LAND AT LAST 393 



I was returning to the hut to fetch the seal - knives, I 

 heard cries in the air above me. There were actually two 

 geese flying south ! With what longing I looked after 

 them as they disappeared, only wishing that I could have 

 followed them to the land towards which they were now 

 wending their flight ! 



Next to food and fuel the most important thing was 

 to o'et a hut built. To build the walls of this was not 

 difficult; there was plenty of stone and moss. The roof 

 presented greater difficulty, and we had as yet no idea 

 what to make of it. Fortunately, I found a sound drift- 

 wood pine-log thrown up on to the shore not far from 

 our den ; this would make a capital ridge-piece for the 

 roof of our future house. And if there was one, there 

 might be others. One of our first acts, therefore, was 

 to make an excursion up along the shore and search ; 

 but all we found was one short, rotten piece of wood, 

 which was good for nothing, and some chips of another 

 piece. I then began to think of using walrus-hides for 

 the roof instead. 



The following day (August 29th) we prepared to try 

 our luck at walrus-hunting. We had no great desire to 

 attack the animals in single kayaks ; we had had enough 

 of that, I thought, and the prospect of being upset or of 

 having a tusk driven through the bottom of the kayak 

 or into one's thigh was not altogether alluring. The 

 kayaks were therefore lashed together, and, seated 

 upon the ring, we put out towards the big bidl which 



