THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 311 



with laden sledges. But we are traveling rapidly and freely with 

 light sledges. A detour therefore delays us less, and further, we 

 have our food and fuel in the meat and fat of the seals that may 

 be in these patches of water and the bears that prowl about the 

 margins seeking seals. We therefore travel towards the pillars 

 of cloud where others have avoided them and usually camp near 

 the patches of open water. It ordinarily takes the men two hours 

 to build the snowhouse, feed the dogs, cook the supper and get 

 everything snug for the night. In less time than that I usually 

 get a seal and bring it to camp before the chores are done. But, 

 as said above, we give any needed time to the hunting and get 

 to-morrow the seal we cannot get to-day. 



The basking seals are usually seen first from some high hum- 

 mock which we have climbed for reconnoitering with field glasses. 

 They are killed either while the men are making camp ; or else there 

 is a pause made in the day's march while the hunter crawls up to 

 the seal. In that case the men usually cook us a hot lunch while 

 waiting, for — by the very nature of our method — it would be illog- 

 ical to go on food and fuel rations in a country where hunting is 

 actually being carried on. The animal when secured is then dragged 

 behind the sled till camp time when he is cut up, part fed to the dogs, 

 part cooked for us, and the rest stowed in the sled. A party of three 

 men and six dogs need about two seals per week. 



