their heads facing the howling dogs. Thus they were prepared to
protect themselves from attack.
The dogs, frantic with hunger, made fierce rushes at the animals. Now
and then, as the dogs dashed forward, one of the great beasts would
charge, its head lowered, and the dogs would leap backward into the air
and scatter. Then turning, the animal would rush back to its
companions as fast as its numbed legs could carry it.
Through the white vapor of their breath, which half hid their great
horned heads, Ootah could see the eyes of the musk-oxen--they were
greenish and phosphorescent. Occasionally the creatures roared
sullenly, but the fight was less exciting than it would have been had
they been less torpid from hunger and cold.
Ootah called away the dogs, and raised his gun, one which Olafaksoah,
in payment for the five sledloads of walrus blubber which he
confiscated after Ootah's flight to the mountains, had left with a
generous supply of ammunition with a companion. Ootah now realized the
value of the payment which he had scorned.
There was a yellow flash in the moonlight--a mighty roar went up. The
dogs, with a cyclonic dash, swooped upon the fallen monster, snapping
viciously at it as it roared in its death agony. Frightened, the other
four scattered--one rushed into the shelter of the cave, the other
three, dispersing, soon became diminishing black specks in the
moonlight. The dogs would have followed, but Ootah called them back.
One animal was even more than they could manage.
With quick despatch they fell upon the animal with their knives.
Neither spoke--they worked breathlessly. With marvellous skill they
peeled off the heavy skin, and with amazing dexterity carved great
masses of bleeding meat clean from the bones. When they had finished,
only a great skeleton remained. Outside the cave, eager, whining, the
starving dogs obediently crouched. When they had completed the task of
dressing, Ootah lifted his hand and the canines, with howling avidity,
fell upon the steaming mass of entrails.
|