Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/274

260 problem as to whether they ought to put us out."

"They would if they were even half civilised," Geoff said grimly.

"Found that out?" Eric looked at him.

"Some one's got to make a try for the ship—the Kadiack," Latham persisted.

"What for?" asked Hedon.

"For help, of course."

"For himself?" Eric returned.

"What do you mean?"

"The Kadiack's over four hundred miles from here," Hedon replied patiently. The discussion was old. "Before any one gets there and back we'll need no help or be beyond it."

"Besides," said Koehler, "how many days' supplies for eight people would a sledge party coming from the Kadiack four hundred miles away have left when it got here? And what would you live on while you're getting to the Kadiack? That's the first thing."

"To-day some of the Eskimos had luck," Latham replied. "There'll be more than a sledge supply of meat and oil left to-night."