DOWN TO THE SEA. 177 



the Inlet under a strong side wind, through extremely 

 rough water, we were glad to find about noon a shel- 

 tered cove on the north side of a large island near the 

 south shore. Here we landed to await an improvement 

 in the weather. While the cooks were preparing our 

 mid-day meal, my brother and I set out for the summit 

 of the island, a mile or more to the south, for the pur- 

 pose of taking observations. In due time the breezy 

 elevation was reached. While sighting to a prominent 

 point to the southward, there suddenly appeared from 

 behind it what seemed a phantom ship. For a moment 

 I gazed upon it in amazement, but then realizing that 

 the appearance was a real, not an imaginary one, I 

 called my brother's attention to it. 



The object, which was several miles distant, was 

 clearly made out to be a two-masted sail-boat, and it 

 was heading to the westward. By whom could it be 

 manned ? We could not imagine, but there it was, with 

 two square sails set to the wind and tearing up the 

 inlet. By the aid of our field-glasses we could make 

 out many moving figures on the boat, but as to whether 

 they were whalers, Hudson's Bay Company's traders 

 from Churchill, or who else, we could not conceive. If, 

 however, they were to be more to us than a vision it 

 was necessary to bestir ourselves, for they were rapidly 

 passing. From my pocket I drew an immense red 

 handkerchief and waved it most energetically, while ray 

 brother discharged several shoits from his revolver. We 

 soon saw from the boat's movements that we were ob- 

 served, but instead of coming in towards us they only 

 bore away more to the southward. Still I vigorously 

 waved the red handkerchief, and finally, much to our 

 12 



