/// the Arctic Regu 283 



might obstruct our path, and thai ogth of the 



party would entirely fail, long before we could reach 



the only part where we were certain of finding w 1. 



distanl in a direct line twenty-five miles. W bile we 

 halted to consider of this Bubject, and to collect the 

 party, the carcass ofa de< r was discovered in the cleft 

 of a rock into which it had fallen in the spring. It 

 was putrid, but it was little less acceptable to us on 

 that account, in our present circumstances ; and a 

 fire being kindled, a large portion of it was devoured 

 on th«' Bpot, affording us an unexpected breakfast, for 

 in order to husband our small remaining portion of 

 meat, we had agreed to make only one scanty meal a 

 day. The men, cheered by this nnlooked-for Bupply, 

 became sanguine in the hope of being able to cross the 

 Btream on a raft of willows, although they had before 

 declared such a project impracticable, and they un- 

 animously entreated us to return back to the rapid, 

 a request which accorded with our own opinion, and 

 was therefore acceded to. Credit and Junius, how- 

 ever, were missing, and it was also necessary to Bend 

 notice of our intention to Mr. Back and his party. 

 Augustus being promised a reward, undertook the I 

 and we agreed to wail for him at the rapid. It 

 supposed he could nol fail meeting with the I 

 Btragglers on his way to or from Mr. Back, as it 



likely they would keep on the borders of the lake, lie 



