The Eskimos have no wood but driftwood, and it is so precious
that it is hardly ever used for anything but big dog sledges or
spears, or other things which the men must have.

Most of the boys had sleds cut from blocks of ice. Menie's sled
was behind the igloo. He ran to get it, and then the twins and
the pups -all four- started for Koko's house.

Koko's house was clear at the other end of the village. But that
was not far away, for there were only five igloos in the whole
town.

First there was the igloo where the twins lived. Next was the
home of Akla, the Angakok, and his two wives. Then there were two
igloos where several families lived together. Last of all was the
one where Koko and his father and mother and baby brother lived.

Koko was six. He was the twins' best friend.


II.

The air was very still. There was not a sound anywhere except the
barking of the pups, the voices of Menie and Monnie, and the
creaking sound of the snow under their feet as they ran.

The round moon was sailing through the deep blue sky and shining
so bright it seemed almost as light as day.

There was one window in each igloo right over the tunnel