03/11/2004: "Schnook"

By Carol J. Warren

Once upon a time in the frozen North Country their lived a small tribe of Eskimos. They lived on the fish and wild game of the area. Every year before the great freeze they would make the long journey to the south to their winter home because nothing could live in the North Country when the great freeze hit. But one year as they were preparing for their great journey to the south, they noticed the skies were already turning gray. “The freeze will hit early this year,” said their leader, “ We must work quickly to survive.”

The people worked hard and fast tying their belongings to the dog sleds and rounding up all the people that lived outside the camp to begin the journey. Their leader could feel the cold coming. “We must travel now even though it is night,” their wise leader said, “I know you are tired from the days work and it is cold but if the freeze catches us here we will all die.” So they began their journey in the cold dark night.

But as the light of day began to break on the small tribe so did the great freeze. The wise leader told all the men to quickly use their hatchets to chop out blocks of ice to make a lodge large enough for everyone to lodge in. It did not take long to build the large ice lodge and move everyone inside. It was cold but not as cold as it was outside. They could hear the wind tearing across the landscape turning over anything in its path. They were glad they had a wise leader that could sense the great freeze was coming early.

The wise leader stood to be heard, as much as one can stand in an igloo. Everyone turned their attention to him. We feel safe because the large blocks of ice protect us from the fierce wind and cold but we will not be safe for long,” the wise leader said solemnly, “we only brought enough food to see us safely to our winter home. There we knew we would have good fishing and hunting. But now we are stranded here for the winter and our food supply will not last until the great freeze is over. We must decide what we will do for food if we are to survive.”

Several people offered suggestions. One said try to travel through the storm, but that was no longer possible. One said go back to the camp they left but there was nothing there to sustain them. A couple of brave strong men said they would brave to storm in search for food and return with food to survive on. The wise leader listened to all of the suggestions. He thought over each of the possibilities. He felt that sending two of the men to brave the storm in search of game was their only chance.

The men prepared in silence. Everyone knew how dangerous this was going to be. They might never return. But for the good of their tribe they must try. If they did not succeed then the whole tribe would be in danger of dying. They bundled tightly against the strong wind and cold. They took their spears and harpoons and left. Day after day the little tribe waited but finally even the most hopeful had to admit they were not going to return. Two more men were selected from the tribe. They took the last of the spears and harpoons with them. The rest of the weapons had been buried by the ice storm outside. Quietly they went in the early morning, hoping for some light in the sky but there was none. Again the small group waited and waited but the brave team never returned.

The wise leader was very worried. He told the people it is time to fast and pray and seek the Lord because only the Lord could save them now. The people agreed and turned their hearts as one to seek the Lord.

Schnook was still a young man not yet fully grown. He told his mom I will go bring back food for the tribe, because the Lord is with me I will succeed. His mother scolded him, “This is not a game for a boy to play. Men have died trying this, what can a young man not fully grown do?”

But Schnook insisted that it was not because he was bigger or stronger but that the Lord would give him success. One of the neighbors heard his words and said, “Perhaps the Lord is with this lad. Whether is better to stay here and die or to die seeing if the Lord is truly with him and will deliver him, who are we to say? How can we stop such a one?” So she took the lad by the hand and led him to the wise leader. She told the wise leader all the lad’s words and how brave he was.

The wise leader said, “Other men stronger have been brave as well. What will save this lad from the storm?”

“Because the Lord is with me,” Schnook said, “He will prosper my way. If I die, I die. I would rather die trying to save my people than sitting here in great sorrow of heart. Give me a chance and you will not be disappointed.”

“To bring back food you must have something to trap or hunt with,” said the wise leader; “All of our weapons are frozen solid in the ice of the storm. What will you hunt with?” he asked.

Schnook held up a strong length of string and a large fishing hook. “I will make myself a small ice house on the frozen lake and cut a hole. I will tie the string around my waist so I will not loose my only hook and I will fish. When I have many fish I will carry them back to this lodge so my people will not die.”

The leader considered the desperation of the situation and the bravery of the lad. “I will let you go,” said the wise leader, “But with every move you make, know that your people’s lives depend on you and the Lord who is with you. Be strong and of good courage and behave yourself like a brave man for your Lord and for your people.”

