he sea-lice. And the outermost layer of skins
on the boat was eaten away before they got through them.

Now they rowed onwards again, and saw once more a black ripple
ahead. When they came to the place, they saw that it was the
sea-serpents. And once again they slipped through with the loss of
one layer of skins.

Having now but one layer of skins left, they went in great fear of
what they might chance to meet next. But without seeing anything
strange, they rounded a point, and came in sight of a place with many
houses. Hardly had they come into land when the strangers caught hold
of their boat, and hauled it up, so that Asaloq had no need to help.

And now it was learned that these were folk who had a strong man in
their midst. Asaloq had been but a short time in one of the houses,
when they heard the sound of one coming from outside and in through
the passage way; it was the strong man's talebearer boy, and to make
matters worse, a boy with a squint.

And now the people of the house said:

"Now that wretched boy will most certainly tell him you are here." And
indeed, the boy was just about to run out again, when they caught
hold of him and set him up behind the lamp. But hardly had they
turned their backs on him for a moment, when he slipped out before
any could move, and they heard the sound of his running footsteps
in the snow without. And after a while, the window grew red with a
constant filling of faces looking in to say:

"We are sent to bid the stranger come."

And since there was no help for it, Asaloq went up there with
them. When he came into the house, it was full of people, and he
looked round and saw the strong man far in on the big bench. And at the
moment Asaloq caught sight of him, the strong man said in a deep voice:

"Let us have a wrestling match."

And as he spoke, the others drew out a skin from under the bench,
and spread it on the floor. And after the skin had been spread out,
food was brought in. And Asaloq ate till there was no more left. But
as he rose, all that he had eaten fell out of his stomach. And then
they began pulling arms.

And now Asaloq began mightily pulling the arms of all the men there,
until the skin was worn from his arm, leaving the flesh almost bare.

And when he had straightened out all their arms, he went out of that
house the strongest of all, and went out to his umiak and rowed away
southwards with his wife. And when they had rowed a little way,
they came