326 



CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



thought that he was still many miles further inland. What 

 interested him far more was that the people had had great 

 hunting, that the country had been practically swarming with 

 cariboo, and that a great number of skins and piles of meat 

 were to be found all over the country. Ekajuak and the children 

 were out setting traps, and so taking advantage of the fine 



NATIVE WOMEN SCRAPING SKINS. 



weather. Dan and Axel lived with Ned's two boys in a little 

 tent, and were out hunting every day, and John Grubben, with 

 his consumptive wife, was also there to get some of the meat. 



Some days full of hope followed my arrival at the camp, for 

 Axel told me that he would like to go out on the ice. His 

 decision meant a good deal to me, as I would then be able to 

 stay and carry out part of the work I had commenced. I did 

 not know very much of Axel ; some things about him I liked 

 very well, and other things less; but the men who knew him 

 thought him an able man, though perhaps not possessing 

 sufficient endurance for a long trip over the ice. Among others, 

 I asked Sachawachick what he thought about him, and after 



