8 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



done everything in his power to assist us, 

 and even discouraged Akaitcho from leav- 

 ing us, when he had sent him a message, 

 saying that he wished to do so, if he. was 

 sure of being well received at Fort Provi- 

 dence. 



We mentioned the contents of the letter 

 to the Indians, who were at the house at the 

 time, when one of the hunters, who had 

 attended the men on their journey, stated, 

 that he had heard many of the reports 

 against us from Mr. Weeks himself, and 

 expressed his surprise that he should ven- 

 ture to deny them. St. Germain soon 

 afterwards arrived from Akaitcho, and in- 

 formed us, that he left him in good humour, 

 and, apparently, not harbouring the slightest 

 idea of quitting us. 



On the 12th we sent four men to Fort 

 Providence; and on the 17th Mr. Back 

 arrived from Fort Chipewyan, having per- 

 formed, since he left us, a journey of more 

 than one thousand miles on foot. I had 

 every reason to be much pleased with his 

 conduct on this arduous undertaking ; but 



