1916] ALONE AT BORUP LODGE 263 



grew and strengthened so rapidly that I harnessed him 

 to my sledge. We went to ride very often, always going 

 where he wanted, never where I did. 



One morning he was gone. Once before I had found 

 him free, sitting on top of his cage, looking wistfully 

 out over the harbor ice to the blue stretch of open 

 water beyond. Here shelter, comfort, and food, a life 

 of indolence and ease; but out there that for which he 

 was born — troubled waters, drifting pans, flying spray, 

 a matching of his wits and his strength against the ele- 

 ments. I was glad the pen was empty. 



Now began the third season of busy days, when one 

 hated to go to bed, but wanted to work the clock around. 

 The little auks (Alle alle) had arrived on time. May 

 l5th, and were now swarming in millions on the talus 

 slopes; and circling with them, hovering over them, 

 and feeding on them the big glaucous gull, at this season 

 a bird of prey. 



The raven, with us always, worries his skeleton-like 

 body through the dark, cold days of winter upon a real 

 starvation diet, now and then dropping to the trail be- 

 hind us for the refuse of the dogs. But upon the arrival 

 of the dovekies and the ducks they also become pred- 

 atory, pursuing and seizing the former in their beaks 

 and eating the eggs of the latter. A raven often may 

 be seen high in air, directing his course toward his 

 nestlings on the cliff, with his lower bill driven through 

 the shell of an egg. 



The white and blue foxes are now at the height of 

 their prosperity and happiness. Birds and eggs every- 

 where; delicious morsels following the patient nibbling 

 of the frozen meat stolen from the caches of the Eskimos. 

 The fox's mouth is apparently small, but when those 



