A TRIP TO CAPE RUSSELL 147 



sleeping on the komatiks as they traveled, and I dozed 

 intermittently, always, however, to be suddenly awak- 

 ened by the sledge hitting a rough bit of ice or the 

 dogs getting caught between bumps, when their 

 traces would have to be released. 



Cape Russell was thus gained without a rest. The 

 dogs were now so tired that the drivers could urge 

 them to no further exertion, and a halt was called. 

 The snow was so soft that blocks could not be cut 

 to build an igloo, so we scraped holes in the snow, in 

 which we spread our sleeping-bags and went to bed, 

 clothes and all, after I had disposed of a large piece 

 of uncooked bacon, a generous portion of uncooked 

 frozen hare, and two cups of tea. 



I fell asleep immediately, and did not waken for 

 eight hours. Then the sledges were lashed, and we 

 headed in a northwesterly direction, hoping still to 

 find bears. Presently the snow became so soft that 

 the dogs were unable to haul the sledges, and we had 

 to do a great deal of hard work pulling and pushing. 

 The ice, too, was very rough here. 



At length we stopped, and the Eskimos held a 

 council. I could not understand the import of it, but 

 when it was finished they explained to me that it was 

 decided to go no farther, for even should a bear be 

 " jumped" the traveling was so bad it would be a 

 hopeless task to follow it. Besides, a strong south 

 wind had sprung up and a haze partially obscuring 

 the moon, augured unsettled weather. So we faced 

 about. Had it not been for pity of the dogs I should 

 have regretted the retreat, but they, poor brutes, had 



