ACROSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



brother and I felt that our time must be employed to the 

 very best advantage. The weather had been extremely ad- 

 verse all summer, but it was now liable to be more so. Within 

 the course of two or three weeks the equinoctial gales might 

 be expected. The tides also would be a new feature of 

 difficulty. 



In consideration of these prospects, and in order to stimu- 

 late the men to greater exertion, it was thought best to explain 

 our position to them, for up to this time they had little idea 

 as to where they were, whether in the vicinity of the North 

 Pole or within a few days' travel of civilization. The effect 

 produced by thus informing the canoemen was as desired. 

 They resolved to make longer days and put forth greater 

 exertion. 



Before daylight on the morning of the 3rd, camp was 

 aroused by the sound of many voices, and a few minutes 

 later, before we had turned out from our blankets, the door 

 of the tent was pulled half open, and two or three black, burly 

 heads, with grinning faces, were poked in. They were those 

 of some of our friends from the Eskimo village who had come 

 over to pay us an early morning call before we should finally 

 leave their shores. They all held in their hands nicknacks 

 of one kind or another which they were anxious to trade, 

 chiefly for needles, and some would have come in and made 

 themselves at home had we not dismissed them until we were 

 dressed and ready to do business at a little greater distance 

 from our blankets, which we were desirous should be in- 

 habited only by ourselves. Later, a few fishing-lines, spoons 

 and such trifles were purchased." 



As soon as possible, the wind happily being fair, our canoes 

 were loaded, and with many " tabowetings " (good-byes) to 

 the natives and a hurrah for Baker Lake, we started out to 

 the eastward along the north shore. But soon the wind grew 

 strong and caused such a high sea to run that we were forced 

 to seek shelter, which we found in the mouth of a small 



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