In the Arctic Regions. 341 
we saw the rapid and the grounds about the fort, al- 
though they were still far distant. Our disappoint- 
ment when this illusion was dispelled, by our reach- 
ing the end of the lake, so operated on our feeble 
minds as to exhaust our strength, and we decided 
upon encamping ; but upon ascending a smal] emi- 
nence to look for a clump of wood, we caught a 
glimpse of the Big-Stone, a well known rock upon the 
summit of a hill opposite to the Fort, and determined 
upon proceeding. In the evening we saw several 
large herds of reindeer, but Hepburn, who used to be 
considered a good marksman, was now unable to hold 
the gun straight, and although he got near them, all 
his efforts proved fruitless. In passing through a 
small clump of pines we saw a flock of partridges, 
and he succeeded in killing one after firing several 
shots. We came in sight of the fort at dusk, and it 
is impossible to describe our sensations, when on at- 
taining the eminence that overlooks it, we beheld the 
smoke issuing from one of the chimneys. From not 
having met with any footsteps in the snow, as we drew 
nigh our once cheerful residence, we had been agitated 
by many melancholy forebodings. Upon entering the 
now desolate building, we had the satisfaction of em- 
bracing Captain Franklin, but ne words can convey 
an idea of the filth and wretchedness that met our 
eyes on looking around. Our own misery had stolen 
