OF THE POLAR SEA. 



49 



which we were enabled to go to bed with 

 full stomachs, we passed the night in a 

 warm and comfortable manner." 



In following the detail of our friend's 

 narrow escape, I have omitted to mention, 

 that when he was about to step into the 

 water, he put his foot on a dagger, which 

 cut him to the bone; but this misfortune 

 could not stop him from attempting the 

 execution of his generous undertaking. 



In the evening Augustus came in. He 

 had walked a day and a half beyond the 

 place from whence we turned back, but had 

 neither seen Junius nor Mr. Back. Of the 

 former he had seen no traces, but he had 

 followed the tracks of Mr. Back's party for 

 a considerable distance, until the hardness 

 of the ground rendered them imperceptible. 

 Junius was well equipped with ammunition, 

 blankets, knives, a kettle, and other neces- 

 saries ; and it was the opinion of Augustus 

 that when he found he could not rejoin the 

 party, he would endeavour to gain the woods 

 on the west end of Point Lake, and follow 

 the river until he fell in with the Esqui- 



VOL. IV. E 



