Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-12-09

sci of food, and had nothing lett except
the dog, Niudermann, q veteran Arctic
traveller, and the Esquimau, Alexy, who
were, as usual, in the lead, SAW some
reindeer quietly grazing few miles to
the eastward of the line of march. The
two men stopped and gazed longingly
at the deer. They thought the hour Of
delivery from the dread Of starvation
nad at last arrived. Before this they
had seen nothing but the ptarinigan,
which might just as well not have been
there, for without shotguns they were
not available for food, and the pros pect
of disaster made the entire party feel
very blue. But now all was changed.
They had reached the reindeer country,
and might expect "meat on the hoof
right along, with two such good hunters
as Nindermann and Alexy.
Come on, said Alexy, "let's 90 and
kill some of those reindeer
Nindermanu's inclinstions was to do
as his companion suggested; but, on re-
Election. he was Obliged to say: ssI
would like to do so; but, you know, the
Captains order is that no one shall! leave
the marching column without his per-
mission" Turning around, they could
see the majority OF their party in a bunch
abou. a mile and half back, and the
Captain and DR.. Amber about the same
distance behind the main body, trying
to cheer and help poor Erickson, the
sailor whose feet were frozen on the
boat journey, and the story of whose
march along the Delta and subsequent
Jootb xybo, bic sufFn-;rrC La1 rarIara1
him raving maniac, contributes one of
the most horrible chapters 10 Arctic his
tory To communicate with the Captain
would require walk of three miles and
the same distance to return to the point
from which the reindeer were first seen,
and from which the hunt should COM
mence. Where would the reindeer be
then2 But, true to his native instinct,
Alexy decided to hunt the game when
he knew where to look for it, and take
his chances on the consequences. MIN
dermann continued to lead ard select
the route for the little band of starve-
lings until he found an empty log hut
with plenty of driftwood nearby, and
there they sought shelter for the night.
Though a big fire was built in the hut
the men turned in shivcring with the
cold, for it is impossible to keep warm
in cold climates when the stomach is
empty.
About 1890 o'clock Alcxy reached
the hut, bearing upon his shoulders all
that he could carry of two reindeer that
he had killed. The remainder Of the
meat he had cached so that theJ could
get it the next day. The Captain had
the men called up and told them to
make fire and cook all the meat they
wanted. In few minutes a rousing fire
filled the room with its CHEEKY light, a.d
the pots were boiling merlily. 1t was
the happiest moment of the entire
march, and the poor fellows chatted and
joked in the full belief that all danger
of starvation, which but few moments
before had stared them in the face, was
past, and that they would have plenty
of food from that time on.
While the men were enjoying them
selves in this way Alexy stood with
Captain De Long behind the group at
the freside, and the Captain compli-
mented the hunter on his achievement,
but considered that he should embrace
the opportunity to call attention to what
he believed to be the necessary disci-
pine to be maintained under such cir
cumstances. He therefore said in
effect, as follows:
You did very we'll o-day, Aiexy.
We needed this food very much and |
give you credit for getting it, but there
is one thing I must call your attention
to. You know you disobeyel my or
ders in leaving the marching column
without permission. Never mind
though, I will let it pass this time: but
remember, don't do so again"
He never had occasion to leprove
Alexy again. for they saw no more deer
and his discipline received no more
shocks of that kind