arly yet mysteriously summoned--sometimes by his own
pre-determination, but more frequently by a fellow-mortal.

He had not lain long thus when the tunnel was suddenly darkened by an
advancing body, which proved to be the mistress of the mansion.

Nuna, on thrusting her head into the interior, looked inquiringly up
before venturing to rise. After a good stare at the slumbering
Kablunet, she went cautiously towards the window and removed the
obstruction. A flood of light was let in, which illumined, but did not
awaken, the sleeper.

Cautiously and on tip-toe the considerate little woman went about her
household duties, but with her eyes fixed, as if in fascination, on her
interesting guest.

It is at all times an awkward as well as a dangerous mode of proceeding,
to walk in one direction and look in another. In crossing the hut, Nuna
fell over a walrus skull, upset the lamp, and sent several other
articles of furniture against the opposite wall with a startling crash.
The poor creature did not rise. She was too much overwhelmed with
shame. She merely turned her head as she lay, and cast a horrified gaze
at the sleeper.

To her great joy she saw that Red Rooney had not been disturbed. He
slept through it all with the placidity of an infant. Much relieved,
the little woman got up, and moved about more freely. She replenished
the lamp with oil, and kindled it. Then she proceeded to roast and fry
and grill bear ribs, seal chops, and walrus steaks with a dexterity that
was quite marvellous, considering the rude culinary implements with
which she had to deal. In a short time breakfast was prepared, and Nuna
went out to announce the fact. Slowly and with the utmost caution each
member of the family crept in, and, before rising, cast the same
admiring, inquiring, partially awe-stricken gaze at the unconscious
Kablunet. Okiok, Nunaga, Norrak, Ermigit, and Tumbler all filed in, and
sat down in solemn silence.

Okiok took Tumbler on his knee, so as to be ready to throttle him on the
shortest notice if he should venture to cry, or even crow.

But as the best of human arrangements often fail through unforeseen
circumstances, so the quietude was broken a second time that morning
unexpectedly. One of the hungry dogs outside, rendered desperate by the
delicious fumes that issued from the hut, took heart, dashed in, caught
up a mass of blubber, and attempted to make off. A walrus rib, however,
from Norrak's unerring