Hunting Mitsk-Ox with the Dog Ribs 



The next day was spent in camp ; the 

 others were engaged in skinning the ani- 

 mals killed, and in boiling bones for grease 

 to eat on the return trip. I thus had an 

 opportunity to prepare the two skulls for 

 transportation. 



On the twenty-first day of the hunt 

 we started homeward — the turning-point 

 of the expedition. We were all heavily 

 loaded with the loose bulky skins. The 

 sleds were frequently overturned, and if 

 our dogs had not been in unusually good 

 condition, would never have been brought 

 out at all. My load extended over both 

 ends of the sled, and was nearly as high as 

 my shoulders, with the four lodge-poles 

 on top, making it no easy matter to keep 

 everything lashed firmly. 



On the twenty-third day a blinding 

 snow-storm prevented moving before mid- 

 day, when we pushed on through the soft 

 snow, without meat for ourselves or the 

 dogs. On the return trip we only secured 

 five caribou, which was less than half ra- 

 tions for five men and sixteen dogs. 



We were now burning our lodge-poles 

 for fuel. On the night of the twenty-fifth 

 day the lodge was set up for the last time, 

 with two poles only, and with our sled 

 lines made fast to the circle of sleds, which 

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