OF THE POLAR SEA. 



175 



Providence, and some dry wood being at 

 hand, we encamped ; by accident it was the 

 same place where the Commander's party 

 had slept on the 19th, the day on which I 

 supposed they had left Fort Enterprise ; 

 but the encampment was so small, that we 

 feared great mortality had taken place 

 amongst them ; and I am sorry to say the 

 stubborn resolution of my men, not to go 

 to the house, prevented me from deter- 

 mining this most anxious point, so that I 

 now almost dreaded passing their encamp- 

 ments, lest I should see some of our unfor- 

 tunate friends dead at each spot. Our fire 

 was hardly kindled when a fine herd of deer 

 passed close to us. St. Germain pursued 

 them a short distance, but with his usual 

 want of success, so that we made a meal off 

 the muscles and sinews we had dried, 

 though they were so tough that we could 

 scarcely cut them. My hands were be- 

 numbed throughout the march, and we 

 were all stiff and fatigued. The marching 

 of two days weakened all very much, and 

 the more so on account of our exertion to 



