Rooney.

"I am more than glad," exclaimed the Eskimo with enthusiasm; "I have not
language to tell of what is in my mind. I have heard of Kablunets,
dreamed of them, thought of them. _Now_ my longings are gratified--I
behold one! I have been told that Kablunets know nearly everything; _I_
know next to nothing. We will talk much. It seems to me as if I had
been born only to-day. Come; let us begin!"

"My friend, you expect too much," replied Rooney, with a laugh, as he
sat down to devote himself to the bear-steak which Nunaga had placed
before him. "I am but an average sort of sailor, and can't boast of
very much education, though I have a smattering; but we have men in my
country who do seem to know 'most everything--wise men they are. We
call them philosophers; you call 'em angekoks. Here, won't you go in
for a steak or a rib? If you were as hungry as I am, you'd be only too
glad and thankful to have the chance."

Angut accepted a rib, evidently under the impression that the Kablunet
would think it impolite were he to refuse. He began to eat, however, in
a languid manner, being far too deeply engaged with mental food just
then to care for grosser forms of nourishment.

"Tell me," said the Eskimo, who was impatient to begin his catechising,
"do your countrymen all dress like this?" He touched the sealskin coat
worn by the sailor.

"O no," said Rooney, laughing; "I only dress this way because I am in
Eskimo land, and it is well suited to the country; but the men in my
land--Ireland we call it--dress in all sorts of fine cloth, made from
the hair of small animals--Why, what do you stare at, Angut? Oh, I
see--my knife! I forgot that you are not used to such things, though
you have knives--stone ones, at least. This one, you see, is made of
steel, or iron--the stuff, you know, that the southern Eskimos bring
sometimes to barter with you northern men for the horns of the narwhal
an' other things."

"Yes, I have seen iron, but never had any," said Angut, with a little
sigh; "they bring very little of it here. The Innuits of the South
catch nearly the whole of it on its journey north, and they keep it."

"Greedy fellows!" said Rooney. "Well, this knife is called a
clasp-knife, because it shuts and opens, as you see, and it has three
blades--a big one for cuttin' up your victuals with, as you see me
doin'; and two little ones for parin' your nails and pickin' your teeth,
an' mendin' pens an' pencils--th