3G2 Release of the Siirvhnng White Men. [August, ises. 



he would steal one, and go to York Factory with his fellows. Hall him- 

 self, under the force of circumstances, had gained Ar-mou^s consent to 

 have the Lady Franklin for their use, promising that the Sylvia should 

 be at Ar-moit^s service so long as he should still remain in the country. 

 But on the IGth he was relieved from these anxieties by the sight at 

 anchor of the Ansell Gibbs and the Concordia. The four men were 

 notified that they could make what arrangements they pleased for 

 their return, and they all promptly shipped on these vessels, Lailor, 

 -whom Hall always commends, and on whom he had somewhat counted 

 on to remain another year, shipping last of the party. Hall gave to 

 each a certificate of his having served through the year and his note 

 for the payment due. As for himself, although he found that he coidd 

 make very few purchases from these vessels for his still expected jour- 

 ney to King William's Land, he determined to stay. Mr. Grinnell had 

 sent liim some further supplies, and he would once more depend on his 

 own labors and on the friendly Innuits. 



The first encouragement which followed this determination was 

 the capture of another whale on the 31st of August. For this the 

 natives were as anxious as himself The blubber was needed for fuel, 

 the skin for food, and the meat chieily for the dogs. When a fine rising 

 of a coveted prize was now seen in the harbor, the native crews of the 

 Sylvia and the Lady Franklin were quick to give chase under Hall's 

 orders, and on tlie Lady Franklin's nearing the whale, Ar-mou splen- 

 di(ll\' tlirew two irons into its flank, but unhappily not until the bow 

 of the boat liad struck the animal a few feet abaft the fins. From the 

 swiftness witli wliicli tlie line ran out, it was clear that the whale had 

 struck for soundings. But suddenly the line ceased to run and the boat 

 began to iii(»v(^ uloiig with great rapidit}', the line still slack; she 



