whattalesthemooncantell.humanlifeislikeastoryto-nightishallnotseetheeagain,oldfriend.tonighticandrawnopictureofthememoriesofthyvisit.and,asilookeddreamilytowardstheclouds,theskybecamebright.therewasaglancinglight,andabeamfromthemoonfelluponme.itvanishedagain,anddarkcloudsflewpast:butstillitwasagreeting,afriendlygood-nightofferedtomebythemoon.

ninthevening

theairwasclearagain.severaleveningshadpassed,andthemoonwasinthefirstquarter.againhegavemeanoutlineforastentowhathetoldme.

"ihavefollowedthepolarbirdandtheswimmingwhaletotheeasterncoastofgreenland.gauntice-coveredrocksanddarkcloudshungoveravalley,wheredwarfwillowsandbarberrybushesstoodclothedingreen.thebloominglychnisexhaledsweetodours.mylightwasfaint,myfacepaleasthewaterlilythat,tornfromitsstem,hasbeendriftingforweekswiththetide.thecrown-shapednorthernlightburnedfiercelyinthesky.itsringwasbroad,andfromitscircumferencetheraysshotlikewhirlingshaftsoffireacrossthewholesky,flashinginchangingradiancefromgreentoinhabitantsofthaticyregionwereassemblingfordanceandfestivity;but,accustomedtothisgloriousspectacle,theyscarcelydeignedtoglanceatit.'letusleavethesoulofthedeadtotheirball-playwiththeheadsofthewalruses,'theythoughtintheirsuperstition,andtheyturnedtheirwholeattentiontothesonganddance.inthemidstofthecircle,anddivestedofhisfurrycloak,stoodagreenlander,withasmallpipe,andheplayedandsangasongaboutcatchingtheseal,andthechorusaroundchimedinwith,'eia,eia,ah.'andintheirwhitefurstheydancedaboutinthecircle,tillyoumightfancyitwasapolarbear'sball.

"andnowacourtofjudgmentwasopened.thosegreenlanderswhohadquarrelledsteppedforward,andtheoffendedpersonchantedforththefaultsofhisadversaryinanextemporesong,turningthemsharplyintoridicule,tothesoundofthepipeandthemeasureofthedance.thedefendantrepliedwithsatireaskeen,whiletheaudiencelaughed,andgavetheirverdict.therocksheaved,theglaciersmelted,andgreatmassesoficeandsnowcamecrashingdown,shiveringtofragmentsastheyfall;itwasagloriousgreenlandsummernight.ahundredpacesaway,undertheopententofhides,layasickman.lifestillflowedthroughhiswarmblood,butstillhewastodie-hehimselffeltit,andallwhostoodroundhimknewitalso;thereforehiswifewasalreadysewingroundhimtheshroudoffurs,thatshemightnotafterwardsbeobligedtotouchthedeadbody.andsheasked,'wiltthoubeburiedontherock,inthefirmsnow?iwilldeckthespotwiththykayak,andthyarrows,andtheangekokkshalldanceoverit.orwouldstthouratherbeburiedinthesea?''inthesea,'hewhispered,andnoddedwithamournfulsmile.'yes,itisapleasantsummertent,thesea,'observedthewife.'thousandsofsealssportthere,thewalrusshalllieatthyfeet,andthehuntwillbesafeandmerry!'andtheyellingchildrentoretheoutspreadhidefromthewindow-hole,thatthedeadmanmightbecarriedtotheocean,thebillowyocean,thathadgivenhimfoodinlife,andthatnow,indeath,wastoaffordhimaplaceofrest.forhismonument,hehadthefloating,ever-changingicebergs,whereonthesealsleeps,whilethestormbirdfliesroundtheirgleamingsummits!"