OF THE POLAR SEA. S33 



group of willows, which was immediately adjoin- 

 ing to the fire, and concealed it from view, and at 

 this time the smoke of fresh fuel was distinctly 

 visible. Captain Franklin conjectures, that 

 Michel having already destroyed Belanger, com- 

 pleted his crime by Perrault's death, in order to 

 screen himself from detection. Although this 

 opinion is founded only on circumstances, and 

 is unsupported by direct evidence, it has been 

 judged proper to mention it, especially as the 

 subsequent conduct of the man shewed that he 

 was capable of committing such a deed. The 

 circumstances are very strong. It is not easy to 

 assign any other adequate motive for his conceal- 

 ing from us that Perrault had turned back, and 

 his request overnight that we should leave him 

 the hatchet ; and his cumbering himself with it 

 when he went out in the morning, unhke a hunter 

 who makes use only of his knife when he kills a 

 deer, seem to indicate that he took it for the pur- 

 pose of cutting up something that he knew to be 

 frozen. These opinions, however, are the result 

 of subsequent consideration. We passed this 

 night in the open air. 



On the following morning the tent was pitched, 

 and Michel went out early, refused my offer to 

 accompany him, and remained out the whole day. 



