Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/91

70 themselves not a whit behind. Even Captain B, Mate Rogers, and—myself! had to join in the dizzy whirl. As for myself, I was positively forced into it. In a jocular yet impressive manner, one and all insisted upon my treading on "the light fantastic toe." My hands were placed in those of two Esquimaux ladies, when I was fairly dragged into the dance; and dance I did! Yes, I danced,—that is, I went through certain motions which in courtesy to me were called dancing; but what would the belles of my own country have



said of it? I blush to think. However, it so happened that nobody was hurt, except a few of the Holsteinborg maidens, upon whose feet I had rather clumsily trod, and who afterward went away limping, with a remark, "That man may be a good dancer" (I never danced before in all my life), "but he's very heavy and far-reaching on his pedals!" As for the dancing, let me honestly confess that I felt the better for it. I am