386 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



most sumptuous and satisfying meal that I had eaten 

 since leaving home. These dandelions were the first 

 greens that I had had in over a year, and a keen crav- 

 ing for fresh vegetables had possessed me. The best 

 hotel in New York City could not have served a more 

 satisfactory dinner. 



In the meantime the Eskimos arrived with the boat, 

 I made tea for them, and we started at once for Lit- 

 tleton Island, where it was hoped walrus would be 

 found. Camp was pitched, and after shooting a few 

 ducks I retired to rest. 



I had scarcely fallen asleep when the Eskimos 

 close alongside the tent began firing at ducks flying 

 overhead. The discharge of guns was so continuous 

 that it sounded like a battle in progress. Further 

 sleep being out of the question I arose, and upon 

 leaving the tent found a fresh south wind had sprung 

 up. Kulutinguah met me to say no walrus were to 

 be seen, and as there seemed little chance of getting 

 any he had decided to go to Annootok to bring 

 Tongwe and his family down. Several of the other 

 Eskimos expressed a desire to go also. The wind was 

 fair, and as I was as well satisfied to go there as to 

 remain at Etah, I told them I would run up with 

 them in the boat and we could return as soon as the 

 wind shifted again to the north. This pleased them 

 immensely, as without the boat they would have had 

 a long, hard walk in both directions over the rocks. 



The wind had increased to almost a gale by the time 

 the boat was loaded and launched, and before we 

 started I took two reefs in the sail. Five minutes 



