Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-20

OWNING IN Nadege rival, overwhelmed her
with work, maltreated her and insulted her
in every way
There was within and at the extremity of
the first tent, upon a wooden platform
about foot high, second tent of much
smaller dimensions, sort of alcove kept
well heated by means of lamp fed with
seal oil. This second tent was the lodging
place Of the kamakays two wives.
The latter forced Nadege to remain in the
exterior tent, always very cold in spite of
the fire for cooking purposes; vet the IN
fortunate young girl breathed there an at
mosphere less vitiated than that of the al
cove, in which the dark beauties of the Tch-
ouktch1 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 kamakays wives also occupied her in
the construction Of 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 WhiSlzers bent double after their
ends had been sharpened; the whisker thus
prepared is sprinkled with water which is
promptly converted into ice. Then the con-
filming strings are cut, the ice sufficing to
solder together the two extremities of the
Whisker, and the whole is covered with
grease. The wolf throws itself upon 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
Ill 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.
Zone, two, three!" he frequently repeated
to her, opening one after another three fin
gers of his left hand.
Poor Nadege feigned not to comprehend
and comprehended only too well
''One, two. three! !" resumed the kamakay,
with his repertoire of gestures. Then, i'm
pibIClIU DIT IlOG advancing I'LL greater
ity in his marital affairs, he swallowed bum
pers Of American whisky and retired to the
heated alcOye
The l1amakay 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 a secret design
That may be guessed, and rode it hither and
thither.
One evening, the barking of a dog was
heard outside the tent Nade@e and Lads
las recognized the bark Of Wab, as the ami
NAL did not howl like the Siberian dogs
Davidoff's daughter full of hope and Joy,
thought that Yegor 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 -ldeer, 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
caught it, and rode away towards the west,
%To'aac by Wa5.
1'hc young Pee, gifted with extraordin-
ny So -.cth Of " Il, and possessing, be-
~,.cs, l II LIST constitution which permitted
him to brave the rigors of the cold and all
sorts of privations, was quite capable Of ST,
cessfully executing this mad enterprise OF
devotion.