San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-26

could &c inform Tegorl Better would it be
for him to remain with her, depending upon
the devotion and activity of her betrothed to
find them.
On leaving Cape Chelagsk, the coast was
seen to be covered with villages composed
of a dozen tents each, and, sometimes, Of
even less. These were settlements of the
fixed ~Tchouktchis, who dwell upon the Dor.
ders of the sea and are distinct from the
nomads or reindeer Tchouktchis.
Their tents were formed of poles or whale
ribs covered with reindeer skin. Nadege
noticed that these cone shaped habitations
bulged out towards the north, but were fiat
on the opposite side. On this side was a
low opening which served as a door and
was closed by a skin curtain. A second
opening at the top of each tent gave passage
to the smoke.
Finally, they arrived at the Bay of Kol-
ioutchine, where was already a portion Of
the tribe. There, Nadege and Ladislas were
installed in the kamakay's tent, which was
larger and much more comfortable thar the
others.
The chiefs first two wives were in this
tent. These short statured shrews, with
black eyes, long, braided hair, and yellow
brown compilations, who bore a strong re-
semblance to the Esquimaux of Greenland,
divining in Nadege a rival, overwhelmed her
with work. m~sltreated her and insulted her
In every way.
There was within and at the extremity Of
the first tent, upon a wooden platform
about a foot high, a second tent of much
Qmnl1nr lty,1..,Nu- zz% ~ l~-xo 1-..A
well heated by means of a lamp fed with
seal oil. This second tent was the lodging
place Of the kamakay's two wives.
The latter forced Nadege to remain in the
exterior tent, always very cold in spite Of
the fire for cooking purposes; yet the I'm.
fortunate young girl breathed there an at
mosphere less vitiated than that of the al.
cove, in which the dark beauties of the Tch'
ouktchi peninsula were somewhat too much
at home.
The toughest work, such as bringing snow
to be melted for water for household use
and gathering up along the coast drifted
wood or, in default of that, moss, bones, or
whale ribs to feed the fire, fell to Nadege.
The kamakay's wives also occupied her in
the construction of a kind of net, made Of
leather strings, to be employed in catching
seals, or in the preparation Of engines in
tended to capture wolves; these were pieces
of whale wh,Skers bent double after their
ends had been sharpened; the whisker thus
prep red is sDrinkled with water which is
promptly converted into ice. Then the con.
tinir strings are cut, the ice sufficing to
solder together the two extremities of the
whisker, and the whole is covered with
U1.aaSa Tho unlf thrNu-c itcn1f pnnp This
bait and swallows it. The heat of its stom.
ach melts the ice, the whale whisker springs
out and its sharpened ends kill the animal.
The kamakay strove to maintain harmony
in his household by administering blows to
his two wives. Not knowing any other Ian
guage than his own. he had not yet succeed.
ed in communicating to Nadege his projects
in regard to her otherwise than by counting
In English up to three, at the same time
pointing in succession to his two wives, He
thus gave her clearly to understand that he
reserved for her the honor of becoming his
third wife.
lone, two, three" he frequently repeated
to her, opening one after another three fin
gers of his left hand. 9
Poor Nadege feigned not to comprehend
and comprehended only too well.
zone, two. threel !" resumed the kamakay,
with his repertoire Of gestures. Then, i'm
patient at not advancing with greater rapid
ity in his marital affairs, he swallowed bum
pers of American whisky and retired to the
heated alcove.
The kamakay had made the acquisition Of
a white reindeer, intended to be offered
as a sacrifice by the tribe. This immola-
ton was to take place on the first day Of.
the new moon. Ladislas sometimes climbed
upon the animals back, with asecret design
that may be guessed, and rode it hither and
thither.
One evening, the barking of a dog was
heard outside the tent. Nadege and Lads
las recognized the bark of Wab, as the ami
NAL did not how like the Siberian dogs.
Davidof's daughter, full of hope and JOY,
thought that Yeger had at last arrived to de-
liver her. But no one appeared. The dog
continued to bark in the night.
Then Ladislas persuaded Nadege that the
moment for him to fee had come. Mounted
upon the white reindeer, he would put forth
all his strength, following the sea as closely
as possible, to reach Cape Baranoff and the
winter hut. Wab would guide him. Per-
haps. he would not have to go very far to
find Yegor, for it was not to be supposed
that the dog had come alone such a long dis
lance.
Nadege, deceived in her expectation, con-
sented to everything the child wished, and,
that very night, after having supplied HIM
self with several enormous pieces of rein
deer meat cooked in seal fat, he ran after
the reindeer intended to be sacrificed, which
was wandering around the tents. He easily