AT FLAXMAN ISLAND IN SUMMER 281 



future plans and to get some trading stuff with which to pay 

 outstanding debts at Herschel Island. He intended to go back 

 there as soon as possible and then return and stay with us for 

 the rest of the season. 



Mr. Stefansson had met Uxra on the trail, and the latter told 

 him that Mr. Leffingwell, Storkersen, and myself had perished 

 on the ice, that we were very nice fellows, but crazy, and that 

 we had paid for our folly with our lives. Mr. Stefansson, of course, 

 was very grieved to hear Uxra's news, the more so because it 

 was told as an actual fact, not as a guess, and the first thing he 

 asked Dr. Howe was whether he really had given up all hope of 

 our return. " Cape York " brought the story to Herschel Island, 

 and, forgetting to say that we were not yet overdue, the sad 

 news spread and at last reached civilization. Visitors were now 

 quite common, and the next to arrive were Ned and Ekajuak, 

 who came down to see how things were progressing and to have 

 a talk with other white men. Mr. Stefansson left again for 

 Herschel Island on April 24, and this time Hicky went with 

 him. Their sledge was rather too heavy, as their dogs were 

 poor, but Ned and Ekajuak, who returned at the same time, 

 took some of their load. 



Meat, which had been rather scarce during the month of 

 April, became plentiful now, and Dr. Howe bought all he could 

 for use at the time and during the coming winter. The 

 cariboo hunting on Koogoora had been even more successful 

 than the natives had dared to hope when they started, and 

 hardly a day went by but some native or other came down with 

 a sledge-load of meat, and as the market was soon overstocked 

 the price quickly reached a minimum. 



Although the men had been living in the house ever since 

 April 8, it was not till May i that the floor was laid and every- 

 thing made ready as mentioned above. The house was made 

 out of the interior fittings of the ship, the boards of the bulwarks, 

 and wire netting. The whole building was covered with tar paper 

 and sails from the vessel, and being big and spacious, almost 

 too much so, it was a considerably better place than either cabin 

 or forecastle. Dr. Howe had been careful not to cut the sails, 

 neither had he taken away anything from the vessel which could 

 make the ship unseaworthy if we should decide to try and 

 repair her, but they all agreed that their forethought seemed 



