IGS JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



nature, and for the assistance they had cheerfully 

 rendered in bearing their portion of whatever 

 labour might be going on, their detention formed 

 the subject of all our conversation, and numerous 

 conjectures were hazarded as to the cause. 



Dr. Richardson having the first watch, had gone 

 to the summit of the hill, and remained seated 

 contemplating the river that washed the precipice 

 under his feet, long after dusk had hid distant 

 objects from his view. His thoughts were, per- 

 haps, far distant from the surrounding objects, 

 when he was roused by an indistinct noise behind 

 hmi, and on looking round, perceived that nine 

 white wolves had ranged themselves in form of a 

 crescent, and were advancing, apparently with 

 the mtention of driving him into the river. On 

 his rismg up they halted, and when he advanced 

 they made way for his passage down to the tents. 

 He had his gun in his hand but forebore to fire, 

 lest there should be Esquimaux in the neighbour- 

 hood. During Mr. Wentzel's middle watch the 

 wolves appeared repeatedly on the summit of the 

 hili, and at one time, they succeeded in driving a 

 aeer over the precipice. The animal was stunned 

 by the fall, but recovering itself, swam across the 

 ^tream, and escaped up the river. I may remark 

 nerethat at midnight it was tolerably dark in the 

 vauey of the nver at this time, but that an object 



