PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY. 201 



Whale Sound, and Hans had no doubt that the jour- 

 ney could be easily made, even if they had to travel 

 to Northumberland Island, or beyond, to Netlik. He 

 was eager to go, and Sonntag, impatient for the 

 trial, was waiting only for the moon and settled 

 weather. Hans was the only available driver, for he 

 alone knew where to find the native villages, and 

 three persons to one sledge was against all the canons 

 of Arctic traveling. Although my suspicions had been 

 aroused against him at the time of Peter's disappear- 

 ance, yet nothing had been proved, and Sonntag liked 

 him quite as well as Jensen for a driver, and still re- 

 tained faith in him. To take Jensen was to incumber 

 himself with a useless hindrance. The journey would 

 be a rapid one, and it was important to spare all need- 

 less weight. The disease among the dogs subsided 

 six days ago, when the last death occurred, leaving 

 nine good animals, all of which Sonntag took with 

 him. 



But little time was required to prepare the party 

 for the journey. Hans made for himself a buffalo bag 

 wherein to sleep, and Sonntag carried for his own use 

 one of bear-skin which he had brought from Uperna- 

 vik. Their provisions were for twelve days, although 

 it is not expected that they will be absent so long, for 

 the distance can be made to Northumberland Island, 

 if they are required to go so far, in two marches. 

 Sonntag and myself made it in three marches in De- 

 cember, 1854. It is often made by the Esquimaux in 

 one journey, and Hans seemed to look upon it as an 

 easy and trifling task. They carried no tent, intend- 

 ing to rely upon the snow hut, with the construction 

 of w^liich Hans is, of necessity, very familiar, and Sonn- 

 tag has had, in years past, much experience. The 



