ACKOSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



netic compasses were now found to work very unsatisfactorily, 

 but for one day the sunlight enabled me to make liberal use 

 of my solar instrument. During the next and several suc- 

 ceeding days the weather was dark and gloomy, and we 

 encountered such tide rips in the inlet that my survey was 

 much interfered with. 



On the 10th of September, as we were pulling down the 

 inlet Tinder a strong side wind, through extremely rough 

 water, we were glad to find about noon a sheltered cove on 

 the north side of a large island near the south shore. Here 

 we landed to await an improvement in the weather. While 

 the cooks were preparing our mid-day meal, my brother and 

 I set out for the summit of the island, a mile or more to the 

 south, for the purpose of taking observations. In due time 

 the breezy elevation was reached. While sighting to a 

 prominent point to the southward, there suddenly appeared 

 from behind it what seemed a phantom ship. For a moment 

 I gazed upon it in amazement, but then realizing that the 

 appearance was a real, not an imaginary one, I called my 

 brother's attention to it. 



The object, which was several miles distant, was clearly 

 made out to be a two-masted sailboat, and it was heading to 

 the westward. By whom could it be manned ? We could not 

 imagine, but there it was, with two square sails set to the 

 wind, and tearing up the inlet. By the aid of our field- 

 glasses we could make out many moving figures on the 

 boat, but as to whether they were whalers, Hudson's Bay 

 Company's traders from Churchill, or who else, we could not 

 conceive. If, however, they were to be more to us than a 

 vision it was necessary to bestir ourselves, for they were 

 rapidly passing. From my pocket I drew an immense red 

 handkerchief and waved it most energetically, while my 

 brother discharged several shots from his revolver. We soon 

 saw from the boat's movements that we were observed, but 

 instead of coming in towards us they only bore away more to 



166 



