THE WORLD OF ICE. 209

propensity for thieving. Having succeeded in making
two of their chief men prisoners, he felt assured that
the lost telescope and hatchet would soon make their
appearance ; and in this he was not mistaken. Going
to the hold where the prisoners sat with downcast
looks, he addressed to them a lengthened speech as to
the sin and meanness of stealing in general, and of
stealing from those who had been kind to them in
particular. He explained to them the utter hopeless-
ness of their attempting to deceive or impose upon
the white men in any way whatever, and assured
them that if they tried that sort of thing again he
would punish them severely ; but that if they behaved
well, and brought plenty of walrus-flesh to the ship,
he would give them hoop-iron, beads, looking-glasses,
ete. These remarks seemed to make a considerable
impression on his uncouth hearers.

“ And now,” said the captain in conclusion, “I shall
keep Awatok and his wife and child prisoners here,
until my telescope and hatchet are returned [Awatok’s
visage fell, and his wife looked stolid], and I shall
send Oosuck to his tribe [Oosuck’s face lit up amaz-
ingly] to tell them what I have said.”

In accordance with this resolve Oosuck was set
free, and, making use of his opportunity, with prompt
alacrity he sped away on foot over the ice to the
southward, and was quickly lost to view.

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