394 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



north, with no open water visible in the direction of 

 Cape Sabine, and that we had better get away at 

 once. Kulutinguah realized that I was very tired, 

 and he added, "Ice no good, but just as you say about 

 starting." I said we would start at once, for his in- 

 formation meant that the northern jam had broken 

 loose, and that if we expected to get out in the boat 

 it was necessary to move without delay, for following 

 this there would be one continual run of ice to the 

 southward. 



All was hurry and confusion immediately. In less 

 than an hour Kulutinguah had his tupek down and 

 packed with my things in the boat. Every one, it 

 then developed, was anxious to go with us, and I of- 

 fered a passage to as many as we could carry. The 

 boat load was not heavy, but very bulky, and I could 

 hardly see where all the people could be stowed, but 

 somehow they huddled in. Besides all the men who 

 came with me, except Portlooner, who decided to re- 

 main at Annootok, we had with us Tongwe and three 

 piccaninnies, and Ilabrado, his kooner and two pic- 

 caninnies, with all their belongings. 



Much small ice made it difficult to get the boat 

 away from land, and interfered with progress for a 

 mile or so, before we came into fairly clear water. 

 An almost dead calm prevailed when we started, but 

 now the wind was freshening out of the north, and 

 we hoisted sail, running straight before it and making 

 fast time. The wind continued to increase, and when 

 we reached Cairn Point it was blowing so strong that 

 we took in the peak of the sail. A tremendous sea 



