t from which Meares, the
trader, had been ousted, had arrived at Nootka on the other side of the
island, and was waiting. The explorers all proceeded up the straits
together; but the little Spanish crafts were unable {274} to keep
abreast of the big English vessels, so with a friendly cheer from both
sides, the English went on alone.

Strange Indian villages lined the beetling heights of the straits. The
houses, square built and of log slabs, row on row, like the streets of
the white man, were situated high on isolated rocks, inaccessible to
approach except by narrow planking forming a causeway from rock walls
across the sea to the branches of a tree. In other places rope ladders
formed the only path to the aerial dwellings, or the zigzag trail up
the steep face of a rock down which defenders could hurl stones.
Howe's Sound, Jervis Canal, Bute Inlet, were passed; {275} and in July
Johnstone came back with news he had found a narrow channel out to the
Pacific.

[Illustration: The Discovery on the Rocks.]

The straits narrowed to less than half a mile with such a terrific tide
wash that on Sunday, July 29, the ships failed to answer to the helm
and waves seventeen feet high dashed over decks. Progress was made by
hauling the boats alongshore with ropes braced round trees. By the
first of August a dense fog swept in from the sea. The _Discovery_
crashed on a sunken rock, heeling over till her sails were within three
inches of water. Ballast was thrown overboard, and the next tide-rush
lifted her. By August 19 Vancouver had proved--if any doubt
remained--that no Northeast Passage was to be found by way of the
Straits of Fuca.[1] Then, veering out to sea at midnight through
squalls {276} of rain, he steered to Nootka for the conference with
Spain.

Vancouver came to Nootka on the 28th of August. Nootka was the grand
rallying place of fur traders on the Pacific. It was a triangular
sound extending into the shores of Vancouver Island. On an island at
the mouth of the sound the Spaniards had built their fort. This part
of the bay was known as Friendly Cove. To the north was Snug Cove,
where Cook had anchored; to the south the roadstead of the fur traders.
Mountains rose from the water-line; and on a terrace of hills above the
Spanish fort was the native village of Maquinna, the Indian chief.

{277} Here, then, came Vancouver, met at the harbor mouth by a Spanish
officer with pilot to conduct the _Discovery_