358 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



rapidly and in a short time would have carried the 

 boat with it. 



The storm lasted for three days, then the sun came 

 out hot, with not a breath of wind blowing. This, 

 the Eskimos declared, was an ideal day for seal- 

 hunting, as with sun and calm following the 

 storm the seals would be found sleeping upon the 

 ice. Accordingly most of the men left us for the 

 northward, to be absent for two "sleeps," but seal- 

 hunting now offered too little sport for me to join 

 them. 



At length the Sound was open to the southward, 

 save for numerous floating icebergs as far as one 

 could see. Streams of water rushed in torrents 

 down the mountain-side, loosening great boulders 

 which every little while came crashing down with a 

 great noise. As the ice broke away the bird life so 

 plentiful at Etah appeared here also. Thousands 

 of ducks, geese, several kinds of gulls, little auks in 

 great flocks, and sea-pigeons were to be seen every- 

 where upon the water. Summer was pushing its way 

 northward. 



Late one afternoon four walrus appeared a short 

 distance southward from camp. Portlooner the 

 only Eskimo now in the settlement except women and 

 children gave chase at once in his kayak, while Billy, 

 some Eskimo boys and myself, followed in the boat. 

 We returned unsuccessful, but had been in bed only 

 a little while when Portlooner called to me hurriedly 

 that several more walrus were in the water very near. 

 I dressed quickly, launched the boat, and with five 



