DOWN TO THE SEA. VIF 
-the Inlet under a strong side wind, through extremely 
rough water, we were glad to find about noon a shel- 
tered 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 pur- 
pose 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 sail-boat, 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 ob- 
served, but instead of coming in towards us they only 
bore away more to the southward. Still I vigorously 
waved the red handkerchief, and finally, much to our 
12 
