OF THE POLAR SEA. 



227 



attempted, without hazarding a complete rupture with the Indians ; 

 but they thought that a party should be sent to ascertain the 

 distance and size of the Copper-Mine River. These opinions being 

 in conformity with my own, I determined on despatching Messrs. 

 Back and Hood on that service, in a light canoe, as soon as 

 possible. 



We witnessed this morning an instance of the versatility of our 

 Indian companions, which gave us much uneasiness, as it regarded 

 the safety of our faithful attendant Hepburn. When they heard, 

 on their arrival last night, of his having been so long absent, they 

 expressed the greatest solicitude about him, and the whole party 

 immediately volunteered to go in search of him as soon as daylight 

 permitted. Their resolutions, however, seemed 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 suc- 

 ceeded in their search, and we were infinitely rejoiced to see Hep- 

 burn return with them in the afternoon, though much jaded by the 

 fatigue he had undergone. 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 partridge 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 de- 

 scend the Copper-Mine River, might be detained until he was found, 

 or that it might have departed without him. He did not entertain 

 any dread of the white bears, of whose numbers and ferocious at- 

 tacks the Indians had been constantly speaking, since we had 

 entered the barren grounds. Our fears for his safety, however, were 



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