A LAUDANUM STEW. 243 



devouring it. This proceeding- was watched by us with mingled anxiety and satisfaction, 

 for while the pot was over the fire I had turned into it unobserved the contents of a small 

 vial of laudanum. The soup, of course, contained the larger part of the opium, but being 

 small in quantity it had been made so bitter that they would not eat more than the half 

 of it. In order to prevent either of them from getting an over-dose we divided the fluid 

 into three equal portions, and then with intense interest awaited the result, apprehensive 

 that the narcotic had not been administered in sufficiently large quantity to ensure the 

 desired effect. 



" After an interval of painful watchfulness on the part of my companions the hunters 

 began to droop their eyelids, and asked to be allowed to lie down and sleep. We were 

 not long in granting their wish, and never before had we manifested more kindly dispositions 

 towards them. We assisted them in taking off their coats and boots, and then wrapped them 

 up in our blankets, about which we were no longer fastidious. 



" Our guests were in a few minutes asleep, but I did not know how much of their 

 drowsiness was due to fatigue (for they had been hunting), and how much to the opium; 

 nor were we by any means assured that their sleep was sound, for they exhibited signs of 

 restlessness which greatly alarmed us. Every movement had, therefore, to be conducted 

 with the utmost circumspection. 



" To prepare for starting was the work of a few minutes. We were in full travelling dress 

 coats, boots, and mittens, and some of us wore masks ; the hunters' whips were in our hands, and 

 nothing remained to be done but to get a cup from the shelf. The moment was a critical one, 

 for if the sleepers should awake our scheme must be revealed. Godfrey reached up for the 

 desired cup, and down came the whole contents of the shelf, rattling to the ground. I saw the 

 sleepers start, and, anticipating the result, instantly sprang to the light and extinguished it 

 with a blow of my mittened hand. As was to be expected, the hunters were aroused. 

 Kalutunah gave a grunt, and inquired what was the matter. I answered him by throwing 

 myself upon the breck, and, crawling to his side, hugged him close, and cried ' Singikpok ' 

 (sleep). He laughed, muttered something which I could not understand, and, without having 

 suspected that anything was wrong, again fell asleep." Dr. Hayes and his companions 

 made their escape. 



The dogs, however, gave them a great deal of trouble ; and they were not surprised when, 

 after a halt for coffee, and to make some necessary repairs, they saw the prisoners left in the 

 snow hut coming after them in full pursuit. There was nothing for it but a determined front. 

 Hayes and his companions got their rifles ready, and on the approach of the natives, levelled 

 them, ready to fire. This brought the Esquimaux to their senses, and with many deprecatory 

 gestures they promised to do all that was asked of them. The affair ended, happily, without 

 bloodshed, and the natives accompanied Hayes to the brig, which he reached safely, as before 

 recorded, after many adventures. 



Kane makes the following characteristic entry for January 6th, 1855 : " If this 

 journal ever gets to be inspected by other eyes, the colour of its pages will tell of 

 the atmosphere it is written in. We have been emulating the Esquimaux for some 

 time in everything else; and now, last of all, this intolerable temperature and our want 

 of fuel have driven us to rely on our lamps for heat. Counting those which I have 



