WHEN THE ESKIMOS LEFT US 259 



fear the shack would be swept away before the hur- 

 ricane, and both Billy and myself donned our heaviest 

 fur clothing in anticipation of its going. 



The Arctic snow during the periods of low tem- 

 perature is of a peculiar quality, frozen into hard, 

 sand-like grains as fine as flour. As it was driven 

 before the gale it gave out a peculiar hissing sound, 

 so loud that one had to shout to be heard a few feet 

 distant. I can liken this sound only to that made 

 by a large stream of water playing upon a hot fire. 

 Both Billy and I wondered where Peary and his men 

 were, and we prayed for the safety of all those to the 

 north of us. 



How the wild animals survive these blizzards is be- 

 yond my understanding. Their ability to gain a 

 living, even in periods of calm, is one of the wonders 

 of the Arctic. During the winter months the earth 

 and meager herbage is buried beneath four or five 

 feet of hard-packed snow, and beasts and birds must 

 dig to the bottom to find food. 



As the hours passed the storm appeared to in- 

 crease, if possible, in fury. Neither of us could 

 sleep. We began to feel apprehensive for the safety 

 of our Eskimo friends to the southward. Only the 

 thick walls of snow-blocks piled around our little box 

 camp preserved it. I shall never understand how, 

 even with this protection, it was not carried away. 



We did not attempt to sleep all night, and after 

 breakfast, when we found it necessary to bring in 

 coal from the sacks at the entrance of the tunnel, 

 found ourselves snowed in with the tunnel practically 