The lad felt so proud and strong at that moment. He kissed his mother and prepared to leave. No amount of clothing or preparation could prepare you for the fierceness of the wind. Its icy fingers like unsheathed daggers attacking your face and eyes. As he learned from the elders he crouched near the ground to move low to the ground so the wind would blow over him and he would not be such a large target for the wind as he would if he were facing the wind head on.

He moved slowly and painfully feeling the numbing cold through out his being. He could only hope he was heading in the right direction because there was no hint of sky to tell him what direction he was going. He could only remember that the door of igloo faced south so he must be heading south which should bring him to the frozen lake. Part of him wanted to run back to the warmth of his mother’s love but the man in him knew his people had put their lives in his young hands, so he pressed on. Finally he came to the frozen lake and began to slowly carve out the blocks of ice to make a small igloo to fish from.

Once in side away from the fierce wind he began to warm up and remember his plans. That he had even made it this far was a miracle. He took the time to thank the Lord and rejoice in His goodness to him. He began to cut the ice with his hatchet until the hole was big enough for him to fish in. He had been ice fishing before but never when the ice was so thick. He did not have bait for his hook but the hook was shiny and the shine of it alone would attract the fish. At least he hoped it would. He waited with his legs braced against the side of the igloo in case a big fish bit the hook, he would not be pulled into the water.

The string was tied around his waste. It was the only hook he had and he could not afford to lose it. He waited for a long time without even a nibble. He was tired of waiting but knew he could not give up. Schnook was almost asleep when the line was pulled violently into the water. If his legs had not been braced against the walls he would have been pulled into the water headfirst. Schnook pulled back on the string. The string did not pull back. “That was strange,” he thought peering over the edge to see if he could catch a glimpse of something.

Suddenly a large monster with a long mouth lined with large sharp teeth burst out of the water at Schnook. It was flailing wildly from side to side tearing the little ice hole larger. He was furious about the hook in his mouth that he could not shake loose. Schnook jumped back just in time to keep his head. He leaned back as far as he could from the thrashing of the great monster. He had heard of such monsters like giant gar that lived in the icy depths but he had never seen such a monster. It was terrifying.

When the monster couldn’t shake the hook loose or grab the youth he plunged again to the depths of the sea but Schnook braced his legs against the dive and would not let go. Once when his uncle had caught a fish too large for their boat he had cut the string and let the great fish go. “It is better to be alive in the boat,” said his uncle, “than to catch the fish from the inside.” Schnook remembered these wise words but he could not heed them this time. This was his only hook and the lives and safety of the entire tribe depended on what he did here. He must be brave and trust in the Lord. So the Schnook called on the Lord and held on tight. The great beast circled for a long time. Schnook began to think the line had broken and the fight was over but that is what the beast wanted him to think. He wanted him to slack off and give up, then when he least expected it the great beast lunged at him coming high up out of the water trying to lop off his head with its great sharp teeth.

Schnook pushed back further as the ice hole crumbled against the thrashing of the great monster. He used his hatched to cut two quick holes in the ice for his heels to dig into as he braced himself against the monsters attack. Then as quickly as it had attacked it dove again downwards almost pulling Schnook in behind him but he braced himself with all of his strength.

Schnook knew now there would be another attack. There was no time to be tired or regroup he must be prepared at any moment. He backed up to brace himself again but now he was in the small tunnel entryway of the igloo. He chopped new holes to brace his feet and waited again. This time the beast did not wait long before he again returned to thrashing wildly about. Schnook’s foot was caught by the edge of the monsters teeth and he could feel the outer covering of his boots were torn. Quickly the monster dove again, pulling on the line with great force but Schnook was not going to give up so easily.

Again Schnook had to quickly back up and make new footholds because the hole was growing larger than the igloo itself. Schnook could feel the cold wind on his back as he was almost outside the igloo now but still he braced himself for the next attack. He was not disappointed. The great beast tried something different this time. It thrashed away from Schnook hoping the thrashing would pull him into the hole where the beast could gobble him up. It took all the strength Schnook had to brace himself against this massive attack but he stood his ground and once again the beast dove down.

