XV 



THE RETURN OF THE SUN 



WITH the decreased population Annootok 

 assumed the air of a deserted village, and 

 the empty igloos impressed upon me a 

 new sense of loneliness. Kulutinguah had announced 

 his intention of leaving shortly with his family, and 

 then there would remain only Ilabrado, his kooner 

 and two piccaninnies in the settlement. Traveling 

 was very good, and on the day that Kulutinguah and 

 Tongwe with their two piccaninnies made ready to 

 go south I decided, with Ilabrado as driver, to break 

 the monotony and take off the edge of the loneliness 

 while awaiting Oxpuddyshou's return, by a run down 

 to Etah for a few days' hare hunting. We needed 

 the fresh meat, and hares were much more numerous 

 there than at Annootok. 



Kulutinguah started out before us, announcing 

 that he would follow the ice foot instead of crossing 

 the steep mountain, as it was a much easier though 

 longer route when passable. Ilabrado and I, how- 

 ever, stuck to the old trail, and when we came again 

 upon the frozen ocean after crossing the mountain 

 Kulutinguah was nowhere to be seen and it was evi- 

 dent we were making better time than he. It was 



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