OF THE POLAR SEA, 32:3 
within it, close to some powder, most provi- 
dentially was awoke in time to throw it clear of 
the flame, and rescue the baggage, before any 
‘material injury had been received. We dreaded 
the consequences of this disaster upon the fickle 
minds of the Indians, and wished it not to be 
communicated tothem. The chief, however, was 
soon informed of it by one of his people, and ex- 
pressed his desire that no future misfortune should 
be concealed from him. We found he was most 
concerned to hear that the flag had been burnt, 
but we removed his anxiety on that point, by the 
assurance that it could easily be repaired. We 
were advised by Mr. Wentzel to recommence the 
dancing after this event, lest the Indians should 
imagine, by our putting a stop to it, that we con- 
sidered the circumstance as an unfavourable com- 
mencement of our undertaking. We were, how- 
ever, deeply impressed with a grateful sense of 
the Divine Providence, in averting the threatened 
destruction of our stores, which would have been 
fatal to every prospect of proceeding forward this 
season. 7 
August 1.—This morning the Indians set out, 
intending to wait for us at the mouth of the 
Yellow-Knife River. We remained behind to 
pack our stores, in bales of eighty pounds each, 
an operation which could not, be done in the pre- 
Y2 
