OF THE POLAR SEA. 



171 



prevailed over every other feeling ; and, 

 had I permitted it, he would have done 

 himself an injury; for after two hours' eat- 

 ing, principally skin and sinews, he com- 

 plained of hunger. The day was cloudy, 

 with snow and fresh breezes from the 

 north-east by east. 



The last evening, as well as this morning, 

 the 19th, I mentioned my wishes to the men, 

 that we should proceed towards Rein-Deer 

 Lake, but this proposal met with a direct 

 refusal. Belanger stated his inability to 

 move, and *$t. Germain used similar lan- 

 guage : adding, for the first time, that he 

 did not know the route, and that it was of 

 no use to go in the direction I mentioned, 

 which was the one agreed upon between the 

 Commander and myself. I then insisted 

 that we should go by the known route, and 

 join the Commander, but they would not 

 hear of it ; they would remain where they 

 were until they had regained their strength ; 

 they said, I wanted to expose them again to 

 death (/aire perir J. In vain did I use every 

 argument to the contrary, for they were 



