and take the lock off the door. The sisters then told us that Dr.
Simpson might not arrive with the Julia Sheridan until the
following day, and extended to us the hospitality of the station,
which we thankfully accepted, taking up our temporary abode in one
of the vacant wards of the hospital.

Our first afternoon on Labrador soil we spent in assorting and
packing our outfit, while the Newfoundlanders and livyeres stood
around and admired our things, particularly the canoe, guns, and
sheath-knives. Their curiosity was insatiable; they inquired the
cost of every conceivable thing.

The next afternoon (Wednesday) Dr. Simpson arrived on his steamer,
and, to our great disappointment, we learned that the Julia would
not start on the trip down the inlet until after the return of the
Virginia Lake from the north, which would probably be on Friday or
Saturday. The Labrador summer being woefully short, Hubbard felt
that every hour was precious, and he chafed under our enforced
detention. We were necessarily going into the interior wholly
unprepared for winter travel, and hence must complete our work and
make our way out of the wilderness before the rivers and lakes
froze and canoe travel became impossible. Hubbard felt the
responsibility he had assumed, and could imagine the difficulties
that awaited us should his plans miscarry. Accordingly, he began
to look around immediately among the fishermen and livyeres for
someone with a small boat willing to take us down the fifty miles
to Rigolet. Finally, after much persuasion and an offer of fifteen
dollars, he induced a young livyere, Steve Newell by name, to
undertake the task.