The Story of Keesh Page #3

"The Story of Keesh" by Jack London is a gripping short story set in the Arctic wilderness that follows the journey of a young Inuit boy named Keesh. After the death of his father, Keesh struggles to earn respect and prove himself to his tribe. When food becomes scarce due to a lack of successful hunting, he takes matters into his own hands, using his ingenuity and intelligence. Keesh devises an innovative approach to hunting that changes the dynamics of his community and showcases his resourcefulness. The story explores themes of courage, leadership, and the relationship between man and nature, highlighting the transformative power of innovation and determination.

								

followed. The bear grew weak, and never ceased crying from his pain."

"It was a charm!" Ugh-Gluk exclaimed. "Surely it was a charm!"

"It may well be."

And Bim relieved Bawn. "The bear wandered, now this way and now that,
doubling back and forth and crossing his trail in circles, so that at
the end he was near where Keesh had first come upon him. By this time
he was quite sick, the bear, and could crawl no farther, so Keesh came
up close and speared him to death."

"And then?" Klosh-Kwan demanded.

"Then we left Keesh skinning the bear, and came running that the news of
the killing might be told."

And in the afternoon of that day the women hauled in the meat of the bear
while the men sat in council assembled. When Keesh arrived a messenger
was sent to him, bidding him come to the council. But he sent reply,
saying that he was hungry and tired; also that his igloo was large and
comfortable and could hold many men.

And curiosity was so strong on the men that the whole council,
Klosh-Kwan to the fore, rose up and went to the igloo of Keesh. He
was eating, but he received them with respect and seated them according
to their rank. Ikeega was proud and embarrassed by turns, but Keesh was
quite composed.

Klosh-Kwan recited the information brought by Bim and Bawn, and at its
close said in a stern voice: "So explanation is wanted, O Keesh, of thy
manner of hunting. Is there witchcraft in it?"

Keesh looked up and smiled. "Nay, O Klosh-Kwan. It is not for a boy to
know aught of witches, and of witches I know nothing. I have but devised
a means whereby I may kill the ice-bear with ease, that is all. It be
headcraft, not witchcraft."

"And may any man?"

"Any man."

There was a long silence. The men looked in one another's faces, and
Keesh went on eating.

"And ... and ... and wilt thou tell us, O Keesh?" Klosh-Kwan finally
asked in a tremulous voice.

"Yea, I will tell thee." Keesh finished sucking a marrow-bone and rose
to his feet. "It is quite simple. Behold!"

He picked up a thin strip of whalebone and showed it to them. The ends
were sharp as needle-points. The strip he coiled carefully, till it
disappeared in his hand. Then, suddenly releasing it, it sprang straight
again. He picked up a piece of blubber.

"So," he said, "one takes a small chunk of blubber, thus, and thus
makes it hollow. Then into the hollow goes the whalebone, so, tightly
coiled, and another piece of blubber is fitted over the whale-bone.
After that it is put outside where it freezes into a little round
ball. The bear swallows the little round ball, the blubber melts, the
whalebone with its sharp ends stands out straight, the bear gets sick,
and when the bear is very sick, why, you kill him with a spear. It is
quite simple."

And Ugh-Gluk said "Oh!" and Klosh-Kwan said "Ah!" And each said
something after his own manner, and all understood.

And this is the story of Keesh, who lived long ago on the rim of the
polar sea. Because he exercised headcraft and not witchcraft, he rose
from the meanest igloo to be head man of his village, and through all
the years that he lived, it is related, his tribe was prosperous, and
neither widow nor weak one cried aloud in the night because there was no
meat.
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