232 HANS'S STORY. 



disappointment, he found that the natives had re- 

 cently abandoned the village at that place ; but he 

 obtained a comfortable sleep in a deserted hut, and 

 under a pile of stones he found enough walrus flesh 

 to give his dogs a hearty meal. The next day's jour- 

 ney brought him to Netlik, which place was also de- 

 serted ; and he continued on up the Sound some 

 twenty miles further to Iteplik, where he was fortu- 

 nate enough to find several families residing, some 

 in the native stone hut and others in huts of snow. 

 Whale Sound being a favorite winter resort of the 

 seal, the people had congregated there for the time, 

 and were living in the midst of abundance. Hans 

 told his story, and, delighted to hear of our being 

 near their old village of Etah, Ootinah and he of 

 the wooden leg put their two teams together and 

 resolved to accompany Hans when he set out to re- 

 turn. 



Meanwhile, however, my hunter had other projects. 

 He was only three days from the vessel, and had he 

 come back at once the chief purpose of the journey 

 would still have been accomplished ; but instead of 

 doing this, he gave large rewards to two Esquimaux 

 boys to go with his team down to Cape York. The 

 stock of presents which Sonntag had taken for the 

 Esquimaux all now fell to Hans, and he did not spare 

 them. And he vows that his disposition of the prop- 

 erty and the team was made in my interest. " You 

 want the Esquimaux to know you are here. I tell 

 them. They will come by and by and bring plenty 

 of dogs." Why did he not go himself to Cape York ? 

 He was too tired, and had, besides, a frosted toe which 

 he got while attending upon Mr. Sonntag. 



Notwithstanding all these protestations of devotion 



