little Eskimo cousin . u paddled steadily and kept up with themen who had so much more experience thanhimself. As his father watched him from time totime, he thought, My boy will be a leader 66 Our Little Eskimo Cousin for his people when I grow old and weak. Ihave never before seen one so young showsuch strength. Etus father was held to be the best hunts-man of the village, and for this very reason waslooked upon as the chief. The Eskimosshare everything in common, but one man ina settlement is chosen as the leader. Hesettles the disputes and gives advice when itis needed. He directs the
Our little Eskimo cousin . u paddled steadily and kept up with themen who had so much more experience thanhimself. As his father watched him from time totime, he thought, My boy will be a leader 66 Our Little Eskimo Cousin for his people when I grow old and weak. Ihave never before seen one so young showsuch strength. Etus father was held to be the best hunts-man of the village, and for this very reason waslooked upon as the chief. The Eskimosshare everything in common, but one man ina settlement is chosen as the leader. Hesettles the disputes and gives advice when itis needed. He directs the hunt and judgesthe wrong-doer. When he fails in strengthit is but right that another should be chosenin his place. When the seal ground was reached at last,the men moved away from each other in dif-ferent directions; the singing and shoutingstopped as they rested on their paddles andwatched for seals heads to appear above thewater. Etus father kept quite near him; hemight be needed to help his son in case hewas SOUNDS THE HARPOON AS IT SPEEDS FROMETUs SHOULDER The Seal Hunt 67 Ten minutes passed, then twenty, thirty,but the boy did not grow impatient. Hisbright eyes watched closely, scanning thewater in all directions. At last he was re-warded, for look ! there is a brown head risinginto view. The seal is easily frightened, anddarts out of sight when he sees the boy in theboat. But Etu does not move a muscle tillthe seal has disappeared. Then he paddlesrapidly toward the spot where the creaturesank out of sight and once more quietly waits,but this time with harpoon in hand. Seals are able to stay under water for twentyminutes at a time. They can close their nos-trils whenever they choose, and they breathevery slowly at all times. But they must cometo the surface after a time for fresh air. Etuknows this and watches. Ah! the water moves again. The prey isto be seen and is but a short distance ! sounds the harpoon as it speeds from 68 Our Little Eskimo Cou
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjecteskimos, bookyear1902
