364 CLEVER THIEVING. 



inch, from the belt of one of om- men with celerity 

 and skill which deserved the highest credit, and 

 disposed of his booty up his sleeve with the most 

 unconcerned air. I had watched his proceedings 

 throughout in great amusement, and our friend was 

 greatly disconcerted when his arm was grasped, and 

 the retention of the blade in the act revealed me a 

 witness to his culpability. At Toker Point, where 

 we had landed on the 25th of July, and deposited 

 some trinkets and a hieroglyphic despatch, the dwell- 

 ings were now surrounded by natives, who had 

 evidently discovered and comprehended oiu* tokens, 

 and were eager for us to halt and visit them. 



They shouted to us, and waved clothes from the 

 tops of their dwellings, but we had a fine fair breeze 

 and could not delay. On this evening, two Esqui- 

 maux approached om- encampment, near Refuge Cove, 

 but displayed unaccountable signs of trepidation and 

 alarm, and needed considerable coaxing and promises 

 of presents to induce them to enter the camp ; they 

 remained near us all night, but it must have been 

 in great doubt of our intentions, for they threw up 

 a slight breastwork of driftwood, behind which they 

 lay, and, on our preparing to depart next morning, 

 scampered off to a distance and resumed their bows 

 and arrows, which, it seems, they had concealed on 



