OP THE POLAR SEA. 331 



ed to be in their secret, were very unsatisfactory. 

 At length, by interrogations, we got from him the 

 information, that they designed to march night 

 and day, until they should reach Akaitcho's en- 

 campment, whence they would send us aid. As 

 we had combated their fears about Boudel-kell, 

 they, perhaps, apprehended that we should oppose 

 their determination, and therefore concealed it. 

 We were now left a second time without food, 

 and with appetites recovered, and strongly ex- 

 cited by recent indulgence. 



On the following day the Doctor and Hepburn 

 resumed their former occupation of collecting 

 wood, and I was able to assist a little in bringing 

 it into the house. Adam, whose expectation of 

 the arrival of the Indians had been raised by the 

 fineness of the weather, became, towards night, 

 very desponding, and refused to eat the singed 

 skin. The night was stormy, and there was a 

 heavy faU of snow. The next day he became 

 still more dejected. About eleven Hepburn, who 

 had gone out for wood, came in with the intelli- 

 gence that a party appeared upon the river. 

 The room was instantly swept, and, m compliance 

 with the prejudices of the Indians, every scrap of 

 skin was carefully removed out of sight ; for these 



nple people imagine, 



that burning deer-skin 



renders them unsuccessful in hunting. The party 



