viii PUBLISHER'S NOTE 



of the hardships during his long journey over Arctic ice 

 which were more acute probably than those of any other 

 Arctic explorer and his fresh and vivid account of the 

 Alaskan Eskimos make up a narrative of achievement and 

 interest worthy to rank with previous traditions and presen- 

 tations of earlier expeditions. It is not easy to predict 

 the interest that "yet another" Arctic book will arouse, but 

 I can truthfully say that even if the public are less keenly 

 interested in Mr. Mikkelsen's pages than I have been a 

 thing I do not in the least anticipate it will yet be a 

 satisfaction for me to know that I could at a critical moment 

 help this intrepid investigator to carry out his cherished 

 plan. He was fortunate to find in Mr. Leffingwell a helper, 

 who not only found, through his father, the largest share of 

 funds, but who stood by him through thick and thin, and 

 shared with him all the dangers and anxieties. 



