INTKODUCTiON UF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA, 73 



but still it was pretty stormy. Many a time duiiiig the da}' have 

 our sleds been blown sidewise and even rolled over. The snow has 

 also continued to fall throughout the day. Toward evening we began 

 to see signs of our trip here on the 1st instant. From that we under- 

 stood that we had found our own trail again. Pleasant discovery, 

 indeed. We made camp again at 4 p. m., just by the side of a lake, 

 and are sheltered partly by a bush and partly by a little knoll. Had 

 it been light enough for two hours more, we would have come to our 

 old camp of November 30. It seems now that oiu- return would be 

 accomplished much easier than our coming, and naturally so. 



Thursday, December 10. — It was raining all of last night and this 

 morning and most of the forenoon. The snow is fast disappearing. 

 The tundra is now practicalh' bare, but b}^ dividing our loads on all 

 the sleds and walking ourselves the travel has gone well just the 

 same. The long lakes in our course have helped us greatly, and we 

 are satisfied this evening of having traveled about 25 miles during 

 the day. Before 3 o'clock it became so dark that we had to begin 

 to look for a camping place, but as none could be found we con- 

 tinued on our wa}' more by feeling than seeing until 5 o'clock, when 

 we found a few small willows, which afforded very little shelter, but 

 there is no choice here. After the tent was tied to the sleds and 

 bushes we cut a lot of small bushes a foot or two high and tied them 

 together in bundles and then fastened with rope these bundles on 

 the windward side of the tent. Hardly were we settled in camp 

 before it began to rain again, and it still kept on at bedtime, or 

 rather sleeping-bag time. About two da3^s' journey from here are very 

 few lakes to cross, so it certainly looks bad to have to drag over the 

 heaA'y moss fields without any snow. As we are lightly loaded we 

 hope to manage it, but naturally the progress must be very slow 

 if this weather continues. Hu! it is lonely out here; the ceaseless 

 wind tearing and shaking our little home, if an^^thing, more furiously 

 than ever as the hours go hj. It is by the wind's lullaby and a con- 

 stant fear of the tent blowing over that we crawl into our bags 

 to-night. ''But joy cometh in the morning." 



Friday, December 11. — After a very stormy and rainy night the 

 firmament cleared off and it was brighter than ever. The same 

 wind continues, but it is perfectl}^ diy and much colder than yes- 

 terday. The little bit of snow that is left is now crusted and the 

 niggerheads are covered with frost, so that the sleds slide quite 

 easil}^. On account of this pleasant change of weather we have 

 traveled well to-day, probably 25 miles or more. Our camp to-night 

 is better than it was last night. We are located near a little creek, 

 with sufficiently steep and high banks to give us shelter from the 

 wind. If we get one more real good day, I hope to reach the creek 

 through wliicli we gain exit from the tundra and across the Yukon. 



