"Another boy born to-day. His name is Igluk. It is only the eldest boy
of a family, in this tribe, who bears his father's surname. My eldest
alone goes by the name of Mackintosh. His eldest will bear the same
name, and so on. But these Eskimos make a sad mess of it. I doubt if
my Scotch kinsmen would recognise us under the name of Makitok which is
the nearest--"
"Makitok!" shouted Benjy, gazing open-eyed at the white-bearded wizard,
who returned the gaze with some astonishment.
"Why, old boy," cried the boy, jumping up and seizing the wizard's hand,
"you're a Scotsman!"
"So he is," said the Captain with a look of profound interest.
"And I say," continued Benjy, in a tone so solemn that the eyes of all
the party were turned on him, "we _did_ find him _sitting on the North
Pole_!"
"And what of that, you excitable goose?" said the Captain.
"Goose, father! Am I a goose for recognising the fulfilment of an
ancient prophecy? Has it not been a familiar saying, ever since I was
born, that when the North Pole was discovered, a Scotsman would be found
sitting on the top of it?"
"Unfortunately, Ben," returned Alf with a laugh, "the same prophecy
exists in other lands. Among the Germans, I believe, it is held that a
Bohemian and a Jew will be found on the top of it."
"That only confirms the correctness of prophecy in general," retorted
Benjy, "for this man unites all these in his own person. Does not this
notebook prove him to be a Scot? Have we not just _found_ him? which
proves him to be one of a `lost tribe'--in other words, a Jew; and,
surely, you'll admit that, in appearance at least, he is Bohemian enough
for the settlement of any disputed question. Yes, he's a Scotch
Bohemian Jew, or I'm a Dutchman."
This discovery seemed almost too much for Benjy. He could not think or
talk of anything else the remainder of that day.
Among other things he undertook to explain to Makitok something of his
origin and antecedents.
"Ancient one," he said earnestly, through the medium of Anders, when he
had led the old man aside privately, "you come of a grand nation. They
are called Scots, and are said to be remarkably long-headed and
wonderfully cautious. Great warriors, but greater at the arts of peace.
And the fellow you call your _first father_ was a Mackintosh, (probably
chief of all the Mackintoshes), who sailed nearly 270 years ago to
search for this very `North Pole' that _we_ have got hold of at last.
But your first father was not the leader, old boy. He was only a
seaman. The leader was Henry Hudson--a man who ranks among the foremost
of Arctic explorers. He won't be able to understand what that means,
Anders, but no matter--translate it the best way you can. This Henry
Hudson was one of the most thorough and extensive searchers of these
regions that ever sailed the northern seas. He made many important
discoveries, and set out on his last voyage intending to sail right over
the North Pole to China, which I daresay he would have done, had not his
rascally crew mutinied and cast him and his little son, with seven other
men, adrift in a little boat--all of whom perished, no doubt, except
your first father, Makitok, my ancient tulip!"
He wound up this summary by grasping and shaking the wizard's hand, and
then flung off, to expend his feelings on other members of the
community.