244 DBASE AND SIMPSON'S DISCOVERIES. 



Bear Lake, and, while there, received instructions to 

 renew their search to the eastward, and were informed 

 of Sir G. Back's expedition, with which they were, if 

 possible, to communicate. They were descending the 

 Coppermine in June, 1838, in pursuance of these in- 

 structions, when the stream was swollen by spring 

 floods, and encumbered with floating ice ; and, in shoot- 

 ing the numerous rapids, " had to pull for their lives, 

 to keep out of the suction of the precipices, along 

 whose base the breakers raged and foamed, with over- 

 whelming fury. Shortly before noon, we came in sight 

 of Escape Rapid of Franklin ; and a glance at the over- 

 hanging cliffs told us that there was no alternative but 

 to run down with full cargo. In an instant/ 7 continues 

 Mr. Simpson, " we were in the vortex ; and, before we 

 were aware, my boat was borne towards an isolated 

 rock, which the boiling surge almost concealed. To 

 clear it on the outside was no longer possible ; our only 

 chance of safety was to run between it and the lofty 

 eastern cliff. The word was passed, and every breath 

 was hushed. A stream which dashed down upon us 

 over the brow of the precipice, more than one hundred 

 feet in height, mingled with the spray that whirled 

 upwards from the rapid, forming a terrific shower-bath. 

 The pass was about eight feet wide, and the error of a 

 single foot on either side would have been instant 

 destruction. As, guided by Sinclair's consummate skill, 

 the boat shot safely through those jaws of death, an 

 involuntary cheer arose. Our next impulse was to turn 

 round to view the fate of our comrades behind. They 

 had profited by the peril we incurred, and kept without 

 the treacherous rock in time." 



They had navigated but a short distance along 1he 

 coast when they were stopped by ice, and lingered many 

 days at Boathaven, in a state of utter hopelessness. The 



