312 Thirty Years 



neighborhood, our men in their journeys to and fro 

 last winter, had always found them abundant. Upon 

 these grounds I determined on taking the route to 

 Fort Providence as soon as possible, and wrote to Mr. 

 Back desiring him to join me at Reindeer Lake, and 

 detailing the occurrences since we had parted, that 

 our friends might receive relief in case of any accident 

 happening to me. 



Belanger did not recover sufficient strength to leave 

 us before the 18th. His answers as to the exact part 

 of Round-Eock Lake in which he had left Mr. Back, 

 were very unsatisfactory ; and we could only collect that 

 it was a considerable distance, and he was still going 

 on with the intention of halting at the place where 

 Akaitcho was encamped last summer, about thirty 

 miles off. This distance appeared so great, that I 

 told Belanger it was very unsafe for him to attempt it 

 alone, and that he would be several days in accom- 

 plishing it. He stated, however, that as the track 

 was beaten, he should experience little fatigue, and 

 cned so confident, that I suffered him to depart 

 with a supply of singed hide. Next day I received 

 information which explained why lie was so unwilling 

 to acquaint us with the situation of Mr. Back's party. 

 Be dreaded that I should resolve upon joining it, 

 when our numbers Bhould 1"' so great as to consume 

 at once everj thing St. Germain might kill, if by acci 



