OF THE POLAR SEA. 237 



that its timbers could not be bound in the usual 

 secure manner, and consequently there was dan- 

 ger of its bark separating from the gunwales if 

 exposed to a heavy sea. Distressing as were 

 these circumstances, they gave me less pain than 

 the discovery that our people, who had hitherto 

 displayed in following us through dangers and 

 difficulties no less novel than appalling to them, 

 a courage beyond our expectation, now felt seri- 

 ous apprehensions for their safety, which so pos- 

 sessed their minds that they were not restrained 

 even by the presence of their officers from ex- 

 pressing them. Their fears, we imagined, had 

 been principally excited by the interpreters, St. 

 Germain and Adam, who from the outset had 

 foreboded every calamity ; and we now strongly 

 suspected that their recent want of success in 

 their hunting excursions, had proceeded from an 

 intentional relaxation in their efforts to kill deer, 

 in order that the want of provision might compel 

 us to put a period to our voyage. 



I must now mention that many concurrent cir- 

 cumstances had caused me, during the few last 

 days, to meditate on the approach of this painfiil 

 necessity. The strong breezes we had encoun- 

 tered for some days, led me to fear that the sea- 

 son was breaking up, and severe weather would 

 soon ensue, which we could not sustain in a coun- 



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