402 CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



of us would be forced to go out into the neck-deep snow along- 

 side the trail in order to let the other team pass. We were all 

 tired and cross, and consequently Mr. Adams and myself claimed 

 that we had the right of the way ; our friend asserted that he 

 had, and he expressed his opinion on the subject in stronger 

 terms than his rights and the occasion seemed to call for. 





NEAR KOKRINES. 



As I have often said before, people are touchy when on the 

 trail, and I made up my mind not to go out of the other man's 

 way, and as he did the same, we stayed where we were, sat 

 down on our sledges, hauled out pipes and tobacco, and lit up, 

 all very deliberately, and all the while glaring at each other. 

 The smoke was soon standing about us in the calm and oppres- 

 sive atmosphere, and the puffing at the pipes was the only sound 

 heard. One pipe was smoked, then another, and still we did 

 not move. At last we heard a halloo somewhere ahead on the 

 trail ; a man came along at a good speed, singing and whistling, 

 and apparently feeling very contented and satisfied. When he 

 came into view he stopped with a laugh. In a moment he had 

 seen how matters stood, and, still laughing, he inquired whether 

 we boys were out on a picnic. I admit that I felt ridiculous, 

 but nothing more. The new-comer, a happy young fellow, who 

 was not yet tired, hauled his own sledge and that of my now 

 very silent friend out of the trail, we aroused our dogs and 

 started to pass on eastwards, secretly proud that we had won 

 and stayed on the trail. 



This is only one out of many instances of the strange way in 

 which people behave on the trail, their readiness to take offence, 



