28 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



On our return to the ship a halt was made to re- 

 move the head of the bull walrus, and the three 

 Eskimos took advantage of the occasion to gorge 

 themselves on raw meat. 



The following morning I met with a painful, 

 though fortunately not serious accident. While at- 

 tempting to start the motor in our power-boat the 

 handle on the fly-wheel flew back and struck me a 

 stinging blow on the knee. The knee pained severely 

 and I feared at first it was broken; but Dr. Goodsall 

 (surgeon of the expedition) upon examination pro- 

 nounced the bones intact, though he advised me to 

 remain quiet for a time. Then, to add to my afflic- 

 tions, I succeeded in cutting one of my fingers rather 

 severely. Altogether it was my unlucky day, and 

 put me temporarily in bad shape for hunting. 



Ten families of Eskimos, and sixty-three dogs, 

 destined to take part in the Polar dash, were taken 

 aboard the Erik, and the two ships hove anchor to 

 cruise for walrus, a large supply of the meat being 

 needed for the Polar party. None was seen, how- 

 ever, up to midnight, and then the Roosevelt headed 

 directly for Etah, while the Erik turned into Whale 

 Sound to search for cow walrus and their young. 



Early on the morning of the sixth a large number 

 of the animals were sighted on the ice, and all hands 

 were called. Norton and Larned went with another 

 party, while the boatswain and two Eskimos accom- 

 panied me in the power-boat. My injured knee was 

 very painful, but I could not miss this walrus hunt, 

 and besides I felt greatly in need of exercise. 



