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Updated: June 26, 2025
Meetuck showed them how to set about their work; each man made his own garments, and in less than a week they were completed.
These poor fellows do not regard theft in the same light that we do; besides, it would be foolish to risk losing their friendship. Go down, Meetuck, and invite Awatok and his wife, and half a dozen of the chief men, into the cabin. Say I wish to have a talk with them."
On entering he found the couple as he had left them, the only difference being that the poor old woman seemed to be growing sleepy over her joys. "Have you seen Dumps or Poker anywhere?" inquired Fred. Meetuck nodded, and pointed to a corner, where, comfortably rolled up on a mound of dry moss, lay Dumps; Poker, as usual, making use of him as a pillow. "Thems is go bed," said Meetuck.
They travelled without further interruption or mishap, until they drew near to the open water, when suddenly they came upon a deep fissure or crack in the ice about four feet wide, with water in the bottom. Here they came to a dead stop. "Arrah! what's to be done now?" inquired O'Riley. "Indeed I don't know," replied Fred, looking toward Meetuck for advice.
"Thems must get up then and come aboard," cried Fred, whistling. At first the dogs, being sleepy, seemed indisposed to move, but at last they consented, and, following Fred to the beach, were soon conveyed aboard the ship. Next day Captain Guy and his men bade Meetuck and the kind, hospitable people of Uppernavik farewell, and, spreading their canvas to a fair breeze, set sail for England.
The earnest tones in which the last words were spoken convinced his comrades that O'Riley was telling the truth, so, having a decided objection to be placed in similar circumstances, they danced and beat each other until they were quite in a glow. "Why, what are you at there, Meetuck?" exclaimed Fred, pausing. "Igloe, make," replied the Esquimaux. "Ig what?" enquired O'Riley.
Arrah, Meetuck! ye may drive yer coach yerself for me, you may; I've had more nor enough of it." In a few minutes the deer and the hare were lashed to the sledge which the Irishman asserted was a great improvement, inasmuch as the carcass of the former made an excellent seat and they were off again at full gallop over the floes.
Here the Dolphin laid in a supply of dried fish, and procured several dogs, besides an Esquimaux interpreter and hunter, named Meetuck. Leaving this little settlement, they stood out once more to sea, and threaded their way among the ice, with which they were now well acquainted in all its forms, from the mighty berg, or mountain of ice, to the wide field.
It happened that there had been a break in the ice at this point on the previous night, and the floes had been cemented by a sheet of ice only an inch thick. Upon this, to the consternation even of Meetuck himself, they now passed, and in a moment, ere they were aware, they were passing over a smooth, black surface that undulated beneath them like the waves of the sea, and crackled fearfully.
"But come along, we'll soon see." Meetuck now made various ineffectual attempts to dissuade the party from examining the mound, which turned out to be composed of stones heaped upon each other; but as all the conversation of which he was capable failed to enlighten his companions as to what the pile was, they instantly set to work to open a passage into the interior, believing that it might contain fresh provisions, as the Esquimaux were in the habit of thus preserving their superabundant food from bears and wolves.
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