382 Thirty Years 
ed the tracks, and said that three persons had passed 
‘the day before ; and that he knew the remainder must 
be advancing to the southward, as it was customary 
with Indians, when they sent to the trading establish- 
ment on the first ice. On this information we en- 
‘camped, and, being too weak to walk myself, I sent 
St. Germain to follow the tracks, with instructions to 
‘the Chief of the Indians to provide immediate assist- 
ance for such of our friends who might be at Fort En- 
terprize, as well as for ourselves, and to Jose no time 
in returning to me. I was now so exhausted, that 
had we not seen the tracks this day, I had determined 
on remaining at the next encampment, until the men 
could have sent aid from Fort Providence. We had 
finished our small portion of sinews, and were prepar- 
ing for rest, when an Indian boy made his appearance 
with meat. St. Germain had arrived before sunset at 
the tents of Akaitcho, whom he found. at the spot 
where he had wintered last year ; but imagine my sur- 
prise, when he gave me a note from the Commander, 
and said, that Benoit and Augustus, two of the men, 
had just joined them. The note was so confused, by 
the pencil marks being partly rubbed out, that I could 
not decipher it clearly ; but it informed me, that he 
had attempted to come with the two men, but finding 
his strength inadequate to the task, he relinquished 
nis design, and returned to Fort Enterprize, to await 
