344 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



exposing our two little interpreters, who had rendered themselves 

 dear to the whole party, to the most distant chance of receiving 

 injury ; but this course of proceeding appeared in their opinion and 

 our own to offer the only chance of gaining an interview. Though 

 not insensible to the danger, they cheerfully prepared for their 

 mission, and clothed themselves in Esquimaux dresses, which had 

 been made for the purpose at Fort Enterprise. Augustus was 

 desired to make his presents, and to tell the Esquimaux that the 

 white men had come to make peace between them and all their 

 enemies, and also to discover a passage by which every article of 

 which they stood in need might be brought in large ships. He was 

 not to mention that we were accompanied by the Indians, but to 

 endeavour to prevail on some of the Esquimaux to return with him. 

 He was directed to come back immediately if there were no lodges 

 at the rapid. 



The Indians were not suffered to move out of our sight, but in 

 the evening we permitted two of them to cross the river in pursuit 

 of a musk-ox, which they killed on the beach, and returned imme- 

 diately. The officers prompted by an anxious solicitude for Augustus 

 and Junius, crawled up frequently to the summit of the mountain, 

 to watch their return. The view, however, was not extensive, being 

 bounded at the distance of eight miles by a range of hills similar to 

 the Copper Mountains, but not so lofty. The night came without 

 bringing any intelligence of our messengers, and our fears for their 

 safety increased with the length of their absence. 



As every one had been interested in the welfare of these men 

 through their vivacity and good-nature, and for the assistance they 

 had cheerfully rendered in bearing their portion of whatever labour 

 might be going on, their detention formed the subject of all our con- 

 versation, and numerous conjectures were hazarded as to the cause. 



Dr. Richardson having the first watch, had gone to the summit of 

 the hill, and remained seated contemplating the river that washed 



