472 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 



She barely bad time to get down into the giant's beard when ;i furious 

 gale of wind rushed over her head, accompanied by a blinding snow- 

 storm, which ended as quickly as it began, after extending far out over 

 the tundra, and the sky became clear once more. 



The next day Kin-Jik told her to And a good place and build herself 

 a hut of hairs from his beard. She looked about and chose a spot on 

 the left side of the giant's nose, not far from his nostril, and built her 

 hut from hairs taken from his mustache. Here she lived for a long 

 time, the giant supplying her wants by reaching out his great hand 

 and capturing deer, seals, and whatever she wished for food. From 

 the skins of wolves, wolverines, and other fur-bearing animals that he 

 caught for her she made herself handsome clothing, and in a little time 

 had on hand a great store of skins and furs. 



Kin-Jik began to find his mustache getting thin, as she used the hairs 

 for firewood, so forbade her using any more of it, but told her to get 

 some of the hair growing down the side of his face whenever she 

 needed any. Thus a long time passed. 



One day Kin-iik asked her if she would not like to return home. 

 "Yes," she replied, "only I fear my husband will beat me again, and 

 I shall have no one who will protect me." 



"I will protect you," said he. "Go and cut the ear tips from all the 

 skins you have and put them in the basket. Then set yourself before 

 my mouth, and whenever you are in danger remember to call, 'Kiii-iik, 

 Kin-iik, come to me,' and I will protect you. Go now and do as I have 

 told you. It is time. I have grown tired of lying so long in one place 

 and wish to turn over, and if you were here you would be crushed." 

 Then the woman did as she had been toM, and crouched before his 

 mouth. 



At once there burst forth a tempest of wind and fine snow, and the 

 woman felt herself driven before it until she became sleepy and closed 

 her eyes. When she awoke she was on the ground before the houses 

 of Nikh'-til, but could not believe it was so until she heard the familiar 

 howling of the dogs. She waited until evening, and after placing the 

 basket of ear tips in her storehouse, entered her husband's home. He 

 had long mourned her as dead, and his pleasure was very great when 

 she returned. Then she told her story and her husband promised 

 never to treat her badly again. When he went to his storehouse the 

 next day he was very much surprised to find it filled with valuable 

 furs, for every ear tip brought by his wife had turned into a complete 

 skin during the night. 



These skins made him very rich, so that he became one of the head- 

 men of the village. After a time he began to feel badly because they 

 had no children, and said to his wife, " What will become of us when we 

 are old and weak, with no one to care for us? Ah, if we could but 

 have a son." One day he told his wife to bathe herself carefully; 

 then he dipped a feather in oil and with it drew the form of a boy on her 

 abdomen. In due time she bore a son and they were very happy. 



