240 THE WORLD OF ICE.

“ They’re all deserted too,” remarked Buzzby.

But Buzzby was wrong, for at that moment a very
small and particularly fat little boy in a fox-skin
dress appeared at the mouth of one of the low tunnels
that formed the entrance to the nearest hut. This
boy looked exactly like a lady's muff with a hairy
head above it and a pair of feet below. The instant
he observed the strangers he threw up his arms,
uttered a shrill cry of amazement, and disappeared in
the tunnel. Next instant a legion of dogs rushed
out of the huts barking furiously, and on their heels
came the entire population, creeping on their hands
and knees out of the tunnel mouths like dark hairy
monsters issuing from their holes. They had spears
and knives of ivory with them; but a glance showed
the two parties that they were friends, and in a few
moments Awatok and his comrades were chattering
vociferously round the sailors, and endeavouring by
word and sign to make themselves understood.

The Esquimaux received the three visitors and the
rest of the sledge party, who came up a few hours
later, with the utmost hospitality. But we have not
space to tell of how they dragged them into their
smoky huts of snow; and how they offered them
raw seal-flesh to eat; and how, on the sailors ex-
pressing disgust, they laughed, and added moss mixed
with oil to their lamps to enable them to cook their
food; and how they managed by signs and otherwise
to understand that the strangers had come in search
of food, at which they (the Esquimaux) were not sur-