98 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



ready to begin their return journey to Etah in the 

 morning twilight. 



I settled for sleep, but in a little while a pande- 

 monium of fighting, howling dogs and singing Eski- 

 mos struck up, making it evident that a celebration 

 was in progress and that sleep would be out of the 

 question, so I decided to rise, join the hunters and 

 make a night of it. 



A spectacle weird and impressive met my view. 

 With bear and seal fat for fuel, the Eskimos had 

 built a large fire. The flame, shooting high in air, 

 spread its light for a long distance, illuminating the 

 surrounding icebergs, the blue-green masses of the 

 nearer ones reflecting the light or casting uncanny 

 shadows, while those in the distance stood out in 

 fantastic silhouette against the darkened sky beyond. 

 The effect was beautiful and indescribable. Around 

 the fire were gathered long-haired, dark-hued, fur- 

 clad natives, feasting on raw meat and singing their 

 native songs, while wolf -like dogs skulked in the 

 background. 



I joined the group, hoping the fire might spread 

 a glow of warmth, but in this was disappointed. 

 Here I talked over a plan of action with my own 

 party, and it was decided that Kudlar and one other 

 should go inland and hunt for deer, while I, with 

 the remainder of the Eskimos, continued on the ice 

 to look for bear. An equal division was made of 

 biscuits, sugar and tea, and through Sipsu's generos- 

 ity a quantity of deer meat was added to our supplies. 



