238 Thirty Years 



CHAPTER X. 



August 17. My original intention, whenever the season 

 should compel us to relinquish the survey, had been 

 to return hy the way of the Copper-Mine River, and, 

 in pursuance of my arrangement with the Hook to 

 travel to Slave Lake through the line of woods extend- 

 ing thither by the Great Bear and Marten Lakes, hut 

 our scanty stock of provision and the length of the 

 voyage rendered it necessary to make for a nearer 

 place. We had already found that the country, be- 

 tween Cape Barrow and the Copper-Mine River, would 

 not supply our wants, and this it seemed probable 

 would now he si ill more the case ; besides, at this ad- 

 vanced season, we expected the frequenl recurrence of 

 L;ales, which would cause great detention, if not dan- 

 ger in proceeding along that very rocky part of the 

 coast. 



I determined, therefore, in make at once for Arctic 

 Sound, wh« re we hail found the animals inure numer- 

 ous than at any other place J and entering Bood's 



