WINTER QUARTERS 139 



third time in a rather demonstrative fashion. After lunch we 

 gave each of them a small present, kerchiefs, knives, files, etc., 

 and the phonograph was the last in the list of entertainments 

 for this very successful Christmas party. 



The following day Fiedler and I started for Ned Erie's cabin 

 to get some deer meat, which was really an excuse for an 

 outing. The weather was fine, as there was no wind, but it 

 was comparatively warm, and we had a good deal of soft snow 

 to walk through. However, we reached Ned's cabin early in 

 the morning on December 29, and he was very glad to see us 

 and the present we had brought as a Christmas offering. 



On the 3Oth of December his two boys and Fiedler left for 

 the mountains to get the meat, while I stayed behind in his 

 cabin, as I wanted to go over to Barter Island to see the 

 remains of numerous Eskimo houses. 



The last day of the year was splendid, and I went out for a 

 long walk with Ned to look after his fox traps. My thoughts 

 wandered back to many different events of the past year. And 

 thoughts of the year to come followed thoughts of the con- 

 templated sledge trip. Would it be a success, or would it be 

 a failure ? Possibly no one would return to relate the fate of 

 the small expedition setting out with such great hopes and 

 expectations. 



"WENY" AND "UNIMACK.' 



