genuine Eskimo sham modesty. A magician always precedes his conjurations with a few depreciating words about himself and his powers. And the more highly esteemed he is, the more anxious he is to pretend that his words are lies.
The drum began again inside the house, and the people round stood listening silently. Soon a murmur mingled with the beating of the drum, and the old man's voice grew gradually louder and stronger; before long the spirit song was sounding steadily and monotonously from the inside of the hut.
Kale sat on the roof, more and more affected; involuntarily he joined in the singing, at first only humming to himself. Old Sorqaq, who was also a magician, stood in the midst of the crowd and gave vent to approving grunts at intervals. He had come just as he was from his flensing, with upturned sleeves and crimson arms. All the rest stood mute and motionless, gazing up at the house whence the sound issued.
Suddenly the singing ceased; drum beats followed each other more and more quickly. Old Sagdloq began to groan, as though he were lying beneath a heavy weight that almost robbed him of breath. All at once he uttered a wild shriek which made his hearers start.
"ajornarê, ajornarê! atdliulerpunga! ikiorniarsinga, artorssarpavssualeqissunga!" ("Ow! ow! it is impossible! I am
