OF THE POLAR SEA. 



103 



judge of this matter, from knowing their 

 situation when he parted from them, sug- 

 gested the former idea, and that both 

 Belanger and Perrault had been sacrificed. 

 When Perrault turned back, Captain Frank- 

 lin watched him until he reached a small 

 group of willows, which was immediately 

 adjoining to the fire, and concealed it from 

 view, and at this time the smoke of fresh 

 fuel was distinctly visible. Captain Frank- 

 lin conjectures, that Michel, having already 

 destroyed Belanger, completed his crime by 

 Perrault's death, in order to screen himself 

 from detection. Although this opinion is 

 founded only on circumstances, and is un- 

 supported by direct evidence, it has been 

 judged proper to mention it, especially as 

 the subsequent conduct of the man showed 

 that he was capable of committing such a 

 deed. The circumstances are very strong. It 

 is not easy to assign any other adequate mo- 

 tive for his concealing from us that Perrault 

 had turned back ; while his request over- 

 night that we should leave him the hatchet, 

 and his cumbering himself with it when he 



