470 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



weather, became, towards night, very desponding, and refused to 

 eat the singed skin. The night was stormy, and there was a heavy 

 fall of snow. The next day he became still more dejected. About 

 eleven Hepburn, who had gone out for wood, came in with the 

 intelligence that a party appeared upon the river. The room was 

 instantly swept, and, in compliance with the prejudices of the 

 Indians, every scrap of skin was carefully removed out of sight ; for 

 these simple people imagine, that burning deer-skin renders them un- 

 successful in hunting. The party proved to be Crooked-Foot, Thoo- 

 ee-yorre, and the Fop, with the wives of the two latter dragging pro- 

 visions. They were accompanied by Benoit, one of our own men. 



We were rejoiced to learn, by a note from Mr. Back, dated 

 November 1 1, that he and his companions had so recruited their 

 strength that they were preparing to proceed to Fort Providence. 

 Adam recovered his spirits on the arrival of the Indians, and even 

 walked about the room with an appearance of strength and activity 

 that surprised us all. As it was of consequence to get amongst the 

 rein-deer before our present supply should fail, we made prepara- 

 tions for quitting Fort Enterprise the next day ; and, accordingly, 

 at an early hour, on the 16th, having united in thanksgiving and 

 prayer, the whole party left the house after breakfast. Our feelings 

 on quitting the Fort, where we had formerly enjoyed much com- 

 fort, if not happiness, and, latterly, experienced a degree of misery 

 scarcely to be paralleled, may be more easily conceived than de- 

 scribed. The Indians treated us with the utmost tenderness, gave 

 us their snow-shoes, and walked without themselves, keeping by 

 our sides, that they might lift us when we fell. We descended 



Winter Kiver, and, about noon, crossed the head of Kound-Rock 

 Lake, distant about three miles from the house, where we were 

 obliged to halt, as Dr. Richardson was unable to proceed. The 

 swellings in his limbs rendered him by much the weakest of the 

 party. The Indians prepared our encampment, cooked for us, and 



