weeping their answer from the dead rejoicing in the auroral Valhalla.
But there was no answer--as perhaps there may be no answer; or, if
there is, that God fearing lest, in attaining the Great Desire, men
should cease to endeavor; to serve and to labor has kept it locked
where He and the dead live beyond the skies._"
The moon dipped behind the horizon. For five sleeps naught had been
heard from Ootah and his companion. Inetlia, the sister of Koolotah,
followed in turn by some of the other women, visited the igloo of
Annadoah. Upon her couch of moss Annadoah lay, and over her a cover
given by Ootah and lined with the feathers of birds.
"'Twas thou who sent Ootah to the mountains," one complained. "May the
ravens peck thine eyes!" cried another. Annadoah shook her head sadly
and wept.
"'Twas thou who chose Olafaksoah, the robber from the south, that thou
mightest be his wife; and 'twas thou, his wife, who beguiled the men
and robbed thy tribe. Did we not give away our skins, and didst thou
not make garments for Olafaksoah? And do we not now shudder from the
cold? 'Twas thou who put the madness into the head of Ootah, the
strongest of the tribe. Many are the maidens who are husbandless and
yet Ootah pined for thee. Why didst thou not choose Ootah? Then he
would have remained and prevented the thievery of the strangers, we
should not have been robbed, and he would not have had to go far unto
the mountains, where the spirits have struck him in their wrath? Nay,
nay, thou didst make the men of our tribe sick with thoughts of thee.
They have quarrelled among themselves. And before the white men came,
did they not reproach us, their wives and their betrothed, with thy
name and the vaunted skill of thee? Thou art as the woman with an iron
tail, she who killed men when they came to her, their skins flushed
with love. Thou destroyest men! Thou didst send Ootah and Koolotah to
the mountains! And they have perished! _Ioh-h_! _Ioh-h_!"
Entering her igloo two or three at a time they reproachfully recited in
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