And, be it said, with the constant inspiration, also, of the great wilderness and sea, with no other youthful companions or playmates, and with little of the joy of sports with which boys in civilization are blessed, it was but natural that they should feel more deeply the responsibility of life, and should ponder and take to heart more seriously Skipper Ed's philosophy, than they would had their lot been cast in a city or a town.
It is not to be supposed, however, that they never got into mischief.
They were too full of life and energy to avoid that.

But they were seldom or never instructed _not_ to do this or that, and their mischief was usually the result of indiscretion and error of judgment natural to youth, rather than disobedience.

Eskimos do not whip or punish their children.

They treat them rather, as comrades, and the boy's effort is to do as nearly as he can the things his elders do and in the manner in which they do them.
And this was the case with Abel and Mrs.Abel and Bobby.

They never punished Bobby.