Page:Eskimo Folk-Tales (1921).djvu/30

 QUJÂVÂRSSUK

STRONG man had land at Ikerssuaq. The only other one there was an old man, one who lived on nothing but devil-fish; when the strong man had caught more than he needed, the old man had always plenty of meat, which was given him in exchange for his fish.

The strong one, men say, he who never failed to catch seal when he went out hunting, became silent as time went on, and then very silent. And this no doubt was because he could get no children.

The old one was a wizard, and one day the strong one came to him and said:

"To-morrow, when my wife comes down to the shore close by where you are fishing, go to her. For this I will give you something of my catch each day." And this no doubt was because he wanted his wife to have a child, for he wished greatly to have a child, and could not bring it about. The old man did not forget those words which were said to him.

And to his wife also, the strong one said :

"To-morrow, when the old one is out fishing, go you down finely dressed, to the shore close by."

And she did it as he had said. When they had slept and again awakened, she watched to see when the old one went out. And when he rowed away, she put on her finest clothes and followed after him along the shore. When she came in sight of him, he lay out there fishing. Then eagerly she stood up on the shore, and looked out towards him. And now he looked at her, and then again out over the sea, and this went on for a long time. She stood there a long time in vain, looking out towards him, but he would not come in to where she was, and therefore she went home. As soon as she had come home, her husband rowed up to the old one, and asked:

"Did you not go to my wife to-day?"

The old one said: