CHAPTER XIV 



WEARY DAYS OF \VAITING 



Anxious Fears for the Inland Ice-party — A "Red-Letter" Day — Return of 

 the Supporting-party with Good News — First Flowers — Job's Comforters 

 among the Huskies — An Attack of Homesickness — The Snow disappearing 



— My Confidante, the Brook — The Eider-ducks return — I stand my Watch 

 with the Others — Matt crippled by a Frosted Heel — We are reduced to a Seal 

 Diet — A July Snow-storm — Influx of Natives — Open Water reaches Redcliflfe 



— Matt overhears a Native Plot to kill us. 



Monday, May 30. We had a great excitement about 8.30 

 this evening. A black spot was seen out in the sound beyond 

 an iceberg, over two miles away. With the aid of the glass 

 we could see it was moving in our direction, and we thought 

 it was Annowkah coming back from the other bay. Kyo, who 

 was watching constantly, all at once became very much excited, 

 declaring it was not an Innuit, and he could not tell what 

 it was. Then, suddenly throwing down the glass, his eyes 

 almost starting from his head, he exclaimed, " Nahnook, nah- 

 nook, boo mut toy-hoy, car, car, toy-hoy " (a bear! a bear! — 

 the rifle, quick, hurry, hurry, quick). Matt and I rushed into 

 the house for our rifles and ammunition, but by the time we 

 came out the object was behind the berg, lost to view. It soon 

 reappeared, however, and we then saw that it was a dog. Kyo, 



