64 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



arrange his hunting-gear, or prepare his dog-harness 

 for another journey. 



In some localities, on account of the strength of the 

 sea current and the winds, the ice floe does not ex- 

 tend far from the land, and as the seals prefer to 

 blow in open water, the Eskimos repair to the edge 

 of the floe and shoot the seals that may happen to 

 come within range. 



Besides hunting seals, the Eskimo lays himself 

 out for the capture of reindeer, Polar bears, wolves, 

 and in fact anything that he can by any means 

 entrap. Bravery and daring characterize him in 

 all his pursuits. If he does not possess a gun, he 

 will lash a knife to the end of a stout staff and attack 

 a bear with this rude weapon of offence. It almost 

 reminds us of the stripling going to fight the giant 

 with the sling and pebble from the brook. 



A man named Augeak, a native of Hudson's Bay, 

 was walking along the coast one day in the vicinity 

 of Little Whale River. He carried with him a single- 

 barrelled gun, which fortunately happened to be 

 loaded. Quite suddenly he noticed a large pack of 

 wolves racing down the rock-bound coast direct for 

 him. 



Perfectly cool he watched them, and saw that the 

 leader of the pack was a very old beast, with a ragged 

 and far from beautiful coat, and therefore anything 

 but suitable game for purposes of the fur trade. Coolly 

 noting all this, the Eskimo deliberately singled out 



