hich marked the dead animals, called
out:

"Ootah hath won Annadoah--hah-hah-hah! Hah! Ootah hath won Annadoah
only to lose her! We shall take Ootah's catch to Annadoah, but Ootah
sleeps. Ootah hath gone to taste the water in the country of the dead!
Hah-hah!"

At that moment Maisanguaq nearly fell from his kayak.

"Methinks thou wilt perhaps join the fishes first, friend Maisanguaq,"
a familiar voice laughed joyously behind him.

Maisanguaq's face became livid with dismay. Had the _angakoq_ failed?
And why?

Turning, he saw Ootah, not far away, clambering from the water onto the
floe. He was unscathed by the mishap--the water even had not
penetrated his skin garments. A joyous cry arose from the hunters as
they saw him running to and fro, working his arms to get up
circulation. Noting Maisanguaq's scowling face, Ootah twitted him:

"Laugh, friend Maisanguaq," he said, "for winter comes and then thy
teeth will chatter." Maisanguaq scowled deeply--Ootah's blithesome
remarks filled him with rancor.

"Peace, Maisanguaq. Methinks thou, too, lovest Annadoah," continued
Ootah kindly. "Therefor, I hear thee no spite! For who cannot love
Annadoah. _Ka--ka!_ Come--come!" Shaking the water from him, he bade
the others tow his kayak to the floe.

Ootah entered his kayak. The struggles of the walrus had subsided, and
only two skin floats bobbed feebly on top of the waves. The hunters
now strung series of kayaks together with strong leather ropes, three
skin boats being attached in a catamaran. Taking up the leather floats
one by one, to the rear kayak of each series the hunters fastened the
harpoon lines which secured the prey. Thus the animals were to be
towed slowly ashore.

Altogether eight walrus had been secured; four of these had fallen to
the skill of Ootah. Ootah sang for joy. Again he had achieved
distinction on the hunt, and so, with all the better chances of
success, he believed he might pursue his suit for the hand of Annadoah.
With powerful, steady strokes of their paddles the hunters, in their
processions of kayaks, towed the walrus through the sea shoreward.
They joined unrestrainedly in Ootah's hunting chant. Only Maisanguaq
was silent.

Now and then, unable to restrain his exuberant joy, Ootah sang his love
to the clouds, the waves, the winds.

"O winds, O happy winds, speed my message to Annadoah!" he called.
"Tell her that I return with the food of the sea! O spirits of the