OF THE POLAR SEA. 



425 



omitted to mention, that when he was about to step into the water, 

 he put his foot on a dagger, which cut him to the bone ; but this 

 misfortune could not stop him from attempting the execution of his 

 generous undertaking. 



In the evening Augustus came in. He had walked a day and a 

 half beyond the place from whence we turned back, but had neither 

 seen Junius nor Mr. Back. Of the former he had seen no traces, 

 but he had followed the tracks of Mr. Back's party for a considerable 

 distance, until the hardness of the ground rendered them imper- 

 ceptible. Junius was well equipped with ammunition, blankets, 

 knives, a kettle and other necessaries ; and it was the opinion of 

 Augustus, that when he found he could not rejoin the party, he 

 would endeavour to gain the woods on the west end of Point Lake, 

 and follow the river until he fell in with the Esquimaux, who 

 frequent its mouth. The Indians too, with whom we have since 

 conversed upon this subject, are confident that he would be able to 

 subsist himself during the winter. Credit, on his hunting excursion 

 to-day, found a cap, which our people recognised to belong to one of 

 the hunters who had left us in the spring. This circumstance 

 produced the conviction of our being on the banks of the Copper- 

 Mine Kiver, which all the assertions of the officers had hitherto 

 failed to do with some of the party ; and it had the happy effect of 

 reviving their spirits considerably. We consumed the last of our 

 deer's meat this evening at supper. 



Next morning the men went out in search of dry willows, and 

 collected eight large fagots, with which they formed a more buoyant 

 raft than the former, but the wind being still adverse and strong, 

 they delayed attempting to cross until a more favourable oppor- 

 tunity. Pleased, however, with the appearance of this raft, they 

 collected some tripe de roc/ie, and made a cheerful supper. Dr. 

 Richardson was gaining strength, but his leg was much swelled and 

 very painful. An observation for latitude placed the encampment 



3 I 



