authority lay, not in me, but in Moosu. Only a few faithful ones clung to me, chief among
whom Angeit was; while he headed the popular party and set whispers afloat that I had it in
mind to overthrow him and set up my own gods, which were most unrighteous gods. And in
this the clever rascal had anticipated me, for it was just what I had intended-- forsake my
kingship, you see, and fight spiritual with spiritual. So he frightened the people with the
iniquities of my peculiar gods--especially the one he named 'Biz-e-Nass'--and nipped the
scheme in the bud.
"Now, it happened that Kluktu, youngest daughter to Tummasook, had caught my fancy,
and I likewise hers. So I made overtures, but the ex-chief refused bluntly--after I had paid
the purchase price--and informed me that she was set aside for Moosu. This was too much,
and I was half of a mind to go to his igloo and slay him with my naked hands; but I
recollected that the tobacco was near gone, and went home laughing. The next day he made
incantation, and distorted the miracle of the loaves and fishes till it became prophecy, and I,
reading between the lines, saw that it was aimed at the wealth of meat stored in my caches.
The people also read between the lines, and, as he did not urge them to go on the hunt, they
remained at home, and few caribou or bear were brought in.
"But I had plans of my own, seeing that not only the tobacco but the flour and molasses
were near gone. And further, I felt it my duty to prove the white man's wisdom and bring
sore distress to Moosu, who had waxed high-stomached, what of the power I had given
him. So that night I went to my meat caches and toiled mightily, and it was noted next day
that all the dogs of the village were lazy. No one suspected, and I toiled thus every night,
and the dogs grew fat and fatter, and the people lean and leaner. They grumbled and
demanded the fulfilment of prophecy, but Moosu restrained them, waiting for their hunger
to grow yet greater. Nor did he dream, to the very last, of the trick I had been playing on the
empty caches.
"When all was ready, I sent Angeit, and the faithful ones whom I had fed privily, through
the village to call assembly. And the tribe gathered on a great space of beaten snow before
my door, with the meat caches towering stilt-legged in the rear. Moosu came also, standing
on the inner edge of the circle opposite me, confident that I had some scheme afoot, and
prepared at the first break to down me. But I arose, giving him salutation before all men.
"'O Moosu, thou blessed of God,' I began, 'doubtless thou hast wondered in that I have
called this convocation together; and doubtless, because of my many foolishnesses, art thou
prepared for rash sayings and rash doings. Not so. It has been said, that those the gods
would destroy they first make mad. And I have been indeed mad. I have crossed thy will,
and scoffed at thy authority, and done divers evil and wanton things. Wherefore, last night a
vision was vouchsafed me, and I have seen the wickedness of my ways. And thou stoodst
forth like a shining star, with brows aflame, and I knew in mine own heart thy greatness. I
saw all things clearly. I knew that thou didst command the ear of God, and that when you
spoke he listened. And I remembered that whatever of the good deeds that I had done, I had
done through the grace of God, and the grace of Moosu.
"'Yes, my children,' I cried, turning to the people, 'whatever right I have done, and whatever
good I have done, have been because of the counsel of Moosu. When I listened to him,
affairs prospered; when I closed my ears, and acted according to my folly, things came to
folly. By his advice it was that I laid my store of meat, and in time of darkness fed the