398 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



and evidently sinking fast, our situation can better be con- 

 ceived than expressed. 



" At this period we avoided as much as possible convers- 

 ing upon the hopelessness of our situation, and generally 

 endeavoured to lead the conversation towards our future 

 prospects in life. The fact is, that, with the decay of our 

 strength, our minds decayed, and we were no longer able 

 to bear the contemplation of the horrors that surrounded us. 

 Each of us, if I may be allowed to judge from my own case, 

 excused himself from so doing, by a desire of not shocking 

 the feelings of the others, for we were sensible of one another's 

 weakness of intellect, though blind to our own. Yet we 

 were calm and resigned to our fate ; not a murmur escaped 

 us, and we were punctual and fervent in our addresses to 

 the Supreme Being." — p. 454. 



The whole conduct of this man Michel, by 

 Dr. Richardson's account, evinced a diabolical 

 state of mind. He went out alone, refused to let 

 any one go with him, remained out the whole 

 day, refused to sleep in the tent ; returned contra- 

 dictory and evasive answers to any questions put to 

 him ; regretted he had quitted Franklin's party, 

 and refused to cut wood ; spoke in a very surly 

 manner, and threatened to leave the party. 



On the morning of the 20th Dr. Richardson says 

 he left Mr. Hood sitting by the fire, and arguing 

 with Michel. " Soon after I went out," says 

 Richardson, " to gather some rock-tripe, and heard 

 the report of a gun ; and about ten minutes after- 

 wards Hepburn called to me in a voice of great 

 alarm to come directly. When I arrived, I found 



