hat we were good hunters, they were now going to marry us right
off, that we might have wives to cut up our seals when we brought them
home, which proposition put us in a great embarrassment. If we refused,
they might be offended, as was very natural; so I accepted their offer
at once without a moment's hesitation, appearing as if I was very glad,
and thought it a great compliment indeed; but at the same time I told
them, with a very grave face, that all our relations lived in a far-off
country, to which we were obliged to go as soon as a ship came that way;
and, of course, when we did go, the wives they gave us would go along.
As none of the young women were willing to take us on these conditions,
although not very flattering to us, we got out of the difficulty without
offending anybody. At first the Dean was quite indignant, but afterwards
he laughed, and said, 'Why, just think of it! Mrs. Hardy and Mrs. Dean
in seal-skin breeches and long boots,--a jolly idea indeed!' But one of
the girls was fond enough of the Dean for all, only she mustn't show it;
for these people are mighty particular about that. When all is arranged
by the parents, the girl is obliged, even then, to say she won't have
her lover. So the lover has to steal up, and take her unawares, and run
off with her bodily. Of coarse, if she really likes the fellow, and
wants to get married to him, he has an easy time enough of it; but if,
on the other hand, she dislikes him, she can readily get away from him.

"Old Grim (whose right name was Metak, meaning eider-duck) had an
adventure of this sort, as they told me, which resulted very differently
from what usually happens. He was then quite a young man, but, having
caught a seal, he thought it was time he had a wife. Meanwhile a wife
had been provided for him by his father, who had made the bargain with
the girl's father. The girl was told who her husband was to be, but it
would have been against all rules to tell her when he was coming after
her. Well, as I have said, having caught his first seal, Metak made up
his mind to have a wife to butcher it for him; so he set out for the
snow hut of his lady-love's father, where the dusky-faced girl was lying
fast asleep, all rolled up in furs.

"As it was contrary to custom for any girl to be captured in a hut, but
must be taken on the wing, as it were, Metak had to wait for her to come
out, which she finally did, and passed very near a deep bank of snow,
behind whi