iar to the Eskimo race, he laughed outright, and then,
seizing the cap from Merkut's head, put it above his own to the
amusement of his grinning followers.

Leo then selected a glittering clasp-knife with two blades, which the
chief seized eagerly. It was evidently a great prize--too serious a
gift to be lightly laughed at. Then a comb was presented to the wife,
and a string of gay beads, and a pair of scissors. Of course the uses
of combs and scissors had he explained, and deep was the interest
manifested during the explanation, and utter the forgetfulness of the
whole party for the time being in regard to everything else in the
world--Oblooria included, who sat unnoticed on the rocks with her face
still buried in her hands.

When Grabantak's possessions were so numerous that the hood of his coat,
and the tops of his wife's boots were nearly filled with them, he became
generous, and, prince-like, (having more than he knew what to do with),
began to distribute things to his followers.

Among these followers was a tall and stalwart son of his own, to whom he
was rather stern, and not very liberal. Perhaps the chief wished to
train him with Spartan ideas of self-denial. Perhaps he wanted his
followers to note his impartiality. Merkut did not, however, act on the
same principles, for she quietly passed a number of valuable articles
over to her dear son Koyatuk, unobserved by his stern father.

Things had gone on thus pleasantly for some time; the novelty of the
gifts, and the interest in their explanation having apparently rendered
these people forgetful of the fact that they might take them all at
once; when a sudden change in the state of affairs was wrought by the
utterance of one word.

"We must not," said Leo to Anders, looking at his follower over the
heads of the Eskimos, "forget poor little Oblooria."

"Oblooria!" roared Grabantak with a start, as if he had been
electrified.

"Oblooria!" echoed Koyatuk, glaring round.

"Oblooria!" gasped the entire band.

Another moment and Grabantak, bursting through the crowd, leaped towards
the crouching girl and raised her face. Recognising her he uttered a
yell which probably was meant for a cheer.

Hurrying the frightened girl into the circle through which he had
broken, the chief presented her to his son, and, with an air worthy of a
civilised courtier, said:--

"Your _wife_, Koyatuk--your Oblooria!--Looria!"

He went over the last syllables several tim