e on the
berg, on the sides of which groups of the women and children had already
taken up positions.

It may be remarked here that the snow-covered ice on which the game of
ball had been played was like a sheet of white marble, but not so hard,
for a heavy stamp with a heel could produce an indentation, though no
mark was left by the ordinary pressure of a foot.

The competitors in the game of strength, or rather, of endurance, were
only two in number. One was Okiok's eldest son, Norrak, the other the
clumsy young man to whom reference has been already made. The former,
although the smaller and much the younger of the two, was remarkably
strong for his age.

These two engaged in a singular style of boxing, in which, strange to
say, the combatants did not face each other, nor did they guard or jump
about. Stripped to the waist, like real heroes of the ring, they walked
up to each other, and the clumsy youth turned his naked back to Norrak,
who doubled his fist, and gave him a sounding thump thereon. Then
Norrak wheeled about and submitted to a blow, which was delivered with
such good-will that he almost tumbled forward. Again he turned about,
and the clumsy one presented his back a second time; and thus they
continued to pommel each other's backs until they began to pant
vehemently. At last Norrak hit his adversary such a whack on the right
shoulder that he absolutely spun him round, and caused him to roll over
on his back, amid the plaudits of the assembly.

The clumsy one rose with a somewhat confused look, but was not allowed
to continue the battle. There was no such thing as fighting it out "to
the bitter end" among these hilarious Eskimos. In fact, they were
playing, not fighting.

At this point Simek approached Rooney with a smiling countenance, and
said--

"There is another game of strength which we sometimes play, and it is
the custom to appoint a man to choose the players. Will the Kablunet
act this part to-day?"

Of course our seaman was quite ready to comply. After a few moments'
consideration, he looked round, with a spice of mischief in his heart,
but a smile on his countenance, and said--

"What could be more agreeable than to see the striving of two such good
friends as Angut my host and Ujarak the angekok?"

There was a sudden silence and opening of eyes at this, for every one
was well aware that a latent feeling of enmity existed between these
two, and their personal strength and c