I ii thi Arctic Regions. 31 1 



should pursue. Belanger's situation, however, 

 quired our first care, as h< 



and covered with ice, having fallen into a rapid, and 

 for the third time since we left the coast, narrowly es- 

 caped drowning. Ee did not recover sufficiently to 

 answer our questions, until we had rubbed him for 



• time, changed his dress, and given him Bome 

 warm Boup. My companions nursed him with the 

 greatest kindness, and the desire of restoring him to 

 health s< emed to absorb all regard for their own situ- 

 ation. 1 w with peculiar pleasure this < 

 duet, so different from that which they had recently 

 pursued, when every tender feeling was suspended by 

 the desire of self-preservation. They now no long 

 betrayed impatience or despondency, but were com- 



d and cheerful, and had entirely given np the 



practii i" Bwearing, to which the Canadian voyagers 



are so Lamentably addicted. Our conversation natu- 

 rally turned npon the prosp tting relief, and 

 upon the means which were best adapted for obtain- 



it. The absence of all traces of Indians on Win- 

 ter Biver, convinced me that they were at this time 

 on the way to Fort Providence, and that by proceed- 

 ing towards that post we should overtake them, 

 they move slowly when they have their families with 

 them Tins route also offered us the prospect of hill- 

 in;;- deer, in the vicinity of Reindeer Lake, in which 



