328 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH 



of eider eggs, went to Saunders Island, taking with him 

 all of the few supplies left. Tanquary and I had long 

 before realized that Peter's hospitality had come to an 

 end and that we could depend no longer upon him for 

 any assistance; Peter apparently meant well, but he 

 shed responsibility as a seal sheds water. 



We were thus thrown upon Sechmann's bounty, and, 

 though he was "only an Eskimo," he proved to be a 

 gentleman and a true friend. He shared his every 

 bit of food with us, hunted persistently every day that 

 was fit; throughout the summer he was never sullen, 

 discouraged, or angry. Many times we were without 

 food in his house for days at a time, but his hospitality 

 and kindness never changed. He measured up to a high 

 standard as a man and a Christian. Many a white man 

 would not have been so truly hospitable and generous. 



All summer long Tank and I worked assiduously at 

 our sciences. The field was new, large, and deeply in- 

 teresting. Had not the food problem bothered us con- 

 tinually we should have enjoyed the season very much. 

 Almost every day we were out on long tramps over the 

 rough country back of the station or sledging to some 

 place about the Sound, where we wished to study. 

 Birds were numerous, the vegetation relatively luxuriant, 

 and the geology varied. Tanquary found the region 

 well worth the researches of an entomologist. 



But always the shortage of food worried us. Several 

 times through the summer, when the weather prevented 

 hunting, we could see starvation staring us in the face. 

 As the summer advanced, the conditions grew worse 

 and worse, and the situation more critical. We had to 

 wait until relief came by boat, for sledging to Etah was 

 impossible after the beginning of June. Our hope was 



