OF THE POLAR SEA. 



193 



diately volunteered to go in search of him 

 as soon as day-light permitted. Their re- 

 solutions, however, seem to have been 

 changed, in consequence of the subsequent 

 conversation we had with the chief, and we 

 found all of them indisposed to proceed on 

 that errand this morning ; and it was only 

 by much entreaty, that three of the hunters 

 and a boy were prevailed upon to go. They 

 fortunately succeeded in their search, and 

 we were infinitely rejoiced to see Hepburn 

 return with them in the afternoon, though 

 much jaded by the fatigue he had under- 

 gone. He had got bewildered, as we had 

 conjectured, in the foggy weather on the 

 25th, and had been wandering about ever 

 since, except during half an hour that he 

 slept yesterday. He had eaten only a par- 

 tridge and some berries, for his anxiety of 

 mind had deprived him of appetite ; and of 

 a deer which he had shot, he took only the 

 tongue, and the skin to protect himself from 

 the wind and rain. This anxiety, we learned 

 from him, was occasioned by the fear that 

 the party which was about to descend the 



! VOL. II. o 



