’My father delivered a vain-glorious horse-laugh, and said: 

’"Well, truly, a body may know you have never been rich, since a mere matter of a fish-hook or two is such a mighty matter in your eyes.”

’Kalula was confused, and hung his head, but said: 

’"Ah, indeed, sir, I was never worth the value of the barb of one of those precious things, and I have never seen any man before who was so rich in them as to render the counting of his hoard worth while, since the wealthiest man I have ever known, till now, was possessed of but three.”

’My foolish father roared again with jejune delight, and allowed the impression to remain that he was not accustomed to count his hooks and keep sharp watch over them.  He was showing off, you see.  Count them?  Why, he counted them every day!

’I had met and got acquainted with my darling just at dawn; I had brought him home just at dark, three hours afterwards—­for the days were shortening toward the six-months’ night at that time.  We kept up the festivities many hours; then, at last, the guests departed and the rest of us distributed ourselves along the walls on sleeping-benches, and soon all were steeped in dreams but me.  I was too happy, too excited, to sleep.  After I had lain quiet a long, long time, a dim form passed by me and was swallowed up in the gloom that pervaded the farther end of the house.  I could not make out who it was, or whether it was man or woman.  Presently that figure or another one passed me going the other way.  I wondered what it all meant, but wondering did no good; and while I was still wondering I fell asleep.

’I do not know how long I slept, but at last I came suddenly broad awake and heard my father say in a terrible voice, “By the great Snow God, there’s a fish-hook gone!” Something told me that that meant sorrow for me, and the blood in my veins turned cold.  The presentiment was confirmed in the same instant:  my father shouted, “Up, everybody, and seize the stranger!” Then there was an outburst of cries and curses from all sides, and a wild rush of dim forms through the obscurity.  I flew to my beloved’s help, but what could I do but wait and wring my hands?—­he was already fenced away from me by a living wall, he was being bound hand and foot.  Not until he was secured would they let me get to him.  I flung myself upon his poor insulted form and cried my grief out upon his breast while my father and all my family scoffed at me and heaped threats and shameful epithets upon him.  He bore his ill usage with a tranquil dignity which endeared him to me more than ever, and made me proud and happy to suffer with him and for him.  I heard my father order that the elders of the tribe be called together to try my Kalula for his life.

’"What!” I said, “before any search has been made for the lost hook?”

’"Lost hook!” they all shouted, in derision; and my father added, mockingly, “Stand back, everybody, and be properly serious—­she is going to hunt up that lost hook:  oh, without doubt she will find it!”—­whereat they all laughed again.