128 FRANKLIN'S FIRST LAND EXPEDITION. 



been for the exertions of Hepburn in collecting tripe de 

 roche, not one of them would have survived. 



On the 7th, when at twenty-four miles from Fort 

 Enterprise, a division of the party took place : Franklin, 

 with eight of the men, went on, while Richardson stayed 

 behind at the encampment to tend on Hood, who was 

 scarcely able to move. Hepburn remained with them. 

 Franklin was most unwilling to part with any of his com- 

 rades, but saw the necessity of doing so, " And, after," 

 he says, " we had united in thanksgiving and prayers to 

 almighty God, I separated from my companions, deeply 

 afflicted that a train of melancholy circumstances should 

 have demanded of me the severe trial of parting, in such 

 a condition, from friends who had become endeared to 

 me by their constant kindness and cooperation, and a 

 participation of numerous sufferings. 7 ' 



Three of the voyageurs, unable to proceed with 

 Franklin, and Michel, an Iroquois, were permitted to 

 return to the halting-place, where they would be at 

 least certain of fire and rock-tripe ; but, with the excep- 

 tion of the Indian, they perished by the way not one 

 of them was ever seen again. Franklin, with his five 

 survivors, reached Fort Enterprise on the llth. What 

 a disappointment awaited them ! Instead of a cordial 

 welcome from friendly hunters, and abundance of pro- 

 visions, as had been promised, all was a blank ; the 

 building was tenantless. 



A note was found from Mr. Back, who had journeyed 

 on in advance, stating that he had gone in search of the 

 Indians, and, if need were, to Fort Providence. This 

 was but poor comfort for the famished travellers, who 

 were obliged to take up their quarters in the dilapidated 

 edifice. The rubbish-heaps concealed beneath the snow 

 were searched for old skins, bones, or any kind of offal 

 that might serve as food when stewed with rock-tripe. 



