THE MOTOR BOAT 



and partly because of his huge delight at meeting a 

 " pujoliarsuk " (little steamer) at such close quarters. 

 *' Tattamnarmek," he muttered, as he scrutinised 

 the engine which he for want of a better word, 

 called " erchavingit " (the ship's bowels) " tattam- 

 narmek " (how marvellous). 



Jerry was pilot, and, like a true Eskimo, he took 

 his duties seriously : however much he may have 

 wanted to see the working of the engine, he said no 

 more, but climbed out to the bows and pointed out 

 the way. We ran the ten miles to Uivak, and had a 

 good look at his black, rocky sides ; and I thought of 

 the time when I saw him standing in the dark 

 winter water, and when Johannes led the sledges 

 over the top : but Jerry tapped me on the shoulder 

 and said " We go home now : bad storm very soon." 



Round we steered, and nosed into the rising sea. 



The boat travelled splendidly, and did good work 

 against the wind ; but soon the waves were crashing 

 over the roof of the cabin, and Jerry, experienced 

 man, began to be alarmed. As long as we faced the 

 sea it was not so bad, but to get to Okak we had to 

 run five miles broadside on to the storm. We tried 

 it for a short distance; but, though I believe the 

 boat might have got through safely, it seemed 

 useless to risk so valuable a thing to say nothing of 

 our lives when an hour or two might bring calm 

 weather again. Jerry breathed a fervent "Nakomek " 

 when he saw the boat swing round and head for 

 shore: he and I were soaked to the skin, and the 

 water was slopping over our boots as we stood in the 

 bows, but that was no new thing for him ; his 

 " Nakomek " was not for a prospect of warm feet and 



dry clothes, but for the turning of our backs on the 



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