DOMESTIC FELICITY. 161 



ing, and of the Esquimau language, which he speaks 

 like a native, and of the English which he has picked 

 up from the British whale-ships, makes him one of the 

 most useful members of my party. 



The men have been busy sewing up seal-skins into 

 coats, pantaloons, and boots, to complete their winter 

 wardrobe. They have tried very hard to get Mrs. 

 Hans to do this work for them, but the indolent crea- 

 ture persistently refuses to sew a stitch. She is the 

 most obstinate of her sex ; feels perfectly independent 

 of every thing and of everybody ; pouts fiercely when 

 she is not pleased, and gets the sulks about once a 

 fortnight, when she declares most positively that she 

 will abandon Hans and the white men forever, and go 

 back to her own people. She once tried the experi- 

 ment, and started off at a rapid rate, with her baby 

 on her back, towards Cape Alexander. There had 

 evidently been a domestic spat. Hans came out of 

 his tent as if nothing had happened, and stood at 

 the window leisurely smoking his pipe, and watching 

 her in the most unconcerned manner in the world. 

 As she tripped off south I called his attention to her. 



"Yes — me see." 



" Where is she going, Hans ? " 



ci She no go. She come back — all right." 



" But she will freeze, Hans ? " 



" She no freeze. She come back by by, — you see." 



And he went on smoking his pipe with a quiet 

 chuckle which told how well he understood the whims 

 of his beloved. Two hours afterward she came back, 

 sure enough, very meek and very cold, for the wind 

 was blowing in her face. 



The day being Saturday, the sailors are busy by 



turns at the wash-tub, to have a clean turnout for 



11 



