Santa and the Ice King

Synopsis: On their way at last to see the Ice King and talk him into ending the continuous winter. Santa, Oonik and Keotuk the Eskimo dog are preparing to eat and sleep in the igloo Oonik make from blocks of ice.

Chapter Nine

An Unwelcome Visitor

"This is the finest house I've ever been in," said Santa as he settled down in Oonik's igloo. "Someday I'd like you to make some igloos for me out of toy blocks of make-believe ice. Do you think children might like them for Christmas?" "Yes," laughed Oonik, "but not Eskimo children, please!" Santa laughed, too. "Wait until you see what Mrs. Claus has made for you!" He unpacked the bag on his sled. First he gave Keotuk, the do, a big hunk of raw seal meat. Then he unwrapped a gingerbread man.

"Is it to eat?" asked Oonik puzzled.

"Certainly," said Santa. "It is delicious." And he ate one himself and smacked his lips with pleasure.

Cautiously Oonik bit into the gingerbread man. It tasted like hay to him. He chewed and chewed and at last with much difficulty he swallowed it.

"It is very good," he said politely.

"Have a cupcake," said Santa

Oonik dutifully ate a cupcake but when Santa offered him another he smiled forlornly and said, "No thank you." Santa helped himself to cookies and cake while Oonik gazed longingly at the seal meat Keotuk was devouring. Then, Santa understood. He got out Keotuk's meat and cut off a large hunk of raw seal blubber and put it in Oonik's hands. Eagerly Oonik gobbled it up.

Then he smiled happily. "That was good!" he said. Santa laughed and laughed. "Now I know what to put in your stocking for Christmas," he said. When they had finished eating they lay down together with Keotuk at their feet and went to sleep.

A Long time later they were awakened by a snorting at the other end of the tunnel, which led into the igloo. Keotuk sprang to his feet and darted to the tunnel. The sled barred the entrance. The hair on the dog's neck bristled and he began to bark furiously.

"You hold Keotuk," said Oonik. "I'll see what it is."

He pushed aside the sled and crawled into the tunnel. When he got near the far end he looked up and saw the entrance was blocked by a big black nose.

His eyes popping. Oonik retreated into the igloo. "It's-it's a huge polar bear!" he gasped. Keotuk broke loose from Santa's hold and threw himself at the tunnel. Just in time Oonik propped the sled back in place and the dog clawed uselessly at it.

"What'll we do?" said Oonik. "We'll never get out!"

Santa took up Oonik's seal spear and said, "I'll get him." Then, while Oonik tied Keotuk to the sled, Santa slid into the tunnel on his stomach.

But Santa was so far and the tunnel was so narrow he could only just fit into it. It was impossible for him to more forward. He slid back into the igloo.

"We'll have to make the tunnel larger," he said.

"But then the bear can get in before we can get out," said Oonik. "Let me try going through he tunnel. I am small and I can use the spear without leaving the tunnel."

Before Santa could protest Oonik slid into the tunnel, pushing the spear along in front of him. By now the bear had punched a larger hole into the ice so that not only his nose but also his whole face was poked into the entrance. When he saw Oonik he sniffed curiously and tried to come closer. Oonik drew back his arm and using all his strength, gave the spear a mighty lunge with the spear straight at the bears face.

The great bear jerked his head with astonishment, his jaws opened and closed on the spear, and with one powerful tug, yanked it and Oonik out of the tunnel.

Next: Bear Fight