AT FLAXMAN ISLAND IN SUMMER 299 



good-bye to each other; Mr. Stefansson, Storkersen, and 

 Sachawachick were to go back east to Ooliktoonik, and my 

 boat, with Dr. Howe, Hicky, Fiedler, Thuesen, and myself, 

 was to continue on the way towards Point Barrow. We had 

 landed, and I stood on the beach, listening to Sachawachick's 

 explanations of the channel which we were to follow, when I 



AN OLD GRAVE. 



heard a shot, and, turning round, saw that Storkersen was 

 scrambling out of the boat, crying that he had shot himself 

 in the foot. 



I wonder whether I shall ever forget the feeling of utter 

 despair which took hold of me when I heard the shot and saw 

 what had happened. In a flash I realized that it meant the 

 frustration of my plans, the cessation of the work which had 

 begun so well, and a long and dreary winter, instead of one full 

 of activity and hopes for the coming season. And that Storker- 

 sen of all men was wounded made me feel almost physically 

 sick. Here was our pleasant and cheerful companion of the 

 sledge trip, our willing mate upon the voyage and good comrade 

 during the winter, suffering awful pains with a toe shattered and 

 far away from any surgical help. 



Dr. Howe immediately commenced cleansing the wound, and 



