e his position from inheritance, but
from the circumstance of his being a successful hunter, a splendid
canoe-man, and a tremendous fighter.

When it is added that his fights were often single-handed against the
Polar bear, it may be understood that both his activity and courage were
great. He was not an angekok, for, like his friend Angut, he did not
believe in wizards; nevertheless he was very truly an angekok, in the
sense of being an uncommonly wise man, and his countrymen, recognising
the fact, paid him suitable respect.

Okiok possessed a town and a country mansion. That is to say, besides
the solitary residence already mentioned, close to the great glacier, he
owned the largest hut in the Eskimo village. It was indeed quite a
palatial residence, capable of holding several families, and having
several holes in it--or windows--which were glazed, if we may say so,
with the scraped intestines of animals.

It was to this residence that Okiok drove on the afternoon of the day
that he missed Ippegoo's visit.

On finding that most of the men had gone southward to hunt, he resolved
to follow them, for his purpose was to consult about the Kablunet, who
had so recently fallen like a meteor from the sky into their midst.

"But you will stop here, Nuna, with Nunaga, and tell the women all about
the Kablunet, while I go south alone. Make a feast; you have plenty to
give them. Here, help me to carry the things inside."

Okiok had brought quite a sledge-load of provisions with him, for it had
been his intention to give a feast to as many of the community as could
be got inside his hut. The carrying in of the supplies, therefore,
involving as it did creeping on hands and knees through a low tunnel
with each article, was not a trifling duty.

"Now," said he, when at last ready to start, "be sure that you ask the
liars and the stupid ones to the feast, as well as the wise; and make
them sit near you, for if these don't hear all about it from your own
mouth they will be sure to carry away nonsense, and spread it. Don't
give them the chance to invent."

While her husband was rattling away south over the hummocky sea in his
empty sledge, Nuna lighted her lamps, opened her stores, and began to
cook.

"Go now, Nunaga," she said, "and tell the women who are to feed with us
to-night."

"Who shall I invite, mother?" asked pretty little Nunaga, preparing to
set forth on her mission.

"Invite old Kannoa, of course. She