Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/124

 Eskimo linguist. It was noticeable, however, at this time that John was unusually silent and backward, more so indeed than anyone in the party. After leaving the lodge I asked him if he had understood what the natives were saying, and was not a little amused when he replied, "Y-e-s, but,—b-u-t, t-h-e,—the trouble was I couldn't get them to talk." After a pleasant but brief visit of less than one hour, during which time we received some valuable information about our route, as well as much assurance and encouragement, with many hearty "tabowetings" (good-byes), we parted. As we did so Louis, my steersman, with an expression of pleasant disappointment on his face, exclaimed, "They are not savage, but real decent people."

The current being strong, our friends at the topick were soon far behind. They had told us that from there to the sea (Hudson Bay) was about a twenty days' journey, and though we thought we could likely make it in half that time, we were impressed and spurred on by the knowledge of the fact that we were now far into the interior of the country, and at the least eight hundred miles by our road from the nearest Hudson's Bay Company's post, Fort Churchill. This day and the next after visiting the Eskimos we had beautifully bright weather, but the enjoyment of it was marred by our encountering swarms of black flies.

As we glided down the river several white wolves were seen upon the shore, gnawing at the carcass of a deer, and at a distance of about ten miles below the topick we entered another lake.