CHAPTER XVI 



THE BIGGEST GAME IN THE ARCTIC 



WE slept splendidly on that banquet, and, 

 breaking out early the next morning, we 

 passed up the ice of Porter Bay to its 

 head, then, taking to the land, crossed the five-mile- 

 wide isthmus which separates Porter Bay from the 

 head of James Ross Bay. Every foot of this route was 

 familiar to me and rich with memories. Reaching 

 the other side, we descended to the ice again and 

 made rapid progress along the western shore. The 

 dogs were lively and well-fed, trotting along with tails 

 and ears erect; the weather was good, and the sun, 

 now low on the horizon, cast long, fantastic shadows 

 on the ice from every man and dog. 



Suddenly the quick eyes of Egingwah spied a 

 moving speck on the slope of the mountain to our 

 left. " Tooktoo," he cried, and the party came to an 

 instant standstill. Knowing that the successful pur- 

 suit of a single buck reindeer might mean a long run, 

 I made no attempt to go after him myself; but I told 

 Egingwah and Ooblooyah, my two stalwart, long- 

 legged youngsters, to take the 40-82 Winchesters and be 

 off. At the word they were flying across country, eager 

 as dogs loosed from the traces, crouching low and run- 

 ning quickly. They took a course which would intercept 

 the deer a little farther along the slope of the mountain. 



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