Page:The frozen North; an account of Arctic exploration for use in schools (IA frozennorthaccou00hort).pdf/71

 With shouts of delight the men pushed the boat to the ice, climbed upon it, and seized the animal. They were half mad with joy, and ran over the ice, crying and laughing, and waving their knives. Soon every man was eating raw blubber and licking his bloody fingers with relish. It was a savage meal, but starved men may be pardoned for being fierce.

Other seals were shot, and soon land was sighted. Kane directed the course of the boats southward along the coast, and a few nights later the men landed on the rocks for rest and sleep.

One morning Peterson, in great excitement, awoke Kane and told him that he had just seen a native in a kayak, searching among the rocks along the coast for eider down. Peterson knew him, and called to him: "Don't you know me? I am Carl Peterson." "No," the Eskimo answered; "Peterson's wife says he is dead." Then he paddled away very fast as if in fear.