It was a ball of a somewhat heterogeneous description, for men waltzed with men, though Slap-dash did some really graceful movements with Gruff and the other bears as partners. There were no ladies, you see, but all the more freedom and merriment.
Yet, stay; I must qualify this statement. The Eskimos, Yaks, Innuits, Teelies, or any other name you choose to give them, are droll creatures. They all dress alike in skins, and their faces are all about the same shape.
Now the very day before the Walrus and Sea Elephant sailed, all being then on board, except a change of men who were to remain at Kerguelen for observation duty, Slap-dash came up and saluted Captain Bell.
“Four of my rascals,” he said, “want to speak to you directly.”
Then the four “rascals” were led up and threw themselves on their faces before Captain Bell as if they had been worshipping the sun.
“Get up, get up,” said Bell, “and speak like men.”
They arose at once and stood before him, and two took a step in advance of the other two.
“We not all men-people, sir,” said one.
“We not all men-people,” said the other.