114 BY ESKIMO DOG-SLED 



A mug of hot tea is a wonderful help at a 

 time like that, even though the water be 

 smoky and clouded with grits ; and we 

 used to fold our hands and " say grace " 

 for those rough meals with real thankful- 

 ness. 



The weather was worse than ever, but the 

 men were quite cheerful about it, although 

 they must have known that we had a dangerous 

 task before us. To-day we must cross the 

 summit of the Kiglapeit pass, with a blinding 

 snowstorm beating in our faces. But the 

 Eskimos were in their element, and at times 

 like those I never knew them to be faint- 

 hearted. Off we went into the storm, and 

 the sled runners groaned as they ploughed 

 heavily through the soft snow. For ten - or 

 twelve miles the way was plain, for our track 

 followed the course of a frozen torrent, between 

 high banks, and the dogs had no difficulty in 

 picking their way ; but when we got on to 

 the lake at the top of the pass the trouble 

 began. The wind was blowing in a circle, and 

 gave us no guidance at all ; and to me it 

 seemed that we were on an open plain of 

 snow, enclosed by whirling walls of white. I 

 could see nothing but the snow slipping past 

 us as the sled drove steadily on. Julius sat 

 with set face, continually crying " Hu-it, 



