For days they traveled along the coast, stopping only for rest and
food. The twins and Koko sat in the bottom of the boat with the dogs,
and listened to the regular dip of the paddles, to the cries of the
sea-birds as they flew away toward the south, and to the chatter of the
women. These were almost the only sounds they heard, for the silence of
the Great White World was all about them. They talked together in low
voices and planned all the things they would do when the long night was
really upon them once more.

When at last they came in sight of the Big Rock, they felt as if they
had reached home after a very long journey.

Koko stood up in the boat and pointed to it. "See," he cried, "there's
the Big Rock where we found the bear!"

"Yes," Monnie said, "and where we slid downhill."

"And I see where I got caught on the ice raft," Menie shouted.

"Sit down," said Koko's mother. "You'll tip the boat and spill us all
into the water."

Koko sat down; the boat glided along through the water, nearer and
nearer, until at last they came round the Big Rock, and there, just as
if they had not been away at all, lay the whole village of five igloos,
looking as if it had gone to sleep in the sunshine.

The big boats waited until the men had all paddled to the shore and
beached their kyaks, then they were drawn carefully up on to the sand,
and every one got out. The beach at once became a very busy place. The
men pulled the walruses and seals out of the water and took care of the
boats, while the women set up the tents, cut the meat into big pieces
for storage, and carried all their belongings to the tents.

Although the village looked just the same, other things looked quite
different. Nip and Tup were big dogs by this time. They ran away up the
beach with Tooky and the other dogs the moment they were out of the
boats. They did not stay with the twins all the time now, as they used
to do. The twins were much bigger, too. Koolee looked at them as they
helped her carry the tent-skins up from the beach, and said to them,
"My goodness, I must make my needles fly! Winter is upon us and your
clothes are getting too small for you! You must have new things right
away." The twins thought this was a very good idea. They liked new
clothes as well as any one in the world.

Koolee set up the tent beside their old igloo, and there they lived
while the men of the village went out every day in their kyaks for seal
and walrus, or back