Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/265

Rh seals this morning." He turned to Margaret. "After our houses are finished, we will probably prepare our own food as we've been doing. Shall I make some excuse for you so you won't have to eat now?"

She shook her head simply and, as one of the Eskimos motioned, she moved off with Geoff. Latham followed her. The others went with different hosts.

Always themselves accompanied by their women in their travels and having no knowledge of any other people, the Eskimos showed no greater surprise or curiosity over the presence of Margaret than over the appearance of the men; indeed their expectation, as well as Geoff could make it out, seemed to be that so large a party of strangers would prove to include several women. Geoff went on hands and knees into the snow hut after his host; Margaret followed; Latham came afterwards. As Geoff entered and stood up, crouched a little—the snow-block dome was not quite high enough to permit him to stand erect—he gasped in spite of himself.

The snow house was snug and warm