CHAPTER V 



BOAT JOURNEYS AND PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER 



Return to Head of McCormick Bay for Deer — Footprints on the Shore — Success- 

 ful Deer Hunt — Meeting with the Returning Inland Ice Party — Astrup and 

 Gibson Make a Second Attempt on the Ice-cap — Attempted Boat Trip up 

 Whale Sound — Stopped by the New Ice — Exciting Battle with Walrus — 

 Dr. Cook and Matt Tramp to Nowdingyah's — Last of the Boat Trips — Setting 

 up the Stove — My Experience with a Snow-slide — Final Return of the Inland 

 Ice Party — Preparing Redcliffe for Winter. 



We were all pretty tired the next day, and Mr. Peary de- 

 cided to wait another day or two before starting on a second 

 hunting-expedition to the head of the bay. It was Thursday 

 morning, September lo, when we nailed up our doors and, out 

 of regard for " social custom," tacked a card on the front door, 

 which read : " Have gone to Tooktoo Valley for two or three 

 days' hunt. Visitors will please leave their cards," and then 

 headed our boat eastward. 



In order to avail ourselves of the breeze, we were obliged to 

 cross the bay and then tack. When about half-way it was 

 decided to run ashore and prepare lunch. As soon as the 

 keel of the boat grated on the sand, Ikwa jumped out to make 

 the bow-line fast, but he had hardly touched the ground be- 

 fore he gave utterance to a cry of surprise, and pointed to foot- 

 prints in the sand. In a moment we were all excitement. 



