182 Wlialers in Sight. [jniy, ises. 



Qn-c-Ja, wlio had instantly harnessed up his dogs and hastened off to 

 inform Ilall. On Nu-lier-zlwd's coming- in to confirm the report, he 

 was directed to bring the longest pole he could find to the top of the 

 island and fasten on it one of the American flags as a signal. At 

 thirty minutes past midnight, with some little difficulty on account of 

 the fog, the vessel was descried a little to the westward of Cape Frigid. 

 Tlie sight was sufficiently exciting and joyous to Hall to keep all 

 sleep from him. He sent Ou-e-la to occupy his own took-too bed, while 

 he ^^■ent again and again to the crest of the island to watch the vessel 

 and the movements of the ice ; and he was very soon able to make 

 out a second visitor traversing the Welcome from east to west, and 

 then returning on the opposite tack. He ho2:)ed to find that these 

 were the Antelope and the schooner Helen F., which had been winter- 

 ing at Depot Island and Marble Island ; for he remembered that Cap- 

 tain Chapel -had advised him that these vessels, as soon as released 

 fr( iin the ice, would cruise for whales in Repulse Bay. He was par- 

 ticularly anxious to discover some lead in the pack through which the 

 ►Sylvia might be pulled by the strong arms of the Innuits to the ships, 

 as he expected they would have on board a team of dogs for him, the 

 captains having promised to bring all the dogs, which would be of no 

 further use to them after the spring whaling was finished. They had 

 been chiefiy useful in sledging the blubber over the floe which lay 

 between the ships and the 0})en water. 



From any atteni})t to go out to his visitors when first sighted he 

 had Ijccn entirely held back by a storm breaking over the island. 

 In describing tliis, he says : 



^'csterday iii(>rnin«f, the sky was overcast and gloomy, the weather looking 

 thrcali-iiiiig as if Ji stonii would soon bo n])on us; and, besides, at 10.30 a. in. of 



