In the Arctic Regions. 321 
and particularly to roll up, in the day, our blankets 
which (expressly for the convenience of Adam and 
Samandré,) we had been in the habit of leaving by the 
. fire where we lay on them. The Doctor having brought 
his prayer-book and Testament, some prayers and 
psalms, and portions of scripture, appropriate. to our 
situation, were read, and we retired to bed. 
Next morning the Doctor and Hepburn went out 
early in search of deer ; but, though they saw several 
herds and fired some shots, they were not so fortunate 
as to kill any, being too weak to hold their guns 
steadily. The cold compelled the former to refurn 
soon, but Hepburn persisted until late in the evening. 
My occupation was to search for skins under the 
snow, it being now our object immediately to get all 
that we could, but I had not strength to drag in more 
than two of those which were within twenty yards of 
the house until the Doctor came and assisted me. 
We made up our stock to twenty-six, but several of 
them were putrid, and scarcely eatable, even by men 
suffering the extremity of famine. Peltier and Sa- 
mandré continued very weak and dispirited, and they 
were unable to cut fire-wood. Hepburn had in con- 
sequence that laborious task to perform after he came 
back. The Doctor having scarified the swelled parts 
of Adam’s body, a large quantity of water flowed out, 
and he obtained some ease, but still kept his bed. 
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