244 ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



struck through the snow to the seal-hole, the harpoon penetrating 

 the unseen seal's head. The seal instantly dives, and runs out the 



AN ESQUIMAUX AND HIS SEAL-DOG. 



full length, say six to ten fathoms, of the line that connects the har- 

 poon to the harpooner. The seal's breathing-hole is then "un- 

 snowed" and enlarged to the size of the main, when the prize is 

 drawn forth. 



Thus seal-holes are found and seals captured during the long 

 winters of the North. 



Among the Innuits just referred to as now arrived were Ugarng, 

 Ebierbing, and Tookoolito ; and I was glad to find them well, 

 though the latter two had suffered considerably since I had been 

 with them. 



Tookoolito informed me that a short time after my departure 

 from Cornelius Grinnell Bay, the Innuit "Jack," while out seal- 

 ing, had nearly lost his life by falling through the ice into the 

 swiftly -running tide. He only saved himself by catching his chin 

 on to the edge of some firm ice just as the current was sweeping 



