238 SMITH SOUND 



thank you ' ; the first thanks I have heard from a native 

 of this upper region. He called me his friend 

 ' Asakaoteet,' ' I love you well ' and would be happy, 

 he said, to join the nalegak-soak in a hunt." 



And the journey ended in a hunt, for the dogs caught 

 sight of a large male bear in the act of devouring a seal. 

 The impulse was irresistible ; Kane lost all control over 

 both dogs and drivers, who seemed dead to everything 

 but the passion of pursuit. Off they sped with in- 

 credible speed ; the Eskimos clinging to their sledges 

 and cheering their dogs with loud cries. A mad, wild 

 chase, wilder than German legend " the dogs, wolves ; 

 the drivers, devils." After a furious run, the animal 

 was brought to bay, and the lance and rifle did their 

 work. There were more bears and more hunts, and 

 when Kane objected that this could hardly be called 

 northern exploration, he was told by Kalutunah, sig- 

 nificantly, that the bear-meat was absolutely necessary 

 for the support of their families, and that the nalegak- 

 soak had no right to prevent him from providing for 

 his household. " It was a strong argument," says 

 Kane, "and withal the argument of the strong." 



Bear-hunting hereabouts has its dangers, for the 

 Eskimos of the north are not armed with bows and 

 arrows as are those of the mainland. When the bear 

 is found the dogs are set upon the trail, and the hunter 

 runs by their side in silence. As he turns the angle 

 ahead his game is in view before him, stalking probably 

 along with quiet march, sometimes sniffing the air 

 suspiciously, but making, nevertheless, for a clump of 

 hummocks. The dogs spring forward, opening in a 

 wild wolfish yell, the driver shrieking " Nannook ! 



