202 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



and aurora in a manner quite beyond description. 

 Below all, and reaching to the eastward as far as 

 eye could see, lay white and glistening the tumbled 

 ice of the frozen sea. It was a scene of rare beauty 

 that can be witnessed nowhere in the world save in 

 the Arctic, and seldom even there. Nature had 

 combined ice, sky, moon, aurora and all the elements 

 in an unusual manner and in just the right propor- 

 tions of coloring upon this occasion, to paint the 

 picture to perfection. It was a scene that I shall 

 always carry with me and remember as one of the 

 most wonderful I have ever beheld. 



The ice was in good condition and fair progress 

 was made, though the dogs showed signs of weari- 

 ness. As we rounded Cape Kenrick, however, five 

 miles south of Etah, we were met by a strong north 

 wind, cold and piercing. Oxpuddinguah halted to 

 arrange a deerskin on his sledge, as a windbreak to 

 protect Ishyatah and the piccaninnies. I suffered 

 greatly, freezing face and nose badly. 



Teddylinguah and I were well in the lead, and 

 reached the shack considerably in advance of the 

 others. My fingers were so cold I could not work the 

 key in the lock, so pulled the staple, started a fire at 

 once, and in a little while we were quite comfortable 

 and warm, with supper of dried eggs, canned corn, a 

 big pot of corn-meal mush and tea cooking for all 

 hands. 



The wind rose rapidly, and soon a gale was sweep- 

 ing the country. It would have been difficult for 

 the Eskimos, for the snow was not in good condition, 



