SUNSHINE AND STORM II5 



and his broken leg, he still outwalks the boys. I started out 

 with Jack, and we soon met. The party were all right, but 

 had had a pretty hard time of it. 



Thursday, February 18. A bright, sunny day. We have 

 been busy rebuilding the snow entrance which was washed 

 away by the recent thaw and rain. This completed, Mr. Peary 

 got out his " ski " and began coasting down the hill back of the 

 house. Astrup and the doctor joined in the sport, and even 

 the huskies got their sleds and coasted on them. I spent the 

 time in taking photographs of the boys, especially in their 

 grotesque tumbles. 



Friday, February 19. Another cloudy day; it seems as if 

 the sun had not yet become accustomed to his new route and 

 forgets us every other day. The old couple started for Netchi- 

 olumy this morning, and Ikwa went off with his sledge and 

 our mikkies to bait fox-traps. After lunch Astrup and the 

 doctor went on the cliffs to build three cairns from Cape 

 Cleveland to Three-Mile Valley, expecting to get back by 

 supper-time. At six o'clock they had not returned, but we 

 were not alarmed, and put their supper away for them. About 

 seven Ikwa came in, and reported that while passing Cape 

 Cleveland he had heard the rumbling of a snow-slide down the 

 steep sides of the cliffs, but it was too dark for him to see any- 

 thing. At 9.15 the old couple returned, saying the snow was 

 too deep for them to travel, and they are therefore going to 

 stay here for a while. The truth is, they like it here, and 

 think they had better let well enough alone. They said that 



