SHORES OF THE POLAR SEA. 



229 



bowman of the Lion, and three of the Reli- 

 ance's crew, had also narrowly escaped from 

 being wounded, their clothes being cut by 

 the blows made at them with knives. No 

 sooner was the bow cleared of one set of 

 marauders than another party commenced 

 their operations at the stern. My gun was 

 now the object of the struggle, which was 

 beginning to assume a more serious com- 

 plexion, when the whole of the Esquimaux 

 suddenly fled, and hid themselves behind 

 the drift timber and canoes on the beach. 

 It appears that by the exertions of the crew 

 the Reliance was again afloat, and Lieutenant 

 Back, wisely judging that this was the pro- 

 per moment for more active interference, 

 directed his men to level their muskets, 

 which had produced that sudden panic. 

 The Lion happily floated soon after, and 

 both were retiring from the beach, when the 

 Esquimaux, having recovered from their 

 consternation, put their kaiyacks in the wa- 

 ter, and were preparing to follow us ; but I 

 desired Augustus to say that I would shoot 



