CHAPTER XIX.
A MELANCHOLY SITUATION.
In Labrador, under ordinary circumstances, the loss of such a quantity of provisions as Arsenic had carried away would have been a very serious misfortune.

But food was the one thing our lads had in abundance, and they were more unhappy at having lost a guide, who might have shown them a way out of their prison, than over the theft he had so successfully accomplished.
"The next time we catch an Indian we'll tie a string to him," said Cabot.
"Yes," agreed White, "and it will be a stout one, too; but I am afraid there won't be any more Indians on the coast this season." "How about Eskimo ?" "Some of them may come along later, when the snowshoeing and sledging get good enough, for they are apt to travel pretty far south during the winter.

Still, there's no knowing how far back from the coast their line of travel may lie at this point, and dozens of them might pass without our knowledge." "Couldn't we go up or down the coast as well as an Eskimo, whenever these miserable waterways freeze over ?" asked Cabot.
"Of course, if we had sledges, dogs, snowshoes, and fur clothing," replied White; "but without all these things we might just as well commit suicide before starting." "Well, I'll tell you what we can do right off, and the sooner we set about it the better.

We can go inland as far as possible, and leave a line of flags or some sort of signals that will attract attention to this place." "I don't know but what that is a good idea," remarked White, thoughtfully.

"At any rate, it would be better than doing nothing, and if we don't get help in some way we shall certainly freeze to death in this place long before the winter is over." So Cabot's suggestion was adopted, and the remainder of that day was spent in preparing little flags of red and white cloth, attaching them to slender sticks, and in making a number of wooden arrows.