394 FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF DR. HAYES 



me to look around, and there, close at my heels, was the whole pack of thir- 

 teen hungry dogs, snarling, snapping, and showing their sharp teeth like a 

 drove of ravenous wolves. It was fortunate that I had not got down upon 

 my knees, or they would have been upon my back. In fact, so impetuous 

 was their attack, that one of them had already sprung when I faced round. 

 I caught him on my arm and kicked him down the hill. The others were 

 for the moment intimidated by the suddenness of my movement, and at 

 seeing the summary manner in which their leader had been dealt with; and 

 they were in the act of sneaking away, when they perceived that I was power- 

 less to do them any harm, having nothing in my hand. Again they assumed 

 the offensive ; they were all around me ; an instant more and I should be torn 

 to pieces. 



"I had faced death in several shapes before, but never had I felt as then; 

 my blood fairly curdled in my veins. Death down the red throats of a pack 

 of wolfish dogs had something about it peculiarly unpleasant. Conscious of 

 my weakness, they were preparing for a spring ; I had not time even to halloo 

 for help — to run would be the readiest means of bringing the wretches 

 upon me. My eye swept round the group and caught something lying half 

 buried in the snow, about ten feet distant. Quick as a flash I sprang, as I 

 never sprang before or since, over the back of a huge fellow who stood 

 before me; and the next instant I was whirling about me the lash of a long 

 whip, cutting to right and left. The dogs retreated before my blows and 

 the fury of my onset, and then sullenly skulked behind the rocks." 



In a desperate effort to get supplies one of the party, John Petersen, 

 offered to journey with the Eskimos to a settlement called Netlih, and bring 

 food. Two others, John, the cook, and a Mr. Sonntag, made a similar jour- 

 ney in another direction. 



"On the evening of the sixth of November, Mr. Sonntag and John came 

 back to us. Their arrival was most opportune, for we had eaten every ounce 

 of meat which was on hand when they left us. They were brought by two 

 Eskimos, whose sledges carried a supply of food sufficient to last us for sev- 

 eral days. They had a part of two bear's legs, several other small pieces of 

 meat, and a bear's liver. This last the Eskimos will not eat, but we were 

 glad enough to get it. There were, besides, some pieces of blubber, about 

 two dozens of lumme and burgomaster-gulls, and as many dried auks. All 

 this provision had been purchased for fifty needles and a sheath-knife, — a 

 small price where these implements are abundant, but an exorbitant one in 



