168 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



were sent up the river to search for dried 

 wood to make floats for the nets. Adam, 

 the interpreter, was also despatched with a 

 Canadian, to inform Akaitcho of the flight 

 of the Esquimaux. We were preparing to 

 go down to the sea in one of the canoes, 

 leaving Mr. Back to await the return of the 

 men who were absent; but just as the crew 

 were putting the canoe in the water, Adam 

 returned in the utmost consternation, and 

 informed us that a party of Esquimaux 

 were pursuing the men whom we had sent 

 to collect floats. The orders for embarking 

 were instantly countermanded, and we went 

 with a part of our men to their rescue. We 

 soon met our people returning at a slow 

 pace, and learned that they had come un- 

 awares upon the Esquimaux party, which 

 consisted of six men, with their women and 

 children, who were travelling towards the 

 rapid with a considerable number of dogs 

 carrying their baggage. The women hid 

 themselves on the first alarm, but the men 

 advanced, and stopping at some distance 

 from our men, began to dance in a circle, 



