OF THE POLAR SEA. 



43 



certain of finding wood, distant in a direct 

 line twenty-five miles. While we halted to 

 consider of this subject, and to collect the 

 party, the carcase of a deer was discovered 

 in the cleft of a rock into which it had fallen 

 in the spring. It was putrid, but little less 

 acceptable to us on that account, in our 

 present circumstances ; and a fire being 

 kindled, a large portion was devoured on 

 the spot, affording us an unexpected break- 

 fast : for, in order to husband our small re- 

 maining portion of meat, we had agreed to 

 make only one scanty meal a-day. The 

 men, cheered by this unlooked-for supply, 

 became sanguine in the hope of being able 

 to cross the stream on a raft of willows, 

 although they had before declared such a 

 project impracticable, and they unanimously 

 entreated us to return back to the rapid, a 

 request which accorded with our own opi- 

 nion, and was therefore acceded to. Credit 

 and Junius, however, were missing, and it 

 was also necessary to send notice of our in- 

 tention to Mr. Back and his party. Au- 

 gustus, being promised a reward, undertook 



