1914] THE RETURN FROM THE POLAR SEA 85 



and found at once, as every minute of drift was tending 

 to conceal it. Pee-a-wah-to went to the east and 

 E-took-a-shoo to the west, closely examining the banks 

 of the lead; in thirty minutes they were back, failing 

 to find any traces whatever. But it must be found; 

 if lost now it was lost forever. Now Pee-a-wah-to went 

 west and Green and I east on opposite banks; not the 

 faintest indication of a trail anywhere. Again we met 

 at the sledges and talked it over. Pee-a-wah-to thought 

 it must be far to the east; E-took-a-shoo grinned and 

 said he didn't know. Upon my telling them again that 

 it must be found or we should go back to camp and 

 pick it up there, Pee-a-wah-to started east again and 

 E-took-a-shoo toward home. As the latter disappeared 

 in the flying snow, I thought to myself: "That's the 

 last we shall see of him for some time." Green and I 

 kicked our toes and took refuge in a hole in the ice, 

 trying to be cheerful. 



In about an hour my dogs jumped to their feet, all 

 attention, looking toward the south. Far off in the dis- 

 tance, above the sound of wind and drifting snow, came 

 a faint yell. It was some minutes before we could de- 

 tect the little, short body of E-took-a-shoo dimly out- 

 lined through the drift and waving both arms for us 

 to come on. We recalled Pee-a-wah-to and were soon 

 following our old trail, which reappeared at various 

 intervals, but was none too easy to follow; indeed, 

 that day's work by those Eskimos in keeping to the 

 trail in a blinding snow-storm was nothing short of 

 marvelous. With a feeling of relief we saw the black 

 hole in the front of No. 7 igloo; we were content with a 

 single march under such conditions. 



We were up at 3.15 on the morning of the 26th to 



