OF THE POLAR SEA. 



103 



forebodings, while they erected a wooden 

 cross in the rocks near the spot where their 

 companion perished. 



The loss of this man's services, and the 

 necessity of procuring a guide, determined 

 us to wait for the arrival of the North- 

 West Company's people from Fort Chipew- 

 yan, and we encamped accordingly. The 

 canoe was much shattered, but as the gun- 

 wales were not broken, we easily repaired 

 it. In the evening a north-west canoe 

 arrived, with two of the partners. They 

 gave us an account of Mr. Franklin's pro- 

 ceedings, and referred us to the brigade 

 following them for a guide. 



During the 20th it rained heavily, and 

 we passed the day in anxious suspense con- 

 fined to our tents. A black bear came to 

 the bank on the opposite side of the river, 

 and on seeing us glided behind the trees. 



Late on the 21st Mr. Robertson, of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company, arrived, and fur- 

 nished us with a guide, but desired that he 

 might be exchanged when we met the 

 northern canoes. We took advantage of 



