“Suppose we see Mistak. What do you want us to do?”
“Lay low and keep out of trouble,” cautioned the policeman. “We’ll be back in ten days at least and whatever you’ve discovered about Mistak’s whereabouts we’ll put to good use.”
The policemen soon had a sledge of supplies and one dog team ready for the trail. Waving farewell to the boys they started out, disappearing up the long slope that led to the glacier. In one way Dick and Sandy were glad to be free to command their own movements, yet again, with the experienced policemen gone, the vast frozen land presented an even more sinister appearance. A hundred forebodings surged up in the breasts of Dick and Sandy, but they manfully fought them down, preparing immediately to go seal hunting.
Sipsa had brought along several harpoons, and he began working on these diligently. He made the boys understand by signs that he was not yet ready to go seal hunting, and they left him alone after growing tired of watching the Eskimo’s deft fingers manipulating a whetting stone.
Dick suggested that they go down to the sea shore, and all three of the boys set off in that direction. They found the tide rising, and for half an hour amused themselves by skipping stones across the shallow water, and throwing at the small ice cakes floating farther out. Dick and Toma were about tied at hitting their mark, but Sandy was far the more expert at skipping stones. The Scotch lad could skip a choice flat stone as far again as he could throw it, and though Dick and Toma tried again and again to equal Sandy’s prowess, they finally were forced to give up, so tired were their arms.
“Let’s walk along the shore a ways,” said Dick. “We may find something interesting.”
A hundred yards farther on they passed out of sight of the camp, and ran into a flock of eider ducks who took to the water upon their approach with the prettiest nose dives they had ever seen. Toma’s sharp eyes located some nests on the shore, and they procured a few fresh eggs and a good many old ones.
“Leave the old eggs where they are,” Dick said, as Sandy was about to see how far he could throw one. “We don’t want to destroy what will be little eider ducks some day.”
“You’re right, Dick,” Sandy agreed. “I just didn’t think.”
“Him nice an’ soft—make um warm nest,” Toma spoke up, running his fingers around in one of the duck nests.