30 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH [Sept. 



to discover tlie sheltered sites. Subsequent years proved 

 that there were no favorable building lots in Etah Fiord. 

 However, here we were and here we must live. A green 

 spot on the northern shores, a few yards distant from 

 a waterfall and running stream, was selected for the 

 location of our northern home. We pitched our tents 

 and our Arctic life began. We blew out the large boul- 

 ders with dynamite to level the foundation of our house, 

 and excavated two large rooms which later proved to 

 be most attractive abodes for our Eskimo helpers. The 

 boys worked long and hard from seven in the morning 

 to eleven at night, through all kinds of wind and weather; 

 through rain, snow, and sleet. 



To his many scientific attainments Ekblaw added 

 those of a practical workman, so to him was intrusted 

 the planning and building of the eight-foot shed encircling 

 two sides of our house, a very valuable addition, serving 

 as meat, harness, and provision room, and also as an 

 Eskimo igloo. The work was admirably done. 



In two weeks, under the direction of Small, master 

 builder, our house was habitable. During the four 

 years we lived there we were very comfortable in all 

 kinds of weather, with the consumption of only thirty- 

 five tons of coal, which we had landed on the beach in 

 bags previous to the departure of the Erik, Our house 

 was thirty-five feet square, double, with a four-inch air- 

 space constructed of seven-eighth-inch boards, tongued 

 and grooved, covered with Cabot quilt and rubberoid 

 roofing. Eight rooms on the ground floor were appar- 

 ently a luxury, but they were really necessary and most 

 conducive toward the happiness of the men and the 

 successful carrying out of our plans. 



Leading off from our large living-room were four bed- 



