self in
masticating a lump of raw walrus flesh, much to the amusement of Fred,
and to the disgust, real or pretended, of O'Riley. But the Irishman,
and Fred too, and every man on board the _Dolphin_, came at last to
_relish_ raw meat, and to long for it. The Esquimaux prefer it raw in
these parts of the world (although some travellers assert that in more
southern latitudes they prefer cooked meat), and with good reason, for
it is much more nourishing than cooked flesh; and learned, scientific
men, who have wintered in the Arctic regions, have distinctly stated
that in those cold countries they found raw meat to be better for them
than cooked meat, and they assure us that they at last came to _prefer_
it! We would not have our readers to begin forthwith to dispense with
the art of cookery, and cast Soyer to the dogs; but we would have them
henceforth refuse to accept that common opinion, and vulgar error, that
Esquimaux eat their food raw _because they are savages_. They do it
because nature teaches them that, under the circumstances, it is best.

The duty that devolved upon O'Riley was to roast small steaks of the
walrus, in which operation he was assisted by West, while Fred undertook
to get out the biscuit-bag and pewter plates, and to infuse the coffee
when the water should boil. It was a strange feast in a strange place,
but it proved to be a delightful one; for hunger requires not to be
tempted, and is not fastidious.

"Oh, but it's good, isn't it?" remarked O'Riley, smacking his lips, as
he swallowed a savoury morsel of the walrus and tossed the remnant--a
sinewy bit--to Dumps, who sat gazing sulkily at the flame of the lamp,
having gorged himself long before the bipeds began supper.

"Arrah! ye won't take it, won't ye? Here, Poker!"

Poker sprang forward, wagging the stump of his tail, and turned his head
to one side, as if to say: "Well, what's up? Any fun going?"

"Here, take that, old boy; Dumps is sulky."

Poker took it at once, and a single snap caused it to vanish. He, too,
had finished supper, and evidently ate the morsel to please the
Irishman.

"Hand me the coffee, Meetuck," said Fred. "The biscuit lies beside you,
don't give in so soon, man."

"Thank you, sir, I have about done."

"Meetuck, ye haythen, try a bit o' the roast; do now, av it was only to
plaaze me."

Meetuck shook his head quietly, and, cutting a _fifteenth_ lump off the
mass of raw walrus that lay beside him, proceede