OF THE POLAR SEA. 



87 



for travelling, and we set out after break- 

 fast. We had not, however, gone many 

 yards before I had the misfortune to break 

 my snow-shoes by falling between two 



keeping pace with Benoit and Augustus, 

 and in the attempt I became quite ex- 

 hausted. Feeling convinced that their be- 

 ing delayed on my account might prove of 

 fatal consequence to the rest, I resolved on 

 returning to the house, and letting them 

 proceed alone in search of the Indians. I 

 therefore halted them only whilst I wrote a 

 note to Mr. Back, stating the reason of my 

 return, and desiring he would send meat 

 from Rein-Deer Lake by these men, if St. 

 Germain should kill any animals there. If 

 Benoit should miss Mr. Back, I directed 

 him to proceed to Fort Providence, and 

 furnished him with a letter to the gentleman 

 in charge of it, requesting that immediate 

 supplies might be sent to us. 



On my return to the house I found 

 Samandre very dispirited, and too weak, as 

 he said, to render any assistance to Peltier, 



This accident prevented me from 



