OF THE POLAR SEA. 



169 



back on a sand bank frozen to death, his 

 limbs all extended and swelled enormously, 

 and as hard as the ice that was near him ; 

 his bundle was behind him, as if it had 

 rolled away when he fell, and the blanket 

 which he wore around his neck and shoulders 

 thrown on one side. Seeing that there was 

 no longer life in him, I threw your covering 

 over him, and placed his snow-shoes on the 

 top of it." 



I had not even thought of so serious an 

 occurrence in our little party, and for a short 

 time was obliged to give vent to my grief. 

 Left with one person and both of us weak, 

 no appearance of Belanger, a likelihood that 

 great calamity had taken place amongst our 

 other companions, still upwards of seven- 

 teen days' march from the nearest Esta- 

 blishment, and myself unable to carry a 

 burden; all these things pressed heavy on 

 me; and how to get to the Indians or to 

 the Fort I did not know ; but that I might 

 not depress St. Germain's spirits, I sup- 

 pressed the feelings to which these thoughts 



