HUNTING THE NARWHAL 351 



other team made a further attempt to secure seals. 

 When they returned, however, they had been unsuc- 

 cessful, though they had wounded three which es- 

 caped into their holes before the hunters could get 

 them. 



Late in the evening, near Cape Leiper, a wind- 

 break was improvised and we bivouacked. I had no 

 sleeping-bag with me, and wet as I was and chilled 

 through, could rest with no degree of comfort. The 

 Eskimos were uncertain how long they would remain 

 here and to the northward, as they desired to secure as 

 many seals as possible before returning to camp. To 

 me there was little sport in seal-hunting, and, all 

 things considered, I decided to walk back to Annoo- 

 tok and wait there until an opportunity offered to 

 hunt narwhals. 



Accordingly, after a five hours' rest and a good 

 meal of bacon and tea, I cached my things, covering 

 them with rocks and snow, said adieu to Abidinguah 

 and Pennipar, who turned in a northwesterly direc- 

 tion, and faced about on the trail. 



In a straight line Annootok lay about fifteen miles 

 below me. I followed our sledge tracks, presently 

 coming upon good, smooth ice, covered with deep, 

 soft snow, and donning snow-shoes pushed forward 

 at a good pace until I reached the lead of open water 

 which we had crossed the previous day. To my 

 chagrin the lead was now so wide that I was com- 

 pelled to make a circuit of several weary miles before 

 an available crossing-place was found. The greater 



