We became unexpectedly well acquainted with the first thirty miles of this splendid beach. Maynard and the Indian were to go around Rose Spit with the canoe and join me upon my return from an excursion inland. They failing to meet me within the expected time, and a storm having arisen, I began to fear that they had been driven back before it, but hoped to find them at the camp of the previous night. Pulling off the heavy boots in which I had been walking all day, I almost ran the ten miles, only to find the fishermen's hut we had occupied dismally dark and silent. Another ten miles was made in all haste, and still no signs of the party. Here, being very thirsty, I felt my way in the darkness to a spring, from which we had previously obtained good fresh water. Dipping my cup, I swallowed a hearty draught of salt water, which had flowed in with the last tide. Although this was not a very refreshing or stimulating beverage on an empty stomach for such exertions, I returned to the smooth beach, followed it eight miles further to Massett, aroused the sleeping settlement, procured a canoe, four Indians and provisions, sailed down the coast fifteen miles, then walked twelve miles, when we met Maynard out searching for me. They had rounded the point in safety, though a heavy sea shattered the canoe, and would doubtless have swamped it had not the Indian, with great coolness and presence of mind, placed his back, with arms akimbo, to the inrolling breaker, drenching himself, but preventing the canoe from filling. In the thick fog their movements had escaped my observation. They had built bonfires to attract my attention, carried food and chocolate where I would be most likely to find it, and searched the peninsula over and over for me, in the same state of alarm in which I was hunting in another direction for them. In the course of our travels thus far we had found, in addition to several abandoned fishing huts and houses with carved poles in front, what appeared to be the remains of an earth and stone work fortification. It occupied an elevated situation about a mile from the sea shore, and consisted of an excavation about 100 feet square, surrounded by an embankment of earth and stones, which could hardly have been made except by human hands.