106 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



and let them proceed together to the fort. 

 The non-arrival of the Indians to our relief, 

 now led us to fear that some accident had 

 happened to Mr. Franklin, and we placed 

 no confidence in the exertions of the Cana- 

 dians that accompanied him, but we had 

 the fullest confidence in Hepburn's return- 

 ing the moment he could obtain assistance. 



On the 1 7th I went to conduct Michel to 

 where Vaillant's blanket was left, and after 

 walking about three miles, pointed out the 

 hills to him at a distance, and returned to 

 the hut, having gathered a bagful of tripe de 

 roche on the way. It was easier to gather 

 this weed on a march than at the tent, for 

 the exercise of walking produced a glow of 

 heat, which enabled us to withstand for a 

 time the cold to which we were exposed in 

 scraping the frozen surface of the rocks. 

 On the contrary, when we left the fire, to 

 collect it in the neighbourhood of the hut, 

 we became chilled at once, and were obliged 

 to return very quickly. 



Michel proposed to remain out all night, 

 and to hunt next day on his way back. He 



