However, with the good going fast time was made.  Usually they kept to the sea ice, but sometimes took short cuts across necks of land where, as had been the case near Ungava, the men had to haul on the traces with the dogs.

The new drivers were much younger men than Akonuk and Matuk and they were in many respects more companionable.  But Bob missed a sort of fatherly interest that the others had shown in him and did not rely so implicitly upon their judgment.

Able now as he was to understand very much of their conversation, he took part in the discussion of various routes and expressed his opinion as to them; and the Eskimos, who at first had looked upon him as a more or less inexperienced kablunok, soon began to feel that he knew nearly as much about dog and komatik travelling as they did themselves.  Thus a sort of good fellowship developed at once.

One evening after a hard day’s travelling as they came over the crest of a hill the first grove of trees that Bob had seen since shortly after leaving Ungava came in sight.  It was the most welcome thing that had met his view in weeks, and when the dogs were turned to its edge and he saw a small shack, he knew that he was nearing again the white man’s country.

The shack was found to have no occupants, but it contained a sheet iron stove such as he had used in his tilts, and that night he revelled in the warmth of a fire and a feast of boiled ptarmigan and tea.

“‘Tis like gettin’ back t’ th’ Bay,” said Bob, and he asked the Eskimos, “Will there be igloosoaks (shacks) all the way?”

“Igloosoaks every night,” answered Aluktook.

The following morning a westerly breeze was blowing and the Eskimos were uncertain whether to keep to the land or follow the sea ice along the shore.  The former route, they explained to Bob, passed over high hills and was much the harder and longer one of the two, but safer.  The ice route along the shore was smooth and could be accomplished much more quickly, but at this season of the year was fraught with more or less danger.  For many miles the shore rose in precipitous rocks, and should a westerly gale arise while they were passing this point, the ice was likely to break away and no escape could be made to the shore.  The wind blowing then from the West was not strong enough yet, they said, to cause any trouble, and they did not think it would rise, but still it was uncertain.

“Which way should they go?”

Bob’s experience at Kangeva made him hesitate for a moment, but his impatience to reach home quickly got the better of his judgment; and, especially as the Eskimos seemed inclined to prefer the outside route, he joined them in their preference and answered,

“We’ll be goin’ outside.”

And the outside route they took.

All went well for a time, but hourly the wind increased.  The dogs were urged on, but the wind kept blowing them to leeward and they began to show signs of giving out.  Finally a veritable gale was blowing and the Eskimos’ faces grew serious.