“No, I’ll get fishing enough later. Guess I’ll stay and look this crowd over.” “All right. Don’t make eyes at that young Eskimo girl.” “No fear!” Skulking about were several big, vicious looking dogs, which reminded Paul of timber wolves he had seen at the Zoo. “I don’t like the looks of those beasts,” said he. “Are they dangerous?” “They’re cowards so long as you keeps on your feet an’ has somethin’ handy to beat un with,” reassured Dan. “Your gun’ll do for that. But let un get th’ best o’ you once, an’ they’ll just rip you up like wolves. They is wolves.” “They look it,” agreed Paul. The lads wandered about the encampment, examining the kayaks and crude hunting implements and paraphernalia of the Eskimos. Upon approaching the tupeks a stench met their nostrils, which they found came from half putrid seal meat and fish within. “They eats wonderful bad meat,” remarked Dan. “Why, they don’t eat that stuff!” exclaimed Paul. “Yes they does,” said Dan. “What pigs they must be!” “No, ’tis just th’ way they always been used to doin’. They has wonderful hard times t’ get things t’ eat sometimes.” At the end of an hour Remington and Ainsworth returned. “Not a strike,” said Remington, “though I’m certain there are plenty of salmon in the stream. We’re a little far north for them to take the fly. But Ainsworth got our dinner. That’s something.” “Ran into a bunch of ptarmigans,” said Ainsworth, holding up a half dozen birds. “How are you making out with the huskies, Tom?” asked Remington of Tom, who had joined them. “Kuglutuk, th’ old un, sir, will go with us. He’s ready to start any time, sir. We has t’ land him at Cape Smith or Cape Wolstenholm, sir, when we comes back.” “All right, Tom. Can’t we get brush enough around here to broil these grouse and make some coffee? I’m famished.” “Yes, sir. Dan, get th’ axe, b’y, an’ put on a fire, whilst I dresses th’ birds.” When Tom drew the birds, to Paul’s amazement the Eskimos gathered up the entrails, placed them on the end of a stick, broiled them slightly over the fire Dan had lighted, and ate them as they might a delicacy. “Well, I never!” exclaimed Paul. “I’d starve before I’d do that!” “Maybe,” said Tom, “but I’m thinkin’ you’d eat un an’ like un if you was hungry enough. They’s no tellin’ what a man’ll eat. Th’ huskies eats un because they likes un, an’ entrails ain’t so bad, an’ you gets used t’ un, though I’m hopin’ you’ll never have t’ eat un, lad.” “I never would,” positively asserted Paul. “I’d die first.” Luncheon eaten, they bade adieu to the Eskimos, shaking hands again all around. Kuglutuk, his kayak in tow, took his place in the power boat, “Oksunae” was shouted by those afloat and those on land, and the little settlement was quickly lost sight of around the point at the entrance of the cove.