368 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH 



Yet we were not prepared to find them as soon as 

 we did. We were crossing Lafayette Bay after about 

 a half-hour's driving when we heard a rifle-shot near 

 us. Our dogs went wild and headed at right angles 

 to our course, directly into the bay. Not a half-mile 

 from as, nestled down at the foot of the high, gloomy 

 cliffs, gleamed the little brown tanalite tent we knew so 

 well, with sledges grouped about it, and a white man 

 and some Eskimos. 



In less time than it takes to tell we were at the camp. 

 Fitz, for it was he, rushed out on the ice to greet me 

 and to welcome me back. Oobloyah and Arklio were 

 the others of the party, all of them our good friends, 

 all glad to see us. 



They took charge of our dogs and sledges, the while 

 our tongues wagged busily when our mouths were not 

 filled with the fruit and cakes and other good things 

 they pressed upon us. I was glad to talk American 

 again, glad to hear that all was well at headquarters, 

 glad to get all the news that Fitz gave me. 



The party had intended to meet us at Fort Conger, 

 but, having encountered the open water at Cape Con- 

 stitution, had wisely decided not to go beyond it. The 

 open season was at hand, and it would not have been 

 discreet to proceed, for, even if my party had been in 

 difficulty, our situation would not have been bettered 

 by the addition of still others unable to return. In- 

 stead, Fitz planned to put in caches at prominent points 

 along the return route. 



Had our party been a day later, we should not 

 have found Fitz and his men at Cape Constitution. 

 The hunting there was not good, whereas back 

 at Cape Calhoun seals were numerous on the ice, and 



