culiarities, however,
although extremely interesting, were not observed by any of the actors
on that occasion--except, perhaps, by Benjy, who, being sharp-witted,
had a knack of seeing round a corner at times!

When the contents of the case were turned out, they proved to consist of
several coils of rope, and a large square bundle. The uncording of the
latter intensified the expectation of the Eskimo to boiling point, and
when the brown paper was removed, and a roll of something with a
strange, not to say bad, smell was displayed, they boiled over in a
series of exclamations to which the former "huks" and "hos" were mere
child's play. But when the roll was unrolled, and assumed a flat shape
not unlike the skin of a huge walrus, they gave a shout. Then, when the
Captain, opening a smaller package, displayed a pair of bellows like a
concertina, they gave a gasp. When he applied these to a hole in the
flat object, and caused it slowly to swell, they uttered a roar, and
when, finally, they saw the flat thing transformed into a goodly-sized
boat, they absolutely squealed with delight, and began to caper about in
childlike joy.

In this manner, three cases were opened, and three boats produced. Then
the Magician, who went about his work in perfect silence, with a knowing
smile on his lips, opened several longish boxes, which Leo had guessed
to be filled with fishing-rods or spare rifles, but which, it turned
out, contained oars for the india-rubber boats. After that, the Captain
opened another large case, which roused the surprise of his white
followers as much as that of the natives.

"It looks like one of mother's silk dresses," remarked Benjy, as the new
wonder was dragged forth.

"Too voluminous for that," said Alf.

"A balloon!" exclaimed Leo.

"No, boys, it's only a kite," said the Captain, unfolding it. "I
confess it does not look very like one, but its appearance will change
by and by."

And its appearance did change remarkably as it was opened out and put
together.

The construction of this kite was peculiar. In the first place, it was
square in form, or, rather, diamond-shaped, and its size, when fully
distended, was eighteen feet by fourteen.

"The simplicity of it, you see," said the Captain, as he put it
together, "is its great recommendation."

He ceased to speak for a few moments, while engaged with a troublesome
joint, and Benjy took advantage of the pause to express a hope that
simplicit