246 THE SIEGE RAISED. 



them with fixed Bayonet, and they scampered back in 

 haste to their defences and companions. 



In fom' hom's the besiegers wearied of watching, 

 and fearing to try our position by assault, raised the 

 blockade, and took to their boats, very much to our 

 satisfaction. Two oomiaks went over to the village 

 opposite, the third, which doubtless contained the 

 redoubtable and never sufficiently to be execrated 

 " Shovel Jack," and his associates, pulling away to 

 the westward. When pretty well reposed, Mr. Pullen 

 and I walked down to the spot where the pemmican 

 was bmied, and found it untouched. As we neared 

 the encampment on return, some of the seamen came 

 running towards us, exclaiming hastily that a sail was 

 in sight, and pointing to seaward, where, indeed, 

 something much resembling a vessel appeared, and 

 the " Nancy Dawson" was suggested, but a few 

 seconds sufficed to undeceive us ; the object shifted 

 its position, and presenting a new phase, showed us 

 that it was but a tall hummock of ice, of peculiar 

 form. 



The morning of the 13th was favourable for our 

 departure from our fortress unobserved ; a thick haze 

 overspread the sea, under cover of which we em- 

 barked at two, A.M., and pulled to windward out to 

 the pack. Passing some very heavy and extensive 



