CHAPTER XV.
_Strangers appear on the scene--The Esquimaux are hospitably entertained by the sailors--A spirited, traffic--Thieving propensities and summary justice._ Dumps sat on the top of a hummock, about quarter of a mile from the ship, with an expression of subdued melancholy on his countenance, and thinking, evidently, about nothing at all.

Poker sat in front of him gazing earnestly and solemnly right into his eyes with a look that said, as plain as if he had spoken, "What a tremendously stupid old fellow you are, to be sure!" Having sat thus for full five minutes, Dumps wagged his tail.

Poker, observing the action, returned the compliment with his stump.

Then Poker sprang up and barked savagely, as much as to say, "Play, won't you ?" but Dumps wouldn't; so Poker endeavoured to relieve his mind by gambolling violently round him.
We would not have drawn your attention, reader, to the antics of our canine friends, were it not for the fact that these antics attracted the notice of a personage who merits particular description.

This was no other than one of the Esquimau inhabitants of the land--a woman, and _such_ a woman! Most people would have pronounced her a man, for she wore precisely the same dress--fur jumper and long boots--that was worn by the men of the _Dolphin_.