. "In the first place, they don't
wear boots the whole length of their legs like you, Nuna."

"Surely, then," remarked the hostess, "their legs must be cold?"

"By no means, for they cover 'em well up with loose flapping garments,
extending from the waist all the way down to the feet. Then they don't
wear hoods like you, but stick queer things on their heads, of all
shapes and sizes--sometimes of no shape at all and very small size--
which they cover over with feathers, an' flowers, an' fluttering things
of all colours, besides lots of other gimcracks."

How Rooney rendered "gimcracks" into Eskimo we are not prepared to say,
but the whole description sent Nunaga and her mother into fits of
giggling, for those simple-minded creatures of the icy north--unlike
sedate Europeans--are easily made to laugh.

At this point Angut struck in again, for he felt that the conversation
was becoming frivolous.

"Tell me, Kablunet," he began; but Rooney interrupted him.

"Don't call me Kablunet. Call me Red Rooney. It will be more
friendly-like, and will remind me of my poor shipmates."

"Then tell me, Ridroonee," said Angut, "is it true what I have heard,
that your countrymen can make marks on flat white stuff, like the thin
skin of the duck, which will tell men far away what they are thinking
about?"

"Ay, that's true enough," replied the sailor, with an easy smile of
patronage; "we call it writing."

A look of grave perplexity rested on the visage of the Eskimo.

"It's quite easy when you understand it, and know how to do it,"
continued Rooney; "nothing easier."

A humorous look chased away the Eskimo's perplexity as he replied--

"Everything is easy when you understand it."

"Ha! you have me there, Angut," laughed the sailor; "you're a 'cute
fellow, as the Yankees say. But come, I'll try to show you how easy it
is. See here." He pulled a small note-book from his pocket, and drew
thereon the picture of a walrus. "Now, you understand that, don't you?"

"Yes; _we_ draw like that, and understand each other."

"Well, then, we put down for that w-a-l-r-u-s; and there you have it--
walrus; nothing simpler!"

The perplexed look returned, and Angut said--

"That is not very easy to understand. Yet I see something--always the
same marks for the same beast; other marks for other beasts?"

"Just so. You've hit it!" exclaimed Rooney, quite pleased with the
intelligence of his pupil.

"But how if it is not a beast