324 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



spread about to keep out the wind, and here we slept 

 until the storm abated and weather enabled us to 

 continue our journey. 



When we resumed our march the glare was terri- 

 ble. I no longer removed my glasses when I slept, 

 for without them the intense light penetrated through 

 the lids and burned the eyeballs. Three of the Eski- 

 mos became snow-blind, and as temporary relief I 

 dropped a solution of cocaine into their eyes. 



Presently we missed one of the sledges, and I 

 turned back to search for it. I found the driver lying 

 face down across his komatik, unable to open his 

 eyes. He had abandoned himself to his suffering, 

 in reckless disregard of whatever other fate might 

 befall him, while the dogs, unnoticed, stood about 

 with tangled traces. 



Traveling grew steadily worse, and six miles from 

 Annootok the ice-barrier became practically impassa- 

 ble, with here and there open leads of water extend- 

 ing northward. Five hours were consumed in open- 

 ing a road and working around leads; then half our 

 load was abandoned, and for several hours we labored 

 through that six miles of ice. The efforts of the 

 Eskimos were little short of superhuman. Finally 

 the obstacle was overcome, and we found ourselves 

 safely and thankfully back at Annootok. 



Two of the Eskimos were so badly affected with 

 snow-blindness they could not open their eyes and at 

 once threw themselves face down upon their komatiks 

 for several hours' sleep. But the other tireless men 

 at once returned for the abandoned goods, while I 



