CHAPTER XV 



MY CAMPING EXPERIENCE IN TOOKTOO VALLEY 



Conclusion of the Murder Scare — A Fifteen-mile Walk along tlie Arctic Shore — 

 Matt my Sole Companion — An Arctic Paradise — A Tramp with an Unpleasant 

 Ending — Twenty-four Hours with Nothing to eat — In the Shadow of the Ice- 

 cliffs — Fording a Glacial River — Safe in Camp again. 



Tuesday, July 12. Gibson arrived this morning, minus his 

 sledge and his entire load, having been obliged to abandon 

 them on account of hard traveling. He advises me to go to 

 the head of the bay without delay, as the ice is even now in a 

 bad condition, and each day makes it worse. Ikwa was on 

 the point of starting with a sledge of provisions and bedding, 

 and I decided at once that Matt should accompany him. I 

 shall follow later along the shore. At one P. M. Matt and 

 Ikwa started, with five dogs, one native sledge, and one to- 

 boggan. I fully intended to leave after supper, but I found 

 so many things to do that I was too tired to think of walking 

 fifteen miles, and determined to wait until to-morrow. I gave 

 my room a thorough cleaning, and put down my new car- 

 pet, washed and did up my bed-curtains, and made things 

 as bright and clean as possible. I hope the little den will 

 look somewhat homelike to Mr. Peary when he comes back. 



