472 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (ETH. ANN. 18 
She barely had time to get down into the giant’s beard when a 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-iik told her to find 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-iik 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.” 
“T 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, ‘Kin-iik, 
Kin-iik, come to me,’ and I will protect you. Go now and do as I have 
told you. Itis 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 told, 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’-ta, 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 fee] 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. 
