OF THE POLAR SEA. 



455 



which he was unable to follow from having wet his foot in a small 

 stream of water thinly covered with ice, and being consequently 

 obliged to come to the fire. The day was rather mild and Hepburn 

 and I gathered a large kettleful of tripe de roche ; Michel slept in 

 the tent this night. 



Sunday, October 20. — In the morning we again urged Michel to 

 go a hunting that he might if possible leave us some provision, 

 to-morrow being the day appointed for his quitting us ; but he 

 shewed great unwillingness to go out, and lingered about the fire, 

 under the pretence of cleaning his gun. After we had read the 

 morning service I went about noon to gather some tripe de roche, 

 leaving Mr. Hood sitting before the tent at the fire-side, arguing 

 with Michel ; Hepburn was employed cutting down a tree at a short 

 distance from the tent, being desirous of accumulating a quantity 

 of fire wood before he left us. A short time after I went out I 

 heard the report of a gun, and about ten minutes afterwards Hepburn 

 called to me in a voice of great alarm, to come directly. When I 

 arrived, I found poor Hood lying lifeless at the fire-side, a ball 

 having apparently entered his forehead. I was at first horror- 

 struck with the idea, that in a fit of despondency he had hurried 

 himself into the presence of his Almighty Judge, by an act of his own 

 hand; but the conduct of Michel soon gave rise to other thoughts, 

 and excited suspicions which were confirmed, when upon examining 

 the body, I discovered that the shot had entered the back part of 

 the head, and passed out at the forehead, and that the muzzle of the 

 gun had been applied so close as to set fire to the night- cap behind. 

 The gun, which was of the longest kind supplied to the Indians, 

 could not have been placed in a position to inflict such a wound, 

 except by a second person. Upon inquiring of Michel how it hap- 

 pened, he replied, that Mr. Hood had sent him into the tent for 

 the short gun, and that during his absence the long gun had gone 

 off, he did not know whether by accident or not. He held the 



