8 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



rock-bound coast of Newfoundland loomed up on our 

 starboard and Cape St. George was soon left behind. 



In the evening a heavy blanket of fog settled over 

 the sea, and rain set in. So thick was the fog, in 

 fact, that one could not see the length of the ship. 

 Speed was reduced, and throughout the night and 

 next forenoon two minute blasts of the Erik's whistle 

 sounded deep-throated warnings of our presence. 

 Once a great whale with her young rose very near 

 the ship's side, blew several times, and then was swal- 

 lowed up like a phantom by the mist. 



Finally, near midday on the nineteenth, the sun 

 broke out through low-lying, thick fog banks, and 

 from the lookout in the crow's-nest on the foremast 

 came, "Land ho!" When at length the fog banks 

 melted away, we discovered ourselves plowing through 

 the Straits of Belle Isle, with the bleak, rocky coast 

 of Labrador, punctuated by many stranded icebergs, 

 stretching out on our left. 



Our first port was to be Hawkes Harbor, South- 

 eastern Labrador, where we were to take aboard from 

 the whaling station there several tons of fresh whale's 

 meat for winter food for the dogs of the Polar party ; 

 and early in the evening the Erik entered the tickle l 

 and dropped anchor. Here we were to remain two 

 days while loading cargo and awaiting the arrival of 

 the Roosevelt. This delay afforded ample time to 

 look over the factory, and to try for trout and salmon 



i A narrow water passage or strait leading into a harbor, or connecting 

 two larger bodies of water. The word is local, peculiar to Newfound- 

 land and The Labrador. 



