H6 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



After sixty hours of such resting we were quite ready to move 

 on, as the thirteenth day dawned bright and clear. Early in 

 the day we caught sight of a band of forty musk-ox already in 

 flight a couple of miles distant. We chased them six miles, 

 but only one of our party reached them, Wisho, who killed 

 four. We were very much fatigued from our long run, and cov- 

 ered with perspiration which froze on our outer garments, as 

 we walked back with the dogs to bring up the sleds. It was 

 after nightfall before we set up the lodge and cold, tired and 

 hungry, sat shivering around a column of smoke over which 

 hung a kettle containing both meat and drink; for our supply 

 of tea was exhausted and we had to quench our thirst with the 

 greasy bouillon or "tewoh " in which the meat was boiled. 



The temperature was falling rapidly, giving us some concern 

 about Johnnie Cohoyla, who had not returned. The next morn- 

 ing I was awakened by the monotonous wailing of his brother, 

 Esyuh, who was chanting the virtues of the lost reprobate, and 

 entreating the fates in general, and the North Wind in particu- 

 lar, to spare him. 



"Tin-neh hu-le" — ''a man is lost!" 



The Dog Ribs repeated the phrase with significant glances at 

 me, as if this "Mo-la" accompanying them had offended the 

 Great Spirit, so that he had wreaked his vengeance upon the 

 man who had allowed me to enter the Dog Rib hunting ground. 

 A terrific gale prevented us from searching for the lost man; 

 we could only spend the day in our blankets while the snow 

 drifted in and over all. That was one of the most miserable 

 days I ever spent. I had tried twice to run with the Indians, 

 and failed to reach the musk-ox, and there seemed to be no 

 immediate prospect of my getting any. The musk-ox were not 

 numerous they said, and our wood might fail before we secured 

 any more. Johnnie must have perished, as no human being 

 could live through a night of such storm without protection, 

 and it was thirty-six hours before we could search for him. We 

 were shivering in our blankets, even the Indians saying, "Ed-sa, 

 yaz-zi ed-sa" — "it is cold, very cold." 



The next morning proved to be calm, and we set off in search 

 of Johnnie. I had as great difficulty to keep my cheeks from 

 freezing as at any time during the winter, though there was 

 scarcely any wind blowing. 



