BCAS.J STORY OF THE THREE BROTHERS. 629 



an ice duck. They were not yet content, destroyed this, and built a 

 third one that was good. After having finished the boat they lived 

 quietly with the other men. In the village there was a large sing- 

 ing hoiise, which was used at every festival. One day the three 

 brothers entered it and shut it up. Then they began dancing and 

 singing and continiied until they were exhausted. As there was no 

 seat in the house they asked their mother to bring one, and when 

 they opened the door to let her pass in, an ermine, which had been 

 kidden in the house, escaped. 



Near the singing house the other Inuit of the village were play- 

 ing. When they saw the ermine, which ran right through the crowd, 

 they endeavored to catch it. In the eagerness of pursuit one man, 

 who had almost caught the little animal, stumbled over a bowlder 

 and fell in such a manner that he was instantly killed. The ermine 

 was sprinkled with blood, particularly about its mouth. During 

 the ensuing confusion it escaped into the singing house, where it 

 concealed itself again in the same corner. 



The brothers, who were inside, had recommenced singing and danc- 

 ing. When they were exhausted they called for their mother (to 

 bring something to eat). When they opened the door the ermine 

 again escaped and ran about among the Inuit, who were still playing 

 oiitside. 



When they saw it they believed that the brothers would induce 

 them to pursiie it again, and thus make them perish one by one. 

 Therefore the whole crowd stormed the singing house with the in- 

 tention of killing the brothers. As the door was shut they climbed 

 on the roof and pulled it down, but when they took up their spears to 

 pierce the three men they opened the door and rushed down to the 

 beach. Their boat was quite near at hand and ready to be launched, 

 while those of the other Inuit were a long distance off. 



They embarked with their mother, but, when they were at a short 

 distance and saw that the other men had not yet reached their boats, 

 they pretended that they were unable to move theirs, though they 

 pulled with the utmost effort. In reality, they played with the oars 

 on the water. A few young women and girls were on the shore looking 

 at the brothers, who seemed to exert themselves to the utmost of their 

 strength. The eldest brother cried to the women : ' ' Will you help us ? 

 We cannot get along alone." Two girls consented, but as soon as 

 they had come into the boat the brothers commenced pulling as hard 

 as possible, the boat flying along quicker than a duck, while the girls 

 cried with fright. The other Inuit hastened up desirous to reach 

 the fugitives, and soon their boats were manned. 



The brothers were not afraid, however, as their boat was by far the 

 swiftest. When they had almost lost sight of the pursuers they were 

 suddenly stopped by a high, bold land rising before the boat and 

 shutting up their way. They were quite puzzled, as they had to 



