April, 1866.) Delays. 247 



They feared that they would find no reindeer there, and that if they 

 reached the place they would be compelled to return to Pelly Bay for 

 the winter. Hall encouraged them to believe that they would be 

 among a number of natives, and would find sufficient provision; but as 

 no one of them could appreciate his chief object, he could gain upon them 

 only by alternately showing determined resolve and next persuasion — 

 the latter was of necessity the usual course. He resolved on spending 

 as little time as possible in making astronomical observations or in 

 writing. His notes of the day contain the expression of a purpose, that if 

 even all the Innuits deserted him, he would go on with a sledge-team 

 by himself; for he never could return to his country without accom- 

 plishing something of the objects for which he had left his home. 

 It may be remarked, in passing, that the sincerity of this record is 

 confirmed by the fact that he not only might have returned in one of 

 the whalers during the previous summer, but that he had been apprised 

 by his friend Mr. Grinnell of the willingness of Captain Chapel now to 

 look him up in Repulse Bay and bring him back. 



On the 14th he could easily have made ten miles had Nu-ker- 

 zlioo and Ebierbing been any other than Innuits. In the night, how- 

 ever, these friends proved their value in another way — by saving the 

 dogs, his northern camels. Plunging, though unarmed with even a 

 knife, into a pack of twenty-five devouring wolves, they frightened 

 them ofi" by shouts ; more than once the furious animals formed in fine 

 for a new attack. Delayed until 10 a. m. of the following morning by 

 this night-watch against the wolves and by Nii-lxer-zlwo's renewing his 

 an-koo-ting for Little King William, the sledges at last started forward, 

 and made better progress through the day, although the wind fresh- 

 ened to a gale from the north, and the run was made more difficult 



