32 AN ESKIMO VILLAGE 



the dim light of a seal-oil lamp, offering their simple 

 prayer to God, and commending to Him them- 

 selves and their future. With hope in their hearts 

 and singleness of mind they made ready for the 

 winter, talking of how they would learn the Eskimo 

 language and go in and out among the natives when 

 the time came for them to settle in their winter 

 houses of snow. They were proud and glad of this 

 great adventure. 



And then, to their amazement, the Hope came 

 sailing back into the bay 1 



The story of the Hope is soon told. 



After leaving Hopedale the captain cruised north- 

 ward, intending by trading to increase his cargo of 

 furs and oil and so repay the London merchants for 

 their venture. Two days after setting forth, a band 

 of Eskimos met them in their skin canoes and be- 

 sought them to come on shore for further trade. 



The captain and five others went ashore in the 

 ship's only boat ; the Hope lay at anchor. 



Hours passed, and the shore party did not return. 



The mate fired guns for a signal, in case the cap- 

 tain had missed his way. No answer. 



Days passed. No sight or sound of Eskimos or 

 Europeans. 



Snow began to fall. The mate, in despair, drew 

 up the anchor and returned to Hopedale. 



What had happened ? 



Long years afterwards the truth came out ; the 

 Eskimos had lured the men ashore and then had 

 murdered them for the sake of the goods they 



