82 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Upon these grounds I determined on taking 

 the route to Fort Providence as soon as 

 possible, and wrote to Mr. Back, desiring 

 him to join me at Rein-Deer Lake, and 

 detailing the occurrences since we parted, 

 that our friends might receive relief, in 

 case of any accident happening to me. 



Belanger did not recover sufficient strength 

 to leave us before the 18th. His answers 

 as to the exact part of Round-Rock Lake, 

 in which he had left Mr. Back, were very 

 unsatisfactory; and we could only collect 

 that it was at a considerable distance, and 

 that he was still going on with the intention 

 of halting at the place where Akaitcho was 

 encamped last summer, about thirty miles 

 off. This distance appeared so great, that 

 I told Belanger it was very unsafe for him 

 to attempt it alone, and that he would 

 be several days in accomplishing it. He 

 stated, however, that as the track was 

 beaten, he should experience little fatigue, 

 and seemed so confident, that I suffered him 

 to depart with a supply of singed hide. 

 Next day I received information which 



