1915] TO UPERNAVIK AND BACK 133 



meat alone until Henrick happened to remember that some one was 

 sending by mail two pounds of biscuit and a few ounces of sugar to 

 her sister in Upernavik. We all agreed that this should be used in 

 case of an emergency; therefore out it came and has disappeared. 



Another night on watch with the whip to save harnesses and 

 sledges. Our dogs will furnish soup for some time; there is hardly 

 enough meat on them for anytliing else. 



January 15th ^ Friday. — Here we are in a warm igloo surrounded 

 with plenty of bear and seal meat after a hard day but with a good 

 finish. 



At five o'clock on the morning of the 15th the watch 

 awoke us with the good news that it was as clear as 

 a bell and Took-too-lik-suah only ten miles away. Tea 

 was made quickly (the only thing we had), everything 

 was packed, and away we went through deep snow, all 

 anxiety thrown to the four winds. 



It was a long, hard pull to land, for neither dogs nor 

 men were any too strong. A long, low point trended 

 well toward the southwest and we followed this closely 

 for several miles. When nearly to the end of the point 

 and leading the sledges on snow-shoes, I had the mis- 

 fortune to break through thin ice up to my breast, 

 catching myself on my outstretched arms, and thus 

 avoiding a much-needed bath. But with the tempera- 

 ture at forty below, I was glad to forego that luxury 

 until a later and more comfortable date. Well warmed 

 by walking, such an accident does not begin to entail 

 as much suffering as one imagines. Clothed in skins, 

 although wet, they are still a protection to the body, 

 for they continue to be impervious to the wind. Clothed 

 in woolens, one would soon succumb in low temperatures. 



Here we decided to throw off everything from our 

 sledges and make a dash for the two Eskimo igloos. In 

 fifteen or twenty minutes Nigger, my black dog, run- 

 ning loose, found a trail. He lifted his tail and quickened 



