452 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



their situation when he parted from them, suggested the former 

 idea, and that both Belanger and Perrault had been sacrificed. When 

 Perrault turned back, Captain Franklin watched him until he 

 reached a small group of willows, which was immediately adjoining 

 to the fire, and concealed it from view, and at this time the smoke of 

 fresh fuel was distinctly visible. Captain Franklin conjectures, that 

 Michel having already destroyed Belanger, completed his crime by 

 Perrault's death, in order to screen himself from detection. Although 

 this opinion is founded only on circumstances, and is unsupported 

 by direct evidence, it has been judged proper to mention it, especially 

 as the subsequent conduct of the man shewed that he was capable 

 of committing such a deed. The circumstances are very strong. It 

 is not easy to assign any other adequate motive for his concealing 

 from us that Perrault had turned back, and his request overnight 

 that we should leave him the hatchet ; and his cumbering himself 

 with it when he went out in the morning, unlike a hunter who 

 makes use only of his knife when he kills a deer, seem to indicate 

 that he took it for the purpose of cutting up something that he knew 

 to be frozen. These opinions, however, are the result of subsequent 

 consideration. We passed this night in the open air. 



On the following morning the tent was pitched, and Michel went 

 out early, refused my offer to accompany him, and remained out the 

 whole day. He would not sleep in the tent at night, but chose to 

 lie at the fire-side. 



On the 13th there was a heavy gale of wind, and we passed the 

 day by the fire. Next day, about two, P.M., the gale abating, 

 Michel set out as he said to hunt, but returned unexpectedly in a 

 very short time. This conduct surprised us, and his contradictory 

 and evasory answers to our questions excited some suspicions, but 

 they did not turn towards the truth. 



October 15th. — In the course of this day Michel expressed much 

 regret that he had stayed behind Mr. Franklin's party, and declared 



