400 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



white people, two of whom had killed and eaten his 

 uncle and two of his relations. 



Taking the whole conduct of this man into con- 

 sideration, no other conclusion could be drawn than 

 that he would attempt to destroy Richardson and 

 Hepburn the first opportunity that offered. The 

 two were in no condition to resist even an open 

 attack, nor could they by any device escape from 

 him ; his strength was powerful, and, beside his 

 gun, he was armed with two pistols, an Indian 

 bayonet, and a knife. In the afternoon he went to 

 a rock under pretence of collecting tripe de roche, 

 and said he would soon be with us, this being the 

 first time since Mr. Hood's death that he had left 

 the two officers together. Hepburn was not easily 

 to be imposed upon ; he gave such an account of the 

 man that Dr. Richardson was satisfied there could 

 be no safety for them except in his death, and 

 Hepburn proposed to be the instrument of it : — 



" I determined, however (says Richardson), as I was 

 thoroughly convinced of the necessity of such a dreadful act, 

 to take the whole responsibility upon myself; and immedi- 

 diately upon Michel's coming up, I put an end to his life by 

 shooting him through the head with a pistol. Had my own 

 life alone been threatened, I would not have purchased it by 

 such a measure ; but I considered myself as intrusted also 

 with the protection of Hepburn, a man who, by his humane 

 attention and devotedness, had so endeared himself to me, 

 that I felt more anxiety for his safety than for my own. 

 Michel had gathered no tripe de roche, and it was evident to 



