206 HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



we unloaded all our goods and carried nearly all of them 

 up to the cabin, about a hundred yards, and placed them 

 under cover until morning. We had made forty-eight 

 miles this day and were seventy miles distant from Seward 

 along the route we had come, but a much shorter distance 

 across the mountains, for we had bent to the southward 

 after leaving the railway. 



Our cabin was a most magnificent affair, about 11 x 14 

 feet in size, high enough for a man to stand upright in it 

 without hitting his head. A large bed, which accommo- 

 dated Bill and me, was built into one corner beside the 

 door; while Fritz and Alex, having no bed, wrapped 

 themselves under the same blanket upon the hard floor. 

 On the opposite side of the door a stove had been set up 

 and at the back of the cabin were a table, stools and 

 storage place for the provisions on the numerous shelves. 

 The windows had real glass in them; one in the rear wall 

 over the table and one in the smooth board door. The 

 door was inscribed with the names of previous wayfarers 

 who had accepted the silent hospitality of the place. 

 Opposite the front of the cabin and about fifteen yards 

 distant, a high cache, or miniature cabin raised on tall 

 posts, was designed to protect supphes from the porcu- 

 pines and dogs. 



This then was our first night in camp in the woods. 

 Thick around us grew the tall spruces and cottonwood 

 trees, through which the wind made dehcious moan 

 upon the night. 



Bill and the other guides had among themselves 

 arranged to hunt different parts of the country so that 

 we should not conflict with each other, as the region to 

 which our efforts were to be confined was rather a small 

 tract of land and there were already several other parties 

 in the field. 



