NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



we came to a small lake where the dogs were able 

 to work unassisted. I have been driving the dogs 

 and find they obey my commands very well and 

 I am able to make good time. My handling of 

 the long whip is improving, as well as my Eskimo 

 vocabulary. One of Hansi's dogs is a vicious, surly 

 brute and even Hansi is afraid of him; so he says 

 when we return he is going to hang him. 



About four o'clock in the afternoon, while 

 running along the side of a steep hill, the sled 

 of Mathias slipped and turned over, loosening 

 the upright and smashing the cross-piece. This 

 necessitated a halt while a board from a pemmi- 

 can box was used to repair the damage tempo- 

 rarily. 



Camp was made at six-thirty in a driving east 

 wind with drifting snow. After supper I dressed 

 a finger Hansi had bruised while pounding the 

 dogs. I had a small safety kit, at sight of which 

 the Eskimos' eyes popped. In it among other 

 things, was a little jar of Vaporub. They tried 

 putting some on their noses and the resulting ex- 

 pressions on their faces were a mixture of surprise 

 and glee. The grease drew blood from Hansi's 

 nose and he said it was bad. I was glad because 

 now they are not likely to want the process re- 

 peated. 



336 



