"To our kinsmen's land far south, too, I would like to follow thee. I am tired of living as a man possessing nothing. And my little brother will grow up to the same life, unless I can get something for him. Possessions I must have, and a wife to look after my clothes. And so thou shalt be my master."
Qisunguaq received a promise that all his wishes should be fulfilled, if he would only accompany me south. Here, in his own land, he knew that I possessed no more than I needed for my own requirements.
During the night Qisunguaq related a story.
"There was once a man named Alussaq; people used to call him the man who loved his wife. And it was the truth; but his wife really was beautiful and good. Once they were out on a hunting expedition, Alussaq, his wife and their little child. Near Natsilivik the ice had been carried off by the north wind, and as they had to cross Nungarugssuaq Fjeld, they were obliged to drive along the ice-foot; above them frowned the precipitous wall of the rocks, below them was the sea. The ice-foot was narrow, and a sure hand was needed to steer. The child lay bundled up in skins on the sledge, the wife held fast to the uprights, walking behind, while the husband went in front to guide the dogs. The sledge gave a lurch over a little hummock of ice, and the child rolled over into the sea and sank.
"'Our little child!' cried the woman, bursting into tears. But her husband went quietly up to her and said: Forget the child! As long as we two live, we can well spare children.'
"And they went on.
"Farther on they came to a glacier which they had to cross; the descent was close to a village. The houses were in sight as they drove down, and the people, who were expecting them, came out to meet them. The husband was sitting astride the sledge and the wife was guiding it by the uprights. The pace grew faster, as they went down, and, as they came to a bad place, the wife overbalanced and was flung against the
