194 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Copper-Mine River, might be detained until 

 he was found, or that it might have de- 

 parted without him. He did not entertain 

 any dread of the white bears, of whose 

 numbers and ferocious attacks the Indians 

 had been constantly speaking, since we had 

 entered the barren grounds. Our fears 

 for his safety, however, were in a consider- 

 able degree excited by the accounts we had 

 received of these animals. Having made a 

 hearty supper, he retired to rest, slept 

 soundly, and arose next morning in perfect 

 health* 



On the 28th of August, Akaitcho was 

 informed of our intention to send a party to 

 the river, and of the reasons for doing so, 

 of which he approved, when he found that 

 I had relinquished the idea of going myself, 

 in compliance with the desire which he and 

 the Indians had expressed ; and he imme- 

 diately said two of the hunters should go to 

 provide them with food on the journey, and 

 to serve as guides. During this conversa- 

 tion we gathered from him, for the first 

 time, that there might still be some of his 



