ll go," Skipper Ed decided. "I was never hunting
at the _sena_ but twice, though, and I've never forgotten my first
experience. It was a good many years ago, before you came, Partner. I
went with Abel. We had a hard time of it that year, for stormy weather
came up and we nearly perished in a blizzard."

"We'll build a snow _igloo_" said Bobby, "and be pretty comfortable.
We'll take Father's snow knives and two of his old stone lamps. We'll
have plenty of seal oil to burn. You know there's no wood out there, and
it isn't worth while hauling any."

"Yes," agreed Skipper Ed, "we'll need the lamps, though I don't like
them. I never could get used to them, and I never liked to go too far
from wood."

And so it came to pass that in the bright moonlight of Monday morning
they lashed upon the two _komatiks_ a good supply of hardtack and boiled
salt pork--the only provisions that would not freeze too hard to
eat--with tea, and sleeping bags, and numerous articles of equipment
for their own use and comfort, and a day's supply of seal meat for the
dogs.

Then the dogs were caught and harnessed, and in great excitement began
to strain at the traces and howl their eagerness to be off. _Oksunaes_
were shouted to Abel and Mrs. Abel, and Bobby, grasping the front of one
_komatik_, and Skipper Ed the front of the other, they pulled them
sharply to one side to break them loose, shouting to the teams as they
did so: "_Hu-it! Hu-it!_" Then they flung themselves upon the
_komatiks_, and away they dashed, down the steep and slippery incline,
and off through the shore hummocks at a wild, mad gallop.

They were away to the _sena_, and the Great Adventure, at last.

CHAPTER XX

JIMMY'S SACRIFICE

For a little way the dogs traveled at a gallop, and Bobby and Skipper Ed
had lively work while this lasted, guiding the _komatiks_ between the
ice hummocks. But it was not long before the first excitement of going
upon a journey wore off, and after their manner the animals, with tails
curled over their backs, settled down to a steady pulling. Now and again
they came upon a ridge of ice piled up by the tide, and then it was
necessary to lift at the _komatiks_ and help the dogs.

Presently the ice hummocks were left behind and the smooth, white
surface of the frozen bay stretched out before them. The snow which
covered the ice had been beaten down and hard packed by the wind, and
the sledge runners slid over its surface so easily that