The next morning the lads went along the river bank, and saw a caribou grazing there. They stalked it very cautiously, crawling flat along the ground until they were within range, then both together launched their arrows; the caribou fell dead. They ran up, pulled out their arrows, cut up their victim, and carried it home to their mother. She was immensely pleased and said, “That’s fine, my sons, well done; we shan’t be hungry for a while now.” They had a hearty meal that evening before going to bed. As they were turning in for the night one lad said to the other, “I think I’ll go seal-hunting by myself tomorrow.” “I’ll go with you,” said the other; “Two are better than one.”

    So after breakfast they both went out onto the ice. A seal was basking in the sun beside its hole. Cautiously they crept up and harpooned it, then tied a rope round its neck and dragged it home. “Thank you,” said their mother; “This is splendid,” and she took the seal, cut it up and boiled some of the meat at once. “Supper is ready,” she said, and they all sat down and ate.

    The next day one of the young men said to the other, “I am going inland to hunt.” “I shall go out on the ice again,” replied the other. So they went off, and the one brought home a caribou while the other brought a seal. They were always successful in their hunting after this, and brought in rough seals and bearded seals, whitefish, rabbits, and caribou.

    One day their mother said to them, “We have plenty of food now, why don’t you go and find wives for yourselves?” “We don’t know the country about here,” they replied. “Still you can go out and look,” their mother said. “Well,” said one, “I’ll go,” and the next morning he went out in the direction of Tapqaq.

    He saw nothing all day, but towards evening he came to a small house, and walked all round it without seeing any sign of an inhabitant. Finally he stole quietly onto the roof and lifted up a corner of the window and peered down. In the corner was a young girl combing her hair, which hung in a luxuriant black mass about her shoulders. The youth was fascinated and stood watching her until suddenly she looked up and saw him. Starting to her feet she went outside and said to him, “I am glad you have come. Come inside.”

    So they went in and she said to him, “Are you hungry?” “Yes,” he replied, “I am,” whereupon she brought in some whitefish and cooked them for him. After he had finished he said, “How about my staying here tonight?” and she replied, “If you wish.” So he stayed and she became his wife. In the morning, she wakened him and said, “Wake up, it’s time to get up.” So he rose, and they had breakfast together; then he took his departure. As he was leaving she said, “Come back again soon,” and he promised that he would.

    When he reached home his mother and brother said to him, “Where have you come from? Where were you last night? How was it that you did not come home?” “Oh,” he replied, “I walked such a long way that when evening drew near I was tired out, and just lay down on the ground and went to sleep.” They were still doubtful, and asked him, “Perhaps you met something up there inland—perhaps you found a girl and that is why you did not come back? It was too cold to sleep out of doors.” “No, no,” he said, “I was not cold. I was very tired and just lay down on the ground and went to sleep.” His brother was still sceptical and questioned him again, but received the same answer.

    When they went to bed that night the young man said, “I shall go inland again tomorrow,” and his brother answered, “I’ll go with you.” “No, you stay at home, I’ll go by myself.” “No, I’ll go too.” “No, no, you stay at home; if you went you would get too tired and never be able to return.” “Oh well, I’ll stay then.” So the youth went away again alone, and reached the girl’s house towards evening. She heard his foot-steps outside and said “That’s my husband coming back;” and she went out to greet him. Everything happened as before; she cooked him some whitefish, and they slept; then in the morning she wakened him up and after breakfast he went back home. He was greeted with the same questions as before, and returned the same answer; and when he went away again in the morning he would not let his brother accompany him.

    So it happened several times, till at last his mother and brother were sure that he must have a wife inland. Then one morning after breakfast the girl said to her husband, “Well, I’m your wife now, I’ll go back with you;” and they returned together. His mother saw them coming and said, “Yes, he has found a wife; he’s bringing her home with him.”

    Pleased with his success, she greeted them very warmly and immediately prepared a good meal for them. The other youth was rather chagrined, so he too went away and found a wife and took her home. Then together the youths built two racks, and went hunting each day. One rack they loaded with caribou and rabbits, the other with whitefish and seals, both the rough and bearded varieties.