They had crossed over the cliffs, and as the long whip in Jack’s hands cracked, the trained animals attached to the sled started on their journey.
By noon the sled had reached the opposite shores of the lake.
Jack allowed the dogs to take their own course, believing their natural sagacity would lead them right.
In this he was not in error. Towards evening the animals began to yell joyfully.
As they rounded a slight elevation in the ground the voyagers knew that they were near human habitation.
Beyond they could see several ice huts, and four Esquimaux boys near at hand were engaged in playing a popular American game with bone clubs and a ball.
The youngsters stared wonderingly at the strangers, and then scampered off towards the ice huts.
Towards these Jack directed the sled. By the time they had reached them quite a throng of natives were gathered to greet them.
The leader, a large, closely-muffled man, looked suspiciously at Jack and his party and extended his hand, murmuring some unintelligible words.
He also spoke to some of those around him, and these began busily unloading the sled and carrying the parcels to an ice hut.
When they had completed the transfer the leader motioned for them to follow him, and led them into the rude home his hospitality placed at their disposal.
Jack made several efforts to converse with the man by signs and words, but the latter could not comprehend them.
He accepted, however, several of the packages as presents, and himself and two others finally brought their guests a large bowl filled with smoking grease and chunks of fat.
It was an unsavory dish for the boys, hungry as they were, but they ate some in order that they might not offend their hosts.
The leader left his two companions in the hut, who stared steadily at the strangers with big, owl-like eyes, but were silent.
“They evidently consider us friends, but don’t know how to express it,” remarked Jack.
A few moments later, however, an episode occurred which somewhat changed their confident opinion.
The leader re-entered the hut with an ominous face.
He spoke a few words to his companions, who arose and departed silently.
Then he sat down by Jack and uttered a single word.
The Esquimaux imitated the actions of a driver on a sled.