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 famishing. By his grace it

was that I was made chief. And what have I done with my chiefship?
Let me tell you. I have done nothing. My head was turned with

power, and I deemed myself greater than Moosu, and, behold I have
come to grief. My rule has been unwise, and the gods are angered.

Lo, ye are pinched with famine, and the mothers are dry-breasted,
and the little babies cry through the long nights. Nor do I, who

have hardened my heart against Moosu, know what shall be done, nor
in what manner of way grub shall be had.'

"At this there was nodding and laughing, and the people put their
heads together, and I knew they whispered of the loaves and fishes.

I went on hastily. 'So I was made aware of my foolishness and of
Moosu's wisdom; of my own unfitness and of Moosu's fitness. And

because of this, being no longer mad, I make acknowledgment and
rectify evil. I did cast unrighteous eyes upon Kluktu, and lo, she

was sealed to Moosu. Yet is she mine, for did I not pay to
Tummasook the goods of purchase? But I am well unworthy of her,

and she shall go from the igloo of her father to the igloo of
Moosu. Can the moon shine in the sunshine? And further, Tummasook

shall keep the goods of purchase, and she be a free gift to Moosu,
whom God hath ordained her rightful lord.

"'And further yet, because I have used my wealthunwisely, and to
oppress ye, O my children, do I make gifts of the kerosene can to

Moosu, and the gooseneck, and the gun-barrel, and the copper
kettle. Therefore, I can gather to me no more possessions, and

when ye are athirst for hooch, he will quench ye and without
robbery. For he is a great man, and God speaketh through his lips.

"'And yet further, my heart is softened, and I have repented me of
my madness. I, who am a fool and a son of fools; I, who am the

slave of the bad god Biz-e-Nass; I, who see thy empty bellies and
knew not wherewith to fill them--why shall I be chief, and sit

above thee, and rule to thine own destruction? Why should I do
this, which is not good? But Moosu, who is shaman, and who is wise

above men, is so made that he can rule with a soft hand and justly.
And because of the things I have related do I make abdication and

give my chiefship to Moosu, who alone knoweth how ye may be fed in
this day when there be no meat in the land.'

"At this there was a great clapping of hands, and the people cried,
'KLOSHE! KLOSHE!' which means 'good.' I had seen the wonder-worry

in Moosu's eyes; for he could not understand, and was fearful of my
white man's wisdom. I had met his wishes all along the line, and

even anticipated some; and standing there, self-shorn of all my
power, he knew the time did not favour to stir the people against

me.
"Before they could disperse I made announcement that while the

still went to Moosu, whatever hooch I possessed went to the people.
Moosu tried to protest at this, for never had we permitted more

than a handful to be drunk at a time; but they cried, 'KLOSHE!
KLOSHE!' and made festival before my door. And while they waxed

uproarious without, as the liquor went to their heads, I held
council within with Angeit and the faithful ones. I set them the

tasks they were to do, and put into their mouths the words they
were to say. Then I slipped away to a place back in the woods

where I had two sleds, well loaded, with teams of dogs that were
not overfed. Spring was at hand, you see, and there was a crust to

the snow; so it was the best time to take the way south. Moreover,
the tobacco was gone. There I waited, for I had nothing to fear.

Did they bestir themselves on my trail, their dogs were too fat,
and themselves too lean, to overtake me; also, I deemed their

bestirring would be of an order for which I had made due
preparation.

"First came a faithful one, running, and after him another. 'O
master,' the first cried, breathless, 'there be great confusion in

the village, and no man knoweth his own mind, and they be of many
minds. Everybody hath drunken overmuch, and some be stringing

bows, and some be quarrelling one with another. Never was there
such a trouble.'

"And the second one: 'And I did as thou biddest, O master,
whispering shrewd words in thirsty ears, and raising memories of

the things that were of old time. The woman Ipsukuk waileth her
poverty and the wealth that no longer is hers. And Tummasook

thinketh himself once again chief, and the people are hungry and
rage up and down.'

"And a third one: 'And Neewak hath overthrown the altars of Moosu,
and maketh incantation before the time-honoured and ancient gods.

And all the people remember the wealth that ran down their throats,
and which they possess no more. And first, Esanetuk, who be SICK

TUMTUM, fought with Kluktu, and there was much noise. And next,
being daughters of the one mother, did they fight with Tukeliketa.

And after that did they three fall upon Moosu, like wind-squalls,
from every hand, till he ran forth from the igloo, and the people

mocked him. For a man who cannot command his womankind is a fool.'
"Then came Angeit: 'Great trouble hath befallen Moosu, O master,

for I have whispered to advantage, till the people came to Moosu,
saying they were hungry and demanding the fulfilment of prophecy.

And there was a loud shout of "Itlwillie! Itlwillie!" (Meat.) So
he cried peace to his womenfolk, who were overwrought with anger

and with hooch, and led the tribe even to thy meat caches. And he
bade the men open them and be fed. And lo, the caches were empty.

There was no meat. They stood without sound, the people being
frightened, and in the silence I lifted my voice. "O Moosu, where

is the meat? That there was meat we know. Did we not hunt it and