Schnooks hands were bleeding through his gloves from the force of the fight. He must back up again because the hole had become so large that the little igloo crumbled into the water. Now Schnook was in the freezing wind with nothing to protect him from the icy cold. But still he used his hatchet to make new footholds and hang on. It didn’t matter if he were tired and cold, his people were depending on him, he must not give up.

Again and again the beast came up to thrash about and again and again Schnook would back up and cut new footholds. Bloody icicles hung from his hands and you could not see his face from the splashed water that had frozen on it. He was numb and he hurt all over. The cord he had tied around his waste was cutting into his waste even through his coat from all the pulling and tugging. His waste was bruised and bleeding. Schnook no longer remembered why he was fighting only that he must fight. It all became mechanical and he just wanted it all to be over with. Soon all he new was back up or the great teeth will eat you. Then the numbness and pain took over and the beast could tell Schnook would not last much longer.

The monster eyed him warily the last time he thrashed about knowing that soon a surprise dive would catch this weary one off guard and the fish would catch the fisherman. Certainly this might have been the case if things hadn’t begun to change. The wind began to die down. The winds this time of year never die down until springtime. But now the wind was calm. Schnook looked around and noticed that he was not cutting notches into the frozen water any longer but into the ice on the land. But Schnook was tired and he wanted to cut the string. He could do it. Perhaps God would deliver his people another way, surely there was another way. Why did it have to be only him?

Then Schnook heard a still small voice in his heart saying, “Don’t give up Schnook, I am with you. Hold tight and you will win.” It was the Lord. Surely the Lord knew best. If He said it was so then it was so. He could hold on just a little longer. Again the beast thrashed about pulling harder than ever but Schnook was not taken by surprise, half frozen and still full of pain he had a new determination. He dug in his heals and pulled with all his might. “Pull” He could hear the Lord saying, so Schnook pulled with all the strength he had left.

Schnook’s eyes had been closed as he concentrated on pulling but the snap of teeth near his head caused him to look up. He was pulling the beast out of the water onto the land and the beast was trying to slide over to Schnook and snap off his head. Schnook’s limbs were too frozen for any quick moves, so he just shut his eyes and kept pulling like the Lord had said.

Some where along the way Schnook must have passed out; he came too amazed that he was still alive and looked around. The beast had done everything it could to get to Schnook but had not been able to. It had died unable to breath for long out of the water and lay close enough to Schnook that he could reach out and touch it, if he could move. He was frozen stiff.

“So I have won the battle but I and my people will still die?” Schnook asked the Lord. “How can this be called a victory?” Then to Schnook’s amazement warmth seemed to flood him. He could move his arms and legs at least a little. “Cut the string now and burrow into the snow and sleep like the sled dogs do.” said the Lord. So Schnook cut the string without thinking about it and burrowed a hallow spot into a snow bank. He curled up and went to sleep. When he awoke he was still very tired and hungry. He knew he was still not strong enough to make it back to camp.

The Lord told him to cut a piece of meat from the monsters back and eat it and then to burrow back into the snow bank and sleep again. The beast was frozen and so the meat had kept well. Schnook cut a piece out of it’s back and chewed on it as he burrowed back into the snow bank and went back to sleep. Finally Schnook awoke. He felt sore and stiff but much stronger. The storm was still calm which amazed him. Schnook thanked the Lord for this was indeed a miracle.

He took the string still in the beast’s mouth and pulled the beast home like a sled. The people were amazed to see him and the food he brought. No one had ever caught such a beast. Though the people prayed for him, he had been gone so long they were sure he was dead. But now the tribe shouted and rejoiced for the beast was enough to feed the entire tribe until the spring thaw. Schnook recounted his story again and again. But always the outcome was the same, it was not his great strength or his courage that had saved him but the miracle hand of the Lord and his great intervention.

Have you ever felt so cold and numb and battle weary that you just wanted to quit but you know you are the only one praying your family through and others look to you to lead the way to the Lord. Don’t give up, the Lord will see you through it all and looking back you will know the great battle was worth it. It only takes one David to kill Goliath and it only take one person to stand fasting and praying to see their family or church through to freedom. Don’t say you are too young in the Lord or too small, say through the Lord I can do all things and watch your miracle unfold.