76 A QUEER FELLOW. 



seek with each other ; a demeanour generally impas- 

 sible, but upon the successful conclusion of his 

 frequent jokes lighting up in an inexpressibly ludicrous 

 manner ; a face round and flat as the full moon, with 

 a dab for a nose, and a gash for a mouth, around 

 which, and the saucer-like eyes inclining at an angle 

 to the nose, sly mirth and mischief-loving wrinkles 

 lay crowding together: Omdooyah was absolutely 

 overflowing with fun ; everything served him for a 

 joke, enjoyment of which was heightened by the quiet 

 yet irresistibly droll way in which it was perpetrated, 

 and a sort of half-unconscious, half-quizzing expression 

 which used to excite us to screams of laughter. No 

 matter whether for or against himself, the fun must 

 be had, and he must do it. The quintessence of 

 good natm^e too, was Omdooyah, the personification 

 of good will to his fellows. We often, to oiu* shame 

 be it recorded, tried to put him into a passion by some 

 practical joke, for we loved fun as well in that snowy 

 clime as in more genial regions ; but it was of no avail ; 

 the only result was a grin which made his mouth look 

 like the Tower moat, and a sly return of the jest 

 presently. I dare say he thought it was too much trouble 

 to get in a rage ; besides there was no fun in that, so 

 it was too dull work. Omdooyah was one of om- 

 especial favourites, and this entirely from his own 



