“But how do you get at the gold after it amalgams, or whatever you call it?” asked Ted.

“Sure we fry it in the frying-pan, and it’s elegant pancakes it makes,” said the man.  “See here,” and he pulled from his pocket several flat masses that looked like pieces of yellow sponge.  “This is pure gold.  All the quick has gone off, and this is the real stuff, just as good as money.  An ounce will buy sixteen dollars’ worth of anything in Nome.”

“It looks mighty pretty,” said Ted.  “Seems to me it’s redder than any gold I ever saw.”

“It is,” said his father.  “Nome beach gold is redder and brighter than any other Alaskan gold.  I guess I’ll have to get you each a piece for a souvenir,” and both boys were made happy by the present of a quaintly shaped nugget, bought by Mr. Strong from the very miner who had mined it, which of course added to its value.

“You’re gathering quite a lot of souvenirs, Ted,” said his father.  “It’s a great relief that you have not asked me for anything alive yet.  I have been expecting a modest request for a Maiamute or a Husky pup, or perhaps a pet reindeer to take home, but so far you have been quite moderate in your demands.”

“Kalitan never asks for anything,” said Ted.  “I asked him once why it was, and he said Indian boys never got what they asked for; that sometimes they had things given to them that they hadn’t asked for, but, if he asked the Tyee for anything, all he got was ’Good Indian get things for himself,’ and he had to go to work to get the thing he wanted.  I guess it’s a pretty good plan, too, for I notice that I get just as much as I did when I used to tease you for things,” Teddy added, sagely.  “Wise boy,” said his father.  “You’re certainly more agreeable to live with.  The next thing you are to have is a visit to an Esquimo village, and, if I can find some of the Esquimo carvings, you shall have something to take home to mother.  Kalitan, what would you like to remember the Esquimos by?”

Kalitan smiled and replied, simply, “Mukluks.”

“What are mukluks?” demanded Ted.

“Esquimo moccasins,” said Mr. Strong.  “Well, you shall both have a pair, and they are rather pretty things, too, as the Esquimos make them.”

CHAPTER XI

AFTERNOON TEA IN AN EGLU

The Esquimo village was reached across the tundra, and Teddy and Kalitan were much interested in the queer houses.  Built for the long winter of six or eight months, when it is impossible to do anything out-of-doors, the eglu[15] seems quite comfortable from the Esquimo point of view, but very strange to their American cousins.

[Footnote 15:  The eglu is the Esquimo house.  Often they occupy tents during the summer, but return to the huts the first cool nights.]

“I thought the Esquimos lived in snow houses,” said Ted, as they looked at the queer little huts, and Kalitan exclaimed: