s have been wrong."

"In what respect, Angut?"

"It has often come into my mind that the greatest fools in the world
were to be found among the Innuit; but there must be greater fools in
the lands you tell of."

As he spoke the sound of child-voices arrested them, and one was heard
to utter the name of Nunaga. The two men paused to listen. They were
close to the entrance to the ice-cave, which was on the side of the berg
opposite to the spot where the games were being held, and the voices
were recognised as those of Pussi and Tumbler. With the indomitable
perseverance that was natural to him, the latter had made a second
attempt to lead Pussi to the cave, and had been successful.

"What is he goin' to do?" asked Pussi, in a voice of alarm.

"Goin' to run away vid sister Nunaga," replied Tumbler. "I heard
Ippegoo say dat to his mudder. Ujarak is goin' to take her away, an'
nebber, nebber come back no more."

There was silence after this, silence so dead and prolonged that the
listeners began to wonder. It was suddenly broken. Evidently the
horrified Pussi had been gathering up her utmost energies, for there
burst from the sea-green depths of the cave a roar of dismay so
stupendous that Angut and our seaman ran hastily forward, under the
impression that some accident had occurred; but the children were
sitting there all safe--Tumbler gazing in surprise at his companion,
whose eyes were tight shut and her mouth wide-open.

The truth is that Pussi loved and was beloved by Nunaga, and the boy's
information had told upon her much more powerfully than he had expected.
Of course Tumbler was closely questioned by Angut, but beyond the scrap
of information he had already given nothing more was to be gathered from
him. The two friends were therefore obliged to rest content with the
little they had learned, which was enough to put them on their guard.

Ere long the sinking of the sun put an end to the games, but not before
the whole community had kick-balled themselves into a state of utter
incapacity for anything but feeding.

To this process they now devoted themselves heart and soul, by the light
of the cooking-lamps, within the shelter of their huts. The feast was
indeed a grand one. Not only had they superabundance of the dishes
which we have described in a previous chapter, but several others of a
nature so savoury as to be almost overpowering to the poor man who was
the honoured guest of the evening. But