218 



AECTIC EESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



and when we had made about four miles south the sun began to 

 lift his glorious face, his darting rays kissing the peaks of the 

 mountains around. Occasionally I looked back to the igloos 

 where I had spent so many days — far from uncomfortable ones — 

 among my Innuit friends ; but soon they were out of sight, and 

 my thoughts now turned wholly to the warm hearts that I hoped 

 to meet on board that night. 



At 9 A.M. we reached new ice, which started the sealers to try 

 their hands once more for a prize. In ten minutes more Ebier- 

 bing had found a hole, and actually secured a seal! He hailed 

 me to come, and, on reaching the spot, I was asked to pull the 

 seal up while he enlarged the hole, that it might be drawn on to 

 the ice. I did so ; and as the beautiful, eloquent eyes of the vic- 

 tim met my sight, I felt a sort of shudder come over me, for it 

 seemed to say, " Why disturb me here ? I do no harm. Do not 

 kill me I" But the great sealer, Ebierbing, with his spear, had al- 

 ready enlarged the hole, and, hauling the prize higher up, speed- 

 ily ended its life by a few well-directed thrusts midway between 

 the seal's fore-flippers. Not a struggle did the victim make. Its 

 end was as peaceful as that of a lamb. 



Ugarng had been unsuccessful ; but the one prize of Ebierbing 

 was something, and, after properly securing it to the sledge, away 

 we went on our course again. At 10 A.M. we lunched on frozen 

 seal, and our dinner was the same. We reached the land at 3 

 P.M., and crossed it in two hours and forty -five minutes to Field 

 Bay. A half hour's traveling upon the ice brought us to the 

 ship, where I found all the crew ready to welcome me with out- 

 stretched hands, and, I am sure, kindly hearts. For a moment, 

 on once more standing upon the ship's deck, I felt myself over- 

 powered ; but, speedily recovering, I returned the congratulations 

 offered, and, after seeing my companions were attended to, I de- 

 scended to the cabin, where numerous comforts of civilization 

 ,awaited me. A warm supper was most acceptable. I was much 

 fatigued with my journey ; and, soon after a short conversation 

 which followed, I gladly retired. Once more, then, did I enter 

 my own little domicile, where I did not forget to return thanks to 

 Him who had so preserved me in health and safety during that, 

 my first experience of personal life among the native Innuit tribes 

 of the icy North. 



