Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/219

198 squeezed-up body, and neared the inner part. A strange and solemn stillness pervaded the place, only interrupted by the perceptible, but irregular and spasmodic breathings of the dying creature within. I raised myself up, looked toward her, and gently uttered her name. She answered not. A second call from me was alike unresponded to. I therefore went to her and felt her pulse. It still beat, but told me too surely that she was dying. Immediately I cried out for Ebierbing and Koodloo (the latter a male cousin of Nukertou) to come in. They did so reluctantly. I informed them that Nukertou was dying. The announcement seemed to be overwhelming in sadness. Watching intently each breathing of this friend of all, for a while we were silent. At length it occurred to me that Tookoolito would wish to be informed of Nukertou's condition. I therefore indicated the same to her husband, who immediately ran with all haste to send her here. A few moments found Tookoolito in the presence of the dying. No call from her familiar voice could arouse a recognition from the one who was now about to depart. Alas, for us! Nukertou was surely on her way to the land of spirits. "Tookoolito, remaining here as long as was required, and finding the change going on with Nukertou was by slow degrees, returned to her igloo, leaving me and Koodloo with Nukertou. In one hour I left Koodloo alone in charge, and stepped over to Ebierbing's for a few moments. Upon my return to Nukertou's, what was my astonishment when I found the igloo sealed up—blocks of snow placed firmly in and around the entrance-way. It seemed to tell me that she was dead. I had but a short time before learned it to be the usual custom among the Innuits, when one of their number is dying, for all to retire from the igloo or tupic, whichever it might be, and not return to it. But I thought, 'After all, perhaps not dead!' I threw back block after block of unspotted snow, till at length I made my way into the main igloo.

"Nukertou was not dead! She breathed, and was much