FARTHEST NORTH WITH GREELY 



recovered from his humiliation on the northern trip, though 

 several months had elapsed since his downfall, and he would 

 discourage the friendly approach of the members of our 

 party, or of his associates, with a churlish snarl which soon 

 gained him the appropriate name of " Howler." He never 

 engaged in Ritenbenk's midnight predatory raids on our 

 commissary department, but would frequently warn us of 

 the conspiracy on foot to rob our larder. For this, and 

 other reasons, he was not popular with his companions; 



SLEDGING TO LOCKWOOD ISLAND 



and Ritenbenk encouraged his subordinates in their con- 

 stant attacks upon his former enemy. " Howler's " only 

 vengeance was in tugging fiercely at his trace, whenever 

 the king and his people were inclined to move at a more 

 leisurely pace, and he was the last to cease exerting his 

 strength when the heavy sledge stuck in the snow. Poor 

 " Howler's " faithful and loyal service to us, terminated 

 abruptly about thirteen months later, when he succumbed 

 to hard work and short rations, only a few miles from Fort 

 Conger, as we were returning from our long trip across 



67 



