122 BY ESKIMO DOG-SLED 



their boat along with poles, and after a great 

 struggle they reached the jetty and told their 

 story. Their missionary was ill : help was 

 needed : and so they had pushed their way 

 in a frail boat along a hundred miles of sea 

 all strewn with ice, and were ready to start 

 back again the next morning. 



" But very hard work," they said, as they 

 clambered out of the boat and followed the 

 folk who had seized their baggage ; " very 

 hard work please find us another man, so 

 that we can be five, and rest by turns from 

 the rowing " ; and away they trotted to a 

 good breakfast and a good sleep. 



I looked about the village for an extra 

 boatman, and among the few who had not 

 gone away to the seal hunting I thought of 

 Daniel. I knew Daniel as a good and handy 

 workman, so I sent for him. Soon he came 

 shyly in a short, square man with a broad 

 back and muscular limbs, and, above all, a 

 willing, good-natured face. He was not dressed 

 like an Eskimo ; he had on his summer 

 costume of an old tattered jersey, left him, 

 no doubt, by some fisherman from Newfound- 

 land ; and there he stood in the doorway of 

 my room ready, as he always was, for any 

 work that came his way. 



" Daniel," said I, " are you ready to start 



