A THREE DAYS' GALE. 



317 



CHAPTER XIX. 



An Excursion to the Whaling Depot. — Passage across Field Bay.— Singular Mode 

 of capturing Seals. — Chapell Inlet. — Cross to Frobisher Bay. — Arrive at the 

 "Whaling Depot. — A large and bustling Place. — Consultation as to Author's Plans. 

 — Vain Hope of pursuing his Voyage. — Puto in Distress. — A Walk to "Bear 

 Sound." — Great number of Pieces of Limestone. — Boat Trip to Bear Sound. — 

 Velocity of the Tides. — Immense number of Ducks and Wild-fowl. — Eggs ob- 

 tained in abundance. — " Ice Collars." — Natural Bridges of Ice. — Return to Res- 

 cue Harbor. — Stop at French Head. — Corpse of John Brown still there, and un- 

 molested. — Arrive on Board. — Fourth of July again. — Field Bay clearing of Ice. 

 — Look-out Island. — Luxuriant Vegetation. — Musquitoes. — Ugarng's Influence 

 and Character. — A Love Affair. — Little Ookoodlear and the Outcast E-tu. — An 

 unnatural Father. — A Child left deserted on a solitary Island. — Procures Food 

 by catching Partridges with his Hand. — Lives a Hermit Life for Months. — Is res- 

 cued by chance Visitors. — Grows to Manhood shunned by all his Race save a few. 

 — Ugarng's generous Protection. 



On my return, June 15th, 1861, 1 found Innuit visitors at the 

 ship. The only two men left on board were quite well. I was 

 also much pleased to see that all my own apparel had been put 

 in order, and such as needed it washed by Tookoolito, who had 

 occasionally visited the vessel during my absence, and had thus 

 thoughtfully provided for my comfort. 



The following few days I devoted wholly to resting myself and 

 preparing for my long-desired voyage to King William's Land, 

 which I intended to make as soon as I could obtain the means of 

 prosecuting it, and the ice would permit. 



On the 17th another heavy gale burst upon us, which continued 

 until the 20th. It blew hard, but there was no danger just now 

 to the ship, for Eescue Harbor was still paved over with thick, 

 solid ice; yet she" trembled through her whole frame, and her 

 masts quivered like reeds. In the outer bay, seaward, the ice was 

 broken into innumerable fragments. On account of the storm, 

 the natives on board, who had come from Cape True, could not 

 return, and those on shore I perceived to be suffering from a gen- 

 eral wreck of their habitations. Hardly a tupic was standing. 

 The gale had razed them to the ground. 



My late companions, Ebierbing and Koodloo, set out on the 



