FIGHTING THE HUNGRY DOGS. 



511 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



Continue the Journey up Frobisher Bay. — Arrive at Beauty Bay. — The Sledge at- 

 tacked by hungry Dogs. — Meeting with Friends. — Bereavement of old Allokee 

 and his Wife. — Death of Tweroong. — Heart-rending Particulars. — A Seal-feast. 

 — A sudden Excitement. — Strange Visit of an Angeko. — Parting with Allokee. 

 — Visit to the Grinnell Glacier. — Ascent by Polar Bear Tracks. — A Sea of Ice. — 

 An exciting Journey back. 



Duking the day, April 14th, 1862, 1 remained quiet in the ig- 

 loo, engaged in writing and working up observations. On the 

 ^5th I made a trip up the east arm of Peter Force Sound ; and 

 on the 16th we left the fifth (same as third) encampment, and pro- 

 ceeded on up Frobisher Bay. We made but slow progress on ac- 

 count of sealing, there being a necessity for obtaining all the food 

 that could be found. Six of us, besides the dogs, required a large 

 quantity. After journeying seven miles, we made our next en- 

 campment on the ice a few paces from a point of land forming 

 the west cape of a pretty little bay, which, on the boat- voyage in 

 the previous fall, I had called Beauty Bay. That night we had a 

 different kind of dwelling from the one ordinarily occupied by 

 us. The weather was now occasionally warm enough to admit 

 of half igloo and half tupic, which was made by omitting the 

 dome, and placing tent-poles, covered with canvas, on the snow 

 walls. 



An exciting scene occurred while the igloo wall was being 

 erected. Koojesse and Sharkey were at work on the building, 

 while Henry and I removed every thing from the sledge. We 

 being at some little distance, the dogs suddenly sprung in a pack 

 upon the sledge, and each snatched a piece of the meat and blub- 

 ber still remaining upon it. With a club in my hand and a seal- 

 spear in Henry's, we belabored them lustily, but they were so 

 hungry that it really seemed as if they cared nothing for blows. 

 As a piece of meat was rescued from the jaws of one, another, 

 and perhaps two others, as quickly had it. Blow followed blow ; 

 dogs flew this way and that, all acting like devils, determined to 

 conquer or die in their devouring work. It was quite five min- 

 utes before the battle was through, and not then till Koojesse 



