OF THE POLAR SEA. 85 



sion of being deserted by the hunters, and 

 some of the strongest throwing down their 

 bundles, prepared to set out after them, 

 intending to leave the more weak to follow 

 as they could. The entreaties and threats 

 of the officers, however, prevented their 

 executing this mad scheme; but not before 

 Solomon Belanger was despatched with or- 

 ders for Mr. Back to halt until we should 

 join him. Soon afterwards a thick fog came 

 on, but we continued our march and over- 

 took Mr. Back, who had been detained in 

 consequence of his companions having fol- 

 lowed some recent tracks of deer. After 

 halting an hour, during which we refreshed 

 ourselves with eating our old shoes and a 

 few scraps of leather, we set forward in the 

 hope of ascertaining whether an adjoining 

 piece of water was the Copper-Mine River 

 or not, but were soon compelled to return 

 and encamp, for fear of a separation of the 

 party, as we could not see each other at ten 

 yards' distance. The fog diminishing to- 

 wards evening, Augustus was sent to exa- 

 mine the water, but having lost his way, 

 j>2 



