-~ In the Arctic Regions. 349 
_ 
often occurred when we endeavored. to assist each other 
in carrying wood to the fire ; none of us were willing 
to receive assistance, although the task was dispro- 
portionate to our strength. On one of these occasions 
Hepburn was so convinced of this waywardness that © 
he exclaimed, “ Dear me, if we are spared to return 
to England, I wonder if we shall recover our under- 
standings.”’ 
November '7.—Adam had passed a restless night, 
being disquieted by gloomy apprehensions of approach- 
ing death, which we tried in vain to dispel. He was 
so low in the morning as to be scarcely able to speak. 
I remained in bed by his side to cheer him as much as 
possible. The Doctor and Hepburn went to cut wood. 
They had hardly begun their labor, when they were 
amazed at hearing the report of amusket. They could 
scarcely believe that there was really any one near, 
until they heard a shout, and immediately espied three 
Indians close to the house. Adam and I heard the lat- 
ter noise, and I was fearful that a part of the house had 
fallen upon one of my companions, a disaster which 
had in fact been thought not unlikely. My alarm 
was only momentary, Dr. Richardson came in to com- 
municate the joyful intelligence that relief had arrived, . 
He and myself immediately addressed thanksgiving 
to the throne of mercy for this deliverance, but. poor 
Adam was in so low a state that he could scarcely 
