DEPARTURE FOR THE SHIP. 



217 



aught such a man might instantly command to be done, had I of- 

 fended him. 



When Ebierbing returned with the four seals he merely staid 

 long enough for the feast, and was off again, with the understand- 

 ing to look out for me, as I purposed following him. This I did 

 on the 16th day of February, being the thirty-eighth of my de- 

 parture from the ship, and of my living thus wholly among the 

 •Innuits. The Innuit Jack was my companion, and we arrived at 

 Kowtukjua (Clark's Harbor) about 3 P.M. 



This place was where we had anchored in the ship during the 

 previous fall, and where I nearly lost my life by the accidental 

 pistol-shot on the 13th of August. I examined the locality, and 

 then, at 4 P.M., started for Allen's Island. 



We arrived at Ugarng's igloo about 7 P.M., and were wel- 

 comed by Kunniu, Ugarng himself being out sealing. Here I 

 staid until the 18th, aiding them as far as I could, and curiously 

 watching the various efforts made to sustain and enjoy life by 

 these singular people of the North. 



In a future chapter I shall dwell upon this more largely ; but 

 now I must only say that great success attended Ugarng's exer- 

 tions, and when we all started for the igloo village it was with a 

 good store of food upon onr sledge. We arrived in the after- 

 noon, and, after the usual feast, passed the evening in social con- 

 versation. 



I had now been forty -two nights in an igloo, living with the 

 natives most of the time on their food and according to their own 

 customs. I therefore considered that I had gained some experi- 

 ence in the matter, and, having made several observations for de- 

 termining the locality of places, prepared for my return. 



I bade adieu to my Innuit friends in the village, and on the 

 21st of February left what I then called " my Northern home" for 

 the ship. I was accompanied by Ebierbing, Ugarng, and Kun- 

 niu, and we had the sledge and dogs with us. The parting from 

 Tookoolito was affecting. She evidently felt it ; but the hope of 

 herself and husband soon being with me again on my future ex- 

 cursions removed much of the disappointment she then felt at my 

 going away. In fact, both she and Ebierbing were as children to 

 me, and I felt toward them like what a parent would. 



It was a fine day when we left the village at 7 A.M., and rapid 

 progress was made. As we moved out into the bay, a glow of 

 red light suffused the heavens at the eastern part of the horizon, 



