228 SECOND JOURNEY TO THE 



dealt to them with the butts of the muskets. 

 But at length, irritated at being so often 

 foiled in their attempts, several of them 

 jumped on board, and forcibly endeavoured 

 to take the daggers and shot-belts that were 

 about the men's persons ; and I myself was 

 engaged with three of them who were try- 

 ing to disarm me. Lieutenant Back, per- 

 ceiving our situation, and fully appreciating 

 my motives in not coming to extremities, 

 had the kindness to send to my assistance 

 the young chief who had protected him, 

 and who, on his arrival, drove my antago- 

 nists out of the boat. I then saw that my 

 crew were nearly overpowered in the fore 

 part of the boat, and, hastening to their aid, 

 I fortunately arrived in time to prevent 

 George Wilson from discharging the con- 

 tents of his musket into the body of an 

 Esquimaux. He had received a provoca- 

 tion of which I was ignorant until the next 

 day, for the fellow had struck at him with a 

 knife, and cut through his coat and waist- 

 coat ; and it was only after the affray was 

 over that I learned that Gustavus Aird, the 



