The Internet Detective Library — page 222: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

210 A VOYAGE ON AN ICEBERG. stop soon, when. they discovered a fallen tree lying directly across their path, Its roots were partly in the sir and partly buried in the ice. ‘‘That tells the story;’’ Stokes said. ‘‘This is a glacier. And this tree was caught by it somewhere far inland and so brought down: toward the sea,’’ Of course a fire was made in short order and a supper of bear’s meat was prepared for both men and. dogs. While Kotuk attended to this Stokes did his best. in the making of a shelter. He had learned his lessons well, and) so succeeded with occa- sional help from the Esquimau in making a hut that would hold s | them all. é | They slept there that. night. The next morning they found that their heavy coats were uncomfortable when they were mov- ing about. While they were preparing breakfast they heard loud reports : and strange grinding noises. The Esquimau paid little attention 7 , to them, although it was clear enough that he regarded them seriously. | ‘*Is the ice in motion?’’ asked Stokes. ‘‘Yah,’’ returned Kotuk. ‘‘Heap move.’’ : He shook: his head as.if unwilling to guess what might happen. rt : After they had breakfasted Kotuk suggested that he would go | u on an exploration. t ‘“You do all work,’’ he said; ‘‘you heap tired—you sleep. Kotuk take his turn—find sea somewhere—then maybe we make boat or something.’ It was not at.all clear to the detective’s mind what could be le done if he should find. the sea, but he did think it worth while to keep on exploring in the hope of coming some day to some kind of a settlement, and as indeed he was thoroughly tired out, he agreed to Kotuk’s suggestion and crawled into the hut. Kotuk announced that he would return by noon. | ‘If. we no find better place,’’ he said, encouragingly, ‘‘we stay pe by this tree until we burn it all up.” | vie He started on with a couple of the dogs as companions, leav- be ing the others fastened. by a thong to the sled... This gave the | dogs that remained plenty of room to exercise; and if they chose Bi, they: could crawl into the hut without being unfastened. sal | hi Stokes lay down upon the blanket in the hut and was almost : ey instantly asleep, » : -. It was not yet midday when a man came toiling. across the i ice | fe field tc yard the hut...» There:were no dogs, with him, and,.any, one .could, have. seen Ses that he was not an Esquimarv, He was as large as two ordinary a Esquimaux. (@) boo ksscor oe | com