ROUGH WEATHER. 



447 



sails ; five persons were in one and three in the other. Thus we 

 passed the first night, and early next morning, October 8th, again 

 started. 



The weather was very discouraging ; the wind was right against 

 us, and occasionally it snowed heavily. A mile or so after leav- 

 ing our encampment a perfect storm came upon us, and I saw 

 that Ebierbing and the rest felt most unwilling to go on. Indeed, 

 I myself now feared it would be impossible to prosecute our voy- 

 age. The delay had been such that every day now brought the 

 severity of winter fast upon us ; still, I determined to persevere as 

 long as we could, feeling that if the ship departed soon for home 

 I should have no opportunity for examining farther into the Fro- 

 bisher expedition. 



The- wind soon increased to a gale, bringing the snow furiously 

 into our faces ; the waves ran high, every crest leaping the boat's 

 side, and almost burying it in the trough of the sea. Our condi- 

 tion was becoming dangerous, and so thought my Innuit compan- 

 ions, as they frequently glanced at me to learn my intentions. It 

 was soon evident to me that all my hopes of getting forward 

 were likely to be disappointed. The season was too far advanced 

 for boat excursions; snow-storms, cold and windy weather, met 

 me each day. My companions, wiser than myself, plainly inti- 

 mated that it would not do to persevere ; they would go on if I 

 determined to do so, but they knew their own coasts, their native 

 waters, and their seasons better than myself; and I felt that, much 

 as I wished to accomplish another examination of the islands 

 where relics could be obtained before the George Henry sailed, I 

 should be unable to do so without running a risk that would be 

 considered foolhardy. 



Our encampment that night was at a place where, as we soon 

 perceived, some Innuits had lately rested. Traces of their abode 

 and deposits of provision were found, and, upon inquiry, I dis- 

 covered that one of my crew, Shevikoo, was of the party that had 

 rested here. This explained why he so readily opened the depos- 

 its, and took from the store of walrus and other meat what he 

 wanted. 



. The gale now increased almost to a hurricane. I had encoun- 

 tered nothing so severe since the memorable one of the past year 

 when my boat was destroyed and the Rescue wrecked. We could 

 only with the greatest difficulty keep our tents from blowing 

 away; we frequently had to secure them afresh by additional 



