OF THE POLAR SEA. 99 



that Michel, the Iroquois, had come with a 

 note from Mr. Franklin, which stated that 

 this man and Jean Baptiste Belanger being 

 unable to proceed, were about to return to 

 us, and that a mile beyond our present en- 

 campment there was a clump of pii\e-trees, 

 to which he recommended us to remove the 

 tent. Michel informed us that he quitted 

 Mr. Franklin's party yesterday morning, 

 but that having missed his way, he had 

 passed the night on the snow a mile or two 

 to the northward of us. Belanger, he said, 

 being impatient, left the fire about two 

 hours earlier, and as he had not arrived, he 

 supposed must have gone astray. It will 

 be seen in the sequel, that we had more 

 than sufficient reason to doubt the truth of 

 this story. 



Michel now produced a hare and a par- 

 tridge which he had killed in the morning. 

 This unexpected supply of provision was 

 received by us with a deep sense of grati- 

 tude to the Almighty for his goodness, and 

 we looked upon Michel as the instrument 

 he had chosen to preserve all our lives. He 

 h 2 



