In the Arctic Regions. 311 
should pursue. Belanger’s situation, however, re- 
quired our first care, as he came in almost speechless, 
and covered with ice, having fallen into a rapid, and 
for the third time since we left the coast, narrowly es-- 
caped drowning. He did not recover sufficiently to 
answer our questions, until we had rubbed him for 
some time, changed his dress, and given him some 
warm soup. My companions nursed him with the 
greatest kindness, and the desire of restoring him to 
health seemed to absorb all regard for their own situ- 
ation. I witnessed with peculiar pleasure this con- 
duct, so different from that which they had recently 
pursued, when every tender feeling was suspended by 
the desire of self-preservation. They now no longer 
betrayed impatience or despondency, but were com- 
posed and cheerful, and had entirely given up the 
practice of swearing, to which the Canadian voyagers 
are so lamentably addicted. Our conversation natu- 
rally turned upon the prospect of getting relief, and 
upon the means which were best adapted for obtain- 
ing it. The absence of all traces of Indians on Win- 
ter River, 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, as 
they move slowly when they have their families with 
them. This route also offered us the prospect of kill- 
ing deer, in the vicinity of Reindeer Lake, in which 
