50 
THE NORTHLAND BIRD LIFE 
Just then this big mother turned her head 
and smiled at her and it was such a kind 
smile that Baby Laughing Loon was con¬ 
vinced that it really must be her mother. She 
was beginning to feel comfortable and sure 
that she would soon be once more under her 
mother’s breast, when very close to land this 
mother came right in two in the middle! 
Half of her stayed in one place and the other 
half went wandering around in the water. 
Then the half that had been closest to the 
water was picked up by the other half and 
carried right to the land. 
Baby Laughing Loon could hardly believe 
her eyes, and no wonder, for this remarkable 
“mother” was Kituk, the Eskimo boy. He 
had been paddling in his kiak boat, and it 
was his paddle that Baby Laughing Loon 
had thought was her mother’s foot. He got 
out of his kiak and carried it to shore. Then 
he looked at Baby Laughing Loon and 
laughed at her for following him. 
