The small bundle she brought to
him.
The Chenoo opened it and took from it a pair of horns,--horns of the
_chepitchcalm_, or dragon. One of them has two branches; the other
is straight and smooth. [Footnote: In the winter of 1882-1883, Tomah
Josephs killed a deer whose horns were precisely like those of the
chepitchcalm as regarded shape.] They were golden-bright. He gave the
straight horn to the Indian; he kept the other. He said that these were
magical weapons, and the only ones of any use in the coming fight. So
they waited for the foe.
And the third day came. The Chenoo was fierce and bold; he listened; he
had no fear. He heard the long and awful scream--like nothing of earth--of
the enemy, as she sped through the air far away in the icy north,
long ere the others could hear it. And the manner of it was this: that
if they without harm should live after hearing the first deadly yell of
the enemy they could take no harm, and if they did but hear the
answering shout of their friend all would be well with them. [Footnote:
In all this we clearly perceive the horrible scream of the
_angakok_, or Eskimo Shaman, trained through years and generations
to utter sounds which terrify even brave men.] But he said, "Should you
hear me call for help, then hasten with the horn, and you may save my
life."
They did as he bade: they stopped their ears; they hid in a deep hole
dug in the ground.
